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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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  #1  
Old 14 Feb 2002
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Unpaid Leave / sabbatical

My partner and I are going down this line for a 6 month overland trip. We have one acceptance, and one pending on the approval front. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I thought we might move directly to the Hubb !

There are a few points that have come to mind regarding continuity of employment, pension rights, etc etc. I've been thinking about it all, but not actually pursued the issues as yet. Any of you good folks out there taken this line or are you all hardened "blow it all we're off" types ? (Might be myself depending on outcome of request !).

I prefer to be informed in advance and ask the questions, rather than be put on the spot ! It's a pretty unknown quantity even amongst employers, hence my search for information (tried searching the site and didn't come across anything on this subject).

If no one has experience of this, I will ensure I post the results of our experiences in case it is of help to others out there. (I know this option is open to more UK workers than previous - lets hope I'm one !)

If you have info from another nationalities point of view (seem to remember this approach has been popular with Australians for a lot of years) then it could be useful to other potential travellers - even if not us.

I look forward to any Reponses, thanks for your help in advance
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  #2  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Hi Fritz

I'm currently on sabbatical for family reasons, but not travelling. My sabbatical from a UK company provides no employee benefits, but I do retain the seniority I had when I started the sabbatical.

I think the legal situation depends completely on the country you're in, though there might be some policies which are consistent throughout the EU.

Suggest if you are concerned about job security, you consult an employment lawyer in your country to find out what legal rights you have.

You might find useful info in a book called 'Six Months Off'. See the link below:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/boo...NewTravelBooks

This is definitely a topic people are interested in, so let us know what you find out.


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  #3  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Fritz:

My guess is that the response you will get to your request for an extended leave is entirely dependent on 1) how hard it would be for your employer to replace you, and how much they want to keep you, and; 2) what the cultural norms are in your country concerning employees taking long periods of time off.

I don't think employment law (labour legislation) would really have much to do with it at all, because as long as you and the employer reach a mutual agreement, you can do what you want.

For example: An aircraft pilot who asks their employer for an extended leave of absence now (Feb 2002) would probably get whatever they wanted, because there is a surplus of these employees at the moment, but the airlines know they will eventually need them back, and it's very expensive to bring in new hires. However, someone whose skills are very much in demand at the moment, in an industry where it is easy to find replacement workers, might not get as warm a reception to their request.
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  #4  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Hi Fritz,

I can't really help you with any of the legalities, but I can offer some pedestrian advice. I recently took two months off work to travel around and things went very smoothly at work.

First, I would try to plan your vacation to start at the end of a project at work. I know not everyone works on a project-by-project basis, but if you do, try as best as you can to leave right after a project is done - that way you don't leave anyone hanging at work or jeapardize a project deep in development, which is a guaranteed way to piss off your coworkers.

I told my boss a year in advance that I was going to take this vacation - that way he had plenty of time to prepare for my absence.

Put in the extra mile. I worked a lot of overtime in the preceding months to demonstrate my dedication to my job and employer.

Make sure you let your boss know that you intend to come back, and that you're dedicated and enthusiastic about your job despite the length of the vacation.

Make an effort to paint your vacation as having some relation to your job - even though it may be BS, it's generally good to express the desire to expand your knowledge. And with a little cleverness, you could probably learn quite a bit about your profession and return with some interesting information to share with your employer. In my case (I design video games), I sent back some reports of how computers were being used in Taznania and of course took plenty of photos for the artists I work with to use for reference.

This is simple advice, mostly amied at ensuring the employer wants to keep you around, and I'd guess you know all of it - but it's what I did and I not only had no problem getting the time off, but got a promotion for my dedication in the months preceding my vacation.

Best of luck!

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  #5  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Hai Fritz,

Unfortunatly you did not say in witch country you live, but here is "my story" (from the Netherlands).

I am not a "blow it all we're off - type". I think most of us travelers are not, or our travels would "get stuck" very quickly. Preparation is the key-word.

The same goes for your job. I planned a trip witch would take me at least a year, but probably much more, but... what if I don't like it anymore after a few month's from home?
So, I got a "safty-valve". I asked my boss a "un-payed" leave of 1 year.
This insures my pension-rights, my health-insurance, and my job.

One other thing to think about: When you come back from a trip and you have cought a virus of some kind, your travel-insurance does not cover all expensis if it's a long, long treatment (read the fine print), and getting a new health-insurance might prove dificult when you are already sick. Some insurances have the posibillity to let the polis go to sleep. You don't pay, you are not insured, but you are still accepted.

My "safty-valve" lasts for one year, but I guess I am able to decide then what to do. (go back or go on)

Hope this helps.

