How to Negotiate Time off of Work for Long-Term Travel

Negotiating time off for long-term travel requires careful consideration and thought. Many jobs offer two weeks' paid vacation, with a few additional weeks possible for long-time employees. Some employees plan for company-approved sabbaticals for long-term employees with good attendance and performance records. Proper planning and building a good case is important in negotiating time off from work for long-term travel.

Instructions

1. Review your travel plans to determine how long you need to be away. Negotiating a few more days beyond your available vacation time is often easy. But requesting say, two additional months for really long-term travel creates a challenge. Save as much vacation or leave time as possible before requesting a long break. Using all your leave time and then asking for another break for long-term travel is inconsiderate.

2. Check company policies for time off without pay or while on sabbatical. Check with human resources for company guidelines. Also speak with coworkers who took long periods off for travel. Ask how they gained approval, and incorporate the tips into your planning, if appropriate.

3. Review your personal workload and projects underway in your department to determine the best time to suggest a long-term leave. Choosing slow periods for you personally, and for the company, shows proper thought and consideration.

4. Meet with your supervisor months or even up to a year before your intended leave. This allows plenty of time for discussions and to reach an agreement. Tell your employer why time off for long-term travel will benefit you -- and the company. The Forbes website warns against complaining of burnout. Instead, find business reasons why being off for a long stretch makes sense for both you and your employer. For example, offer to take the extra leave without pay, saving the company some money. Or talk about how the time off will enrich you in some way, such as helping you improve your Spanish if you plan to spend say, a month in South America. That argument could help if your company needs employees who speak Spanish.

5. Negotiate with your boss and human resources, if necessary. WorkOptions.com reports that seeking a total of five weeks off -- including current vacation time -- is a reasonable goal. However, establish your own goal for time off for long-term travel without seeming outlandish. For example, a request for six months off to travel the world likely would not receive serious consideration. Describe your request as a sort-term sabbatical for travel. Present your request confidently. Cite your value and loyalty to the company and a short list of your accomplishments as reasons the company should grant your request. Focus only on your request while not discussing long-term time off by others. If the company balks at the request, suggest a shorter time away that still meets your needs. If that fails, ask for the extra time off without pay.

References

• Forbes; How to Take a Sabbatical From Work; Helen Coster; August 2010
• WorkOptions; Extra Vacation For Boomers -- A Negotiation Strategy Guide; Pat Katepoo