Paid Sabbatical Leave Policy

[Company Name] understands the significance of having employees who are leaders in their field and endeavors to encourage innovation and creativity in our employees to ensure that [Company Name] remains a leader of cutting-edge products in our industry. It is important that company employees who are responsible for innovation are given time to focus their creative endeavors both personally and professionally so that new ideas can continue to be generated.

Purpose

It is the policy of [Company Name] to allow eligible employees to take paid sabbatical leave to focus on self-development for a specified period of time. Employees eligible for sabbatical leave will be held accountable for the activities or materials they choose to conduct or create during this leave. All intellectual property created during an employee's sabbatical leave will be deemed property of [Company Name].

Eligibility

Exempt-level professional and creative employees working in designated "innovative" areas such as product development, research and design may apply for a sabbatical leave after [enter number] years of continuous full-time service. These employees may apply to take sabbatical leave for [enter number of weeks or months] at full pay or [enter greater number of weeks or months] at 50% of pay.

Employees at director and executive levels are also eligible to apply for sabbatical leave after [enter number] continuous years of full-time service to the company. These employees may apply to take sabbatical leave for [enter number of weeks or months] at full pay or [enter greater number of weeks or months] at 50% pay.

After an employee has completed sabbatical leave, he or she is not permitted to reapply for sabbatical leave for a period of [enter number] years following completion of an employee's last sabbatical.

Employees on approved sabbatical leave will receive pay and continued benefits during the period of leave. Employees on sabbatical leave are not eligible for tuition reimbursement or any sabbatical activity reimbursement.

Procedures

Eligible employees who wish to apply for sabbatical leave are required to submit a letter to their immediate supervisor describing the reason for the sabbatical and anticipated activities during sabbatical. Some examples of activities during sabbatical include continuing education, writing a book or peer-reviewed publication, or conducting focused research in the employee's particular area of expertise.

The submitted proposal will be reviewed by the employee's immediate supervisor and human resources. Sabbatical proposals will be granted based on the company's necessity to conduct such research or development as well as on staffing needs.

After an employee's return from sabbatical leave, the employee will be required to produce evidence of the activities conducted during this time. In some instances, this may include a class syllabus with a reported grade for the class. In other instances, it may mean the submission of a completed book or manuscript or a reporting of findings, if conducting research during this time. Failure to produce evidence of work during this period will result in the employee becoming ineligible to participate in future sabbaticals. [Company Name] also reserves the right to take disciplinary action against employees who fail to conduct any meaningful work or activities during this period.

Time off taken for approved Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave will not be counted against the employee when determining eligibility or "continuous service."

Employees on sabbatical leave will not be required to use any accrued leave during this period and are permitted to carry over all leave in the instance that the sabbatical leave crosses from one calendar year into the next. Employees will not accrue any additional leave during their sabbatical.

[Company Name]'s group benefits plan document states that employees who are on approved sabbaticals are eligible for coverage. Employees on sabbatical who are enrolled in our group benefits plan will continue to have pre-tax deductions made from their pay during the sabbatical period.