Sabbatical leave

the principles and the possibilities

• Heli Ilola Pohjois-Suomen tutkimuslaitos
• Seppo Aho Lapin korkeakoulu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33336/aik.96643

Abstract

The development of a system of sabbatical leave has been the topic of discussion for some years in the process of the reformation of work life in Finland. In 1988, a research project was initiated to look into the possibilities of sabbatical leave. The authors were involved in the project as researchers. Sabbatical leave in this context means a leave of absence of a few months from their workplaces for employees. No restrictions are imposed on how the employee should use this period. The choice is up to the person in question. The authors’ view is that sabbatical leave would serve, for example, the internal development of work communities, the enrichment of the extra-work life of people and also it would reduce unemployment. The authors present in their article several models for sabbatical leave and the results of the study in which people were interviewed as to their interest towards sabbatical leave and the ways in which it might be used. The majority of the respondents were interested in the possibility of sabbatical leave, but only one in ten were prepared to use it for study purposes. The authors are of the opinion that sabbatical leave could supplement the system of study leave without pay which, in Finland, has been in use for over ten years and which commits the person using it to goal-directed study; sabbatical leave would enable people to participate in less strictly defined study and self-development.