Career III – Text
Check unknown vocabulary before you read the text:
perk – a benefit given for certain types of employment
plus (forty-plus) – more (forty and more)
for instance – for example
to rescue – get or take out of a dangerous situation
roughly – not exactly; imprecisely; approximately
sabbatical – any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.
to explore – examine carefully
beyond – farther on than; more distant than; outside the understanding, limits, or reach of; past
to foster – promote the growth or development of; further; encourage
goal – an aim or purpose
to hold on – keep; maintain
to wonder – think or speculate curiously
to launch – start
The world's best perk
Forty-plus hours a week for 49-plus weeks a year for 40-plus years is a lot of time to spend at your desk, even if you love your career.
So it's no surprise when, while working hard at your desk, you find yourself imagining all the things you could do with your time. You might, for instance, fantasize about spending a month or three: traveling through Australia, working with your favorite charity, spending a lot of time with your kids, learning to surf, training for a triathlon, or helping to rescue wild horses.
Now imagine your company lets you, and tells you your job will be waiting for you when you come back. For a small minority in the corporate world, it’s not just a dream. Roughly 11 percent of large companies offer paid sabbaticals to employees and another 29 percent offer unpaid sabbaticals. Although paid sabbaticals are typically the province of large companies, 16 percent of small companies and 21 percent of mid-size companies today do offer unpaid sabbaticals.
Five years ago, only 15 percent of all companies offered unpaid sabbaticals. Employers that offer sabbaticals know that making it easy for employees to explore their interests beyond their career is a good way to build loyalty and foster greater creativity at work.
"The theory behind sabbaticals is that everyone wishes to do something perhaps radically different for some period of time," said J. Robert Carr, SHRM's chief professional development officer. "You don't want talented people to walk out the door. The goal is tohold on to your employees," Carr said.
Sabbaticals typically are offered to employees who have received solid performance reviews and have been at a company for seven to 10 years.
If you're wondering just what kind of sabbaticals are on offer, here's a look at what four companies provide:
American Century
After 7 years working at investment firm American Century, you're allowed to take a four-week paid sabbatical on top of any vacation you may have. Then five years later you can do it again. What you do with that paid month is up to you.
American Express
Since 1991, employees who have been at American Express for 10 years can apply for a paid sabbatical lasting between one and six months. The company asks that employees on leave work for a nonprofit or school of their choice. The only restriction: they may not work for groups with political or religious affiliations.
Goldman Sachs
In 2004, the investment bank launched The Public Service Program. PSP allows its top managing directors and vice presidents/executive directors a year of paid leave to work with a charitable, public service or cultural organization of their choosing.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
This year the company is testing a pilot program. Two types of sabbaticals will be offered: one for personal growth and development and one for social services. Both range from a three-month minimum to a six-month maximum. In exchange, employees have to agree to stay with PWC for at least a year after their return.
During the sabbatical you will be paid between 20 percent and 40 percent of your salary with most benefits maintained. You can apply for a sabbatical as early as your second year at the firm.