Maarten
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  #6  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Hi Maarten
I,m also in the Netherlands and find that employers, although are not very keen, with a bit of talking unpayed leave is easy to get. Depending on proffesion of coures. A question with regards to the medical insurance tho. Insurance in NL has to be continued in case of repatriation with medical problems but I was under the impression this was the responsability of the employee and not the employer.
This adds up to a pretty high bill to be payed from savings. Do you have the same problem or is my boss pulling a fast one.
Andy
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  #7  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Hai Andy

I have found a travel-insurance with the Joho-company (www.joho.nl). With it you are insured for the first 2 month's back in your home-country (this give's you time to find a "normal" health-insurance). Also insured is treatment (of an incident witch happened abroad) after repatriation but... there is a limit (I think 35.000 euro).

In principal everyone who has an income, has an obligation to be (health)insured. However on a sabatical (or non-paid) leave.. you have no income.. so no one can demand insurance.

The Joho-company can also give advice about this, the specialize in "expat".

Insurance-company's and employers don't know much about this topic, so don't take there word for it, ask for some one who knows what he/she is talking about when you phone them.
My insurance-company has not yet figured out what to do... but they know I won't pay the bill .. since they have no adress to send it to

Hope this helps
Maarten
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  #8  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Thanks to you all for the responses !

For a bit of background (lest it's helpful to others in our position), I first approached my boss a goodly while ago on an 'informal' basis. I have just put in the 'official' request letter. My partner had to have her request put 'to the board' and has had hers approved. (And like Wright, she has just been promoted and they'll still honour the leave - so there's some positive vibes for anyone considering similar).

Our plan is Sept/Oct 2003, UK overland to India and where ever. So we are giving lot's of notice ! We have also emphasised our commitment to the companies, and commitment to program work and assist with temporary replacements, and said we'd actually come back ! In addition I've shown plenty of initiative and volunteered for plenty of work stuff during last few years

I've actually taken the opposite view from PanEuropean, as in my industry there is a skills shortage - so by coming back, they are keeping a known resource (could be a draw-back too !!) that would be hard to replace (I think !!), but there are agency staff to temporarily fill my place (at a cost). But, it can go either way !

The things I'm particularly interested in, rather than planning the initial approach (but thank you to all for the very helpful comments), are things like :-

Is good to pay your pension while away to ensure continuity (some companies will do this while away anyway)

Are there other contributions to continue to say ensure you have health cover if flown back in an emergency (ignoring separate policies, just the NHS [UK] cover), etc etc.

Fairly obviously we'll have to pay the mortgage and find a house insurance to cover it empty (if left empty) and so on, but it was the lifetime issues such as pension / health cover type of thing I was speculating on.

By the way we're in the UK, but any info from other countries will obviously be of interest to like minded folk and of no harm to know of for us.

Thanks for the info on the book Susan - should be good background, I'll be looking into it. I will try and get a copy shipped (It's American). But for general info it seems to sell at $11.20 new, and if in states there's 22 S/H at about $3-4. On first try, sadly none in UK. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again for helpful info - I will keep you posted, but remember - we can't all leave at once !
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  #9  
Old 15 Feb 2002
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Thanks Maarten, very helpfull.
Fritz, about the nhs. I have lived in the Netherlands for 11 years now but have visited my GP in the Uk several times to recieve injections for travelling. They seem to be seen as preventative medicine, at least a few years ago, and I didnt have to pay unlike in NL. No questions were asked evan tho I havnt paid contributions for 12 years. I suppose they dont know where I live and assume I'm just lucky with my health. However I am insured in NL and I would advise checking the Nhs cover for yourself fully to be on the safe side.
Andy
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  #10  
Old 21 Feb 2002
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Thanks for the further replies.
I took the plunge and ordered the USA book as mentioned by Susan. Sure much will be USA only, but may prove helpful. Not available in UK, so cost as much for postage as book - if it proves useful maybe someone will want to buy it ?
As I find reponses to the various issues I'll post them here for interested parties.
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  #11  
Old 21 Mar 2002
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hello,
in france, if you work for a private company, most "conventions collectives" (law that register the branches of the companies)will allow you to go for 11 months unpaid and get the same job back
otherwise, it's a deal with your employer
civil servant (what i am) can go until 6 years :-)

safe travels

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  #12  
Old 12 Apr 2002
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Thanks for the French connection Danna - that sounds very positive !
Still awaiting responce to my request - not the sort of thing you push too hard initially.
I received the book Susan highlighted, have read it, and will get around to posting a review of it. In general it covers all the areas I had thought of, had some usefull info that might be handy during my negiotions, but generally was far to USA biased (no insult intended).
Many case histories were for sabaticals where staff got PAID time off - now that would be nice !!
As I progress through my experiences I'll post anything worthwhile here in the hope it assists others.

[This message has been edited by Fritz (edited 12 April 2002).]
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