Sabbatical leave request letter template (samples)
By
OptimistMinds
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
In this guide we have some examples of sabbatical leave request letter template, what a sabbatical is, how you could go about asking one and additional considerations.
Sabbatical Leave Application
A sabbatical leave application might go something like this:
“I would like to hereby formally request the opportunity to take a (6/12) month sabbatical leave, commencing 6 months from today, on (day/month/year). I have been (your position) at (name) university for (X) years and would like to conclude my research on (full details of your project/work)”
Sabbatical leave request letter template
Writing a sabbatical leave request letter can be quite scary because you never know for sure if your employer will accept or reject your request.
In addition, there are many reasons (valid or not) why you would think about asking for a sabbatical leave and some of them include:
Whatever the reason it may be, there has been said that taking a sabbatical can have countless benefits.
However, to fully take advantage of it, it’s important doing your research and understanding why they exist and their purpose.
After doing your research, consider figuring out why you would like to take a sabbatical, is it to gain some international experience to boos your career?,
Is it to develop new skills or simply help you become more creative?
Moreover, when mentioning your employer you would like to take a sabbatical, make sure to do your research on what could be the potential benefits to your employer.
Ask for a meeting with your manager and present the benefits for you, for your team and the company in the long-term.
Also, try talking to other people that have taken a sabbatical and ask them for some tips on how to plan and request for one (having a higher success rate).
Note: this type of leave is different from vacation or annual leave, paternity leave, sick leave, maternity leave agreement, emergency travel, extended leave absence, among other types of leave of absence requests.
Meaning, we recommend checking them and know the difference to see which one fits better to what you are looking for.
How to ask for a sabbatical?
First off, it is important you do your research and document yourself about your employer’s company police regarding sabbaticals.
If they approve it then you will legally remain an employee even though you may be under an unpaid leave, unless your employer agrees to give a partial or full remuneration according to your circumstances and what they consider will be best.
In addition, consider that you may need to be eligible to apply for a sabbatical according to your tenure (at least 2-3 years working continuously) or how indispensable you may be for the company.
Get in touch with your HR department and ask them what the policy is about, how to ask for it and if there is a specific format you should know about.
Also, make sure you make yourself valuable (contributing to being indispensable) by building relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and/or clients.
Try to go the extra mile in everything you do or with whomever you have to interact, they will make sure to let your boss know how valuable you are and try to participate in any activities proposed by the company (e.g. volunteering, charity events, etc).
Sample 1: (Studies)
“Dear/respected (name),
I would like to formally request the opportunity to take a (6-12) month sabbatical leave, commencing x months from —- until —-.
I have been (your job position) at (name of your employer) for —– years and would like to continue puruing my Msc degree in —– which I believe will benefit the company by (name some benefits).
I to accomplish this life goal that I have been expecting and finally have the opportunity. I wil be comencing on —– until ——, returning to my job duties on ——-. However, you can reach me at my cellphone/email if there are any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Signature
Your name”
Sample 2:
“Dear [Recipient Name],
My name is [John Smith] and I have been working in the finance department for the last nine years. I have recently found myself stuck in a loop, doing the same things over and over again. My learning process stopped and I haven’t improved for a while now.
Feeling the need for self-development, I would like to request for an extended leave, a sabbatical, in order to continue my studies and earn an MBA degree. I am committed to [company name] and I am happy to work here. I am planning to resume my work at [company name] once I earn my degree, by then, I will be more knowledgeable, motivated, experienced, and more committed.
I do believe that this move is beneficial for both me and the organization. I am planning to enroll in late September. The whole program takes no longer than nine months, so I should be back by May. I have already spoken to the head of the department, and he assured me that coverage is available and that workflow will not be affected much.
I kindly ask you consider my request, and I am hopeful that will approve it. Attached with this letter are the program acceptance letter and other related documents for your reference.
Thank you very much.
Best Regards”
Sample 3:
“Your Name
Your Address
Your City, postcode
Your Phone Number
Date
Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, postcode
Dear Mr./Ms. [Lastname]:
I would like to formally request a (6-12) month sabbatical leave request due to a family emergency. If possible, I would like the leave from work to begin on ——, with a return date of ——.
