The power and impact of workplace sabbaticals have become increasingly relevant following the Great Resignation and burn out of employees across sectors. Reported benefits of sabbaticals include improved wellbeing, increased focus and engagement, and reduced turnover. Despite these reports, sabbaticals remain a privilege offered by some 16% of employers.. A report by Givebutter finds that “1 in every 10 employees working for a nonprofit, a large portion of our nation’s workforce, are feeling overworked, under-resourced, and disengaged. Leaders (60%) report feeling “used up” at the end of the workday.”
“Grind culture”, or the celebration of working long hours and being constantly connected to work, is a