What’s a sabbatical, in this context?
At Automattic — the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and a long list of other things I’ve come to love — every employee is encouraged to take a paid three-month sabbatical for every five years of service. Full pay, full benefits, no email, no Slack, no “just one quick thing.” The program kicked off in 2015, and hundreds of Automatticians have taken one (some have already taken two).
The philosophy behind it is pretty simple: a two-week vacation isn’t long enough to truly unplug. By month three, you’ve actually rested, you’ve actually had time to think, and you come back with the kind of perspective you can’t manufacture during a normal work week. It’s also good for the team left behind — covering for someone on sabbatical is how a lot of folks step into new responsibilities and stretch into leadership.
What I’m planning to do
A few highlights on the list:
- Move into our new house
- Spain and Portugal Cruise
- Trip to Greece and Turkey.
- Zuzuto Ramen in Athens
I’m leaving plenty of unscheduled time too. From what every Automattician who’s done this tells me, the best parts of a sabbatical tend to be the ones you didn’t plan.
See you soon. 🍜
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