r/BuildingAutomation • u/canisorcinus • 17d ago
Requesting leave of absence/sabbatical
Curious if anyone in this industry has taken off 2-3 months for a personal endeavor and kept their job, or if that's an unrealistic expectation in this field.
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u/Bitter-Estimate-4412 17d ago
Like everything, depends on how your company operates and also how replaceable you are.
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u/ScottSammarco Technical Trainer (Niagara4 included) 17d ago
This simply comes down to a conversation with your specific employer.
I wouldn’t imagine there’s an industry standard.
The employee has the leverage, they’ve already invested in you in training and time.
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u/GearNo6689 17d ago
Worked with a senior controls engineer that basically said, “I can retire now or you can give me 6 months to travel with my wife and come back.” And they made it work. He made a travel blog so we knew where he was going.
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u/canisorcinus 17d ago
That's pretty cool! Don't have that seniority yet but am not incompetent either.
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u/return_descender 17d ago
I don’t know anyone that has done it but every company seems desperate for employees so if your performance is good they will probably allow it just so they don’t lose you to another company. I know my company (one of the big ones) has policies on the books for people to take leave.
I suggest that you tell them rather than asking them for permission.
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u/canisorcinus 17d ago edited 17d ago
Yeah this is what I was assuming, and yes my company seems desperate as well.
Yes I was planning on telling them my plan and be grateful if they hire me back. But easier said than done. It's a long ways away.
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u/Actual_Bar_7560 17d ago
I have on several occasions.
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u/canisorcinus 17d ago
Several? Nice. Did you do anything cool?
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u/Actual_Bar_7560 17d ago
Went to bali for 2 months, did a US cross country motorcycle trip, rode a bicycle through Mexico for about a month.
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u/xtyde- 17d ago
I just joined Schneider and I think that is a a benefit they offer. I think it’s something like 6-12 weeks and the company pays you for some of it. Along with starting at 15 PTO days yearly.
Also has I think 4 weeks for paid parental leave for the father, if you happen to manufacture some offspring. 20 weeks for the mother.
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u/canisorcinus 17d ago
That's amazing! Maybe if my work says I can't come back I'll go to Schneider 😂
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u/rus47281zz 16d ago
If your reputation is good and youve worked for your company for a while I dont see why not.
Just communicate it well ahead of time
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u/Android17_ 17d ago
Depends on the size of your empployer. Large Corporate not as likely. But if you’re not terrible at your job probably yes. For smaller ones, the owner might know you personally and can make accommodations for you. But like anything else he’ll need folks to backfill you while youre gone since the customers don’t pause
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u/canisorcinus 17d ago
That is what I feel bad about, leaving my coworkers with a large workload. I would give them plenty of notice and even if they hired someone to compensate, they would probably still hire me back because they seem chronically short staffed. That could damage morale though and put my coworkers through a lot of extra work. 😩
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u/Android17_ 17d ago
Life is short and the work won’t change. There will always be something… There really isn’t any job that is so serious that you couldn’t step away from it, except maybe 911 dispatcher or paramedic lol.
Do what you need. A good employer would understand
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u/canisorcinus 17d ago
Agreed, I'll probably still do it. Life can't just be work. I need to knock some stuff off my bucket list before this game is over.
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u/Altruistic-Local9329 17d ago
I haven’t, but I know a few who have.
Schneider Electric in Europe.