HBR IdeaCast

Why More Companies Should Have a Sabbatical Policy

Jun 6, 2023

DJ DiDonna, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project, dives into the growing trend of work sabbaticals. He discusses how these breaks can counteract burnout, enhance creativity, and boost employee morale. DiDonna highlights the shift from informal requests to formal policies, especially post-pandemic, and emphasizes the socio-economic benefits of sabbaticals for both workers and organizations. He shares insights on how to effectively implement these policies for a healthier work culture.

25:33

Creator website

Episode guests

DJ DiDonna

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Rising Trend of Work Sabbaticals

2min

Rediscovering Self Through a Sabbatical Journey

2min

The Power of Location in Sabbaticals

3min

The Power of Sabbaticals

15min

The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals in Leadership

2min

Sabbaticals have long been thought of as an academic privilege, but a growing number of companies offer them, especially since the pandemic. DJ DiDonna, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project, has interviewed hundreds of workers who’ve taken them and studied organizations that offer them. From his research and his own experience on a sabbatical, DiDonna shares the surprising impacts that extended time off—paid or unpaid—can have on workers, teams, and the overall organization. And he explains how organizations can make sabbaticals work both financially and culturally.