If approved, I will be staying with family in [Anycity] during this time period, and I would be glad to assist with any questions via email or phone whenever possible.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Signature (hard copy letter)
Your Typed Name”
Sample 4:
“Dear Mr/Mrs. —–,
Please accept this letter as a formal notification of my application for a sabbatical leave request, from —–, expecting to return on ——. As per my employment contract, I am giving a three months’ notice and I will do my best to ensure a smooth transition and completion of all the outstanding projects.
Besides having time to spend with my family, I am looking forward to this opportunity to pursue my personal projects. I hope to return with renewed energy and inspiration to continue carrying my job duties.
Thank you for considering my request. Please do not hesitate contacting me if you require any additional information.
Yours sincerely,
Your signature
Your name”
Sample 5: Sabbatical leave request letter template
“Dear [Recipient Name],
My name is [insert name] and I have been working in the ICT department for the past decade. I have recently found myself stuck in a loop, doing the same things over and over again. My learning process stopped and I haven’t improved for a while now.
Feeling the need for self-development, I would like to request for an extended leave, sabbatical, in order to continue my studies and earn another degree.
I am committed to [company name] and I am happy to work here. I am planning to resume my work at [company name] once I earn my degree, by then, I will be more knowledgeable, motivated, experienced, and more committed.
I do believe that this move is beneficial for both me and the organization. I plan to enroll in late September. The program will take no longer than nine months, so I should be back by May. I have briefed the head of the department and he assured me that coverage is available and that workflow will not be affected much.
I kindly ask you to consider my request and I am hopeful that will approve it. Attached to this letter are the program acceptance letter and other related documents for your reference.
Thank you very much.
Best Regards
(Insert name)”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I ask for sabbatical leave?
To ask for sabbatical leave consider:
– Researching about the company policy, if you are eligible and if your company has a format or specific procedure.
– Make sure you mention how valuable you are for the company.
– Indicate why you need the sabbatical and its value.
– Consider offering assistance in training someone to replace you while you are on leave.
– Indicate the dates when you want the sabbatical to start and when to end.
– Thank your company for considering your request.
How do I write a letter requesting extended leave?
To write a letter requesting extended leave consider:
– Submitting your letter in advance and having enough time for your employer to make any necessary adjustments.
– Being concise and polite about the reason why you need an extension.
– Thanking your employer for the leave days you had been offered before and for considering the extension.
– Indicating the dates you are expecting to return after your extension.
– Being polite, professional and sincere.
How do I apply for leave for personal reasons?
To apply for leave for personal reasons you could follow this example (template):
“(Subject: leave application to boss for personal reasons)
Respect Sir, With due respect, I would like to request you for work leave. I need this leave on (date) [ For Example: I need work leave on 10th May] or from (date) to (date) [ For Example: I need work leave from 10th May to 13th May] for some personal reason.”
How do you structure a sabbatical?
A sabbatical can be structured around:
– Pursuing your passion such as travelling, reading, writing, gardening, volunteering or doing any type of social work.
– Raising your family or taking care of your child(ren) or having more time to spend with your family.
– Going back to university/college to pursue higher education or degree.
– Changing your career focus or starting your own business.
What is sabbatical leave policy?
The sabbatical leave policy may vary from one employer to the next.
However, usually a sabbatical leave provides employees with the option to undergo specialist training or pursuing further education to enhance skills or knowledge.
In addition, your employer may ask to apply with a few months in advance and for no more than 12 consecutive months.
Always make sure to research on your employer’s policies.
References
Free-sample-letter.com: “How to write a professional sabbatical proposal”
Lettersandtemplares.com: “Sabbatical Leave Letter Sample”
Work.chron.com: “How to Write a Letter Requesting a Sabbatical”
Careerfaqs.com.au: “Leave of absence for sabbatical letter”
Horoszowski, M. (2015, Dec.) How To Ask for a Sabbatical in 2015. Retrieved from blog.movingworlds.org.
Formpl.us: “How to Write a Leave Application Letter (+5 letter samples)”
Thecareerbreaksite.com: “How to ask for a sabbatical- and make sure you get one!”
