Sabbatical Leave: Scripted Replies to Objections

“A sabbatical leave? I can't let you go for that long.”

Any response or objection to your request for a sabbatical signals the start of your negotiation.

Put the emphasis on the merits and strength of your proposal's Work Coverage plan. Be ready to compromise with the Accessibility During Leave part of your proposal. If necessary, point out the portion of leave that you’ve earned (i.e., accrued paid time off).

Here are scripts to adapt on your way to reaching an agreement.

“It sounds like a long time to be away, yet the main concern regarding my absence is addressed: the work will get done. Let’s go over my Work Coverage plan in more detail so I can address your specific concerns.”

“While I am requesting [two or three] additional weeks time beyond the [#] weeks I’ve accrued, the work will continue to be handled in the way I’ve outlined. May we focus our discussion on your specific areas of concern and how my Work Coverage plan and Accessibility can address them?” [I could check in be in touch more often during the latter two weeks of my leave.]

“Virtually every business must respond to the need to cover an employee during an extended illness or a maternity leave of six weeks or more. [I'm not sick. I’m not pregnant. Say it in a good-humored tone, but skip it if it sounds too flippant for your situation.] I'm giving ample notice plus proposing solutions for a well-planned leave that has a defined beginning and end. Do you think this is something we can work out together?”

OR

“Unlike a traditional sabbatical leave of several months to a year, I am asking for six weeks off. That is just [#] weeks more than my accrued paid time off. A six-week leave is not unlike handling an employee’s absence under FMLA [Family and Medical Leave Act]. The good news is I’m not asking for maternity [paternity] leave, but rather a short sabbatical leave.”

“Would you like me to be in touch with you earlier or more often than I’ve proposed? Let’s modify the Accessibility part of my proposal as a way to address your concerns.”

“[As my proposal indicated,] I’ve already arranged and tested secure remote access to my workstation computer to get any files from any Internet access point in the world, should an urgent situation require it.” [Get your 30-day free trial through WorkOptions.com’s special arrangement.]

“I could trim it to five weeks and still be satisfied that it would meet the purpose for taking leave. How comfortable are you with that?”

“I’m open to some adjustment of the start date. Do you have a suggestion for moving the dates I’m proposing?”

“I can't approve this. We don't have a sabbatical policy here.”

[This may be a smokescreen excuse for denying the request, so you'll have to work around it.]

“What I hear you saying is that if [employer name] had a policy, you would approve it?” [If your manager says no, surface the real reasons, likely related to length of absence. If yes...]

“Great. I'm wondering if you'll work with me to address the request in a way that conforms to [employer]'s policy. I can take my [#] accrued vacation weeks starting on [date] and request for [#] weeks of leave without pay to follow it. How does that work for you?”

“If I let you do it, everyone else will want to do the same.”

“In practice, most people prefer to continue their regular schedule. Not everyone can afford to take some weeks without pay or even wants to. Also, a common standard for companies that do offer sabbaticals is to require a minimum of five years of service, which many employees don't yet have.”

Tailor Scripts to Fit

These sample scripts give you an idea of how you can direct your negotiations. Naturally, your actual opening lines and replies to your manager’s response to your proposal will be tailored to your unique set of circumstances. This exchange with your manager is where your planning and preparation will shine.

Get Paid During Leave?

Maybe your manager will accept your proposal without challenging supplemental leave or the total number of weeks requested. In that scenario, move right into your request for getting some pay during supplemental leave.

By its definition, supplemental leave is unpaid. But through further negotiations, you might do better. See How to Get a Paid Sabbatical Leave for the three conditions that foster the possibility of employer-paid leave.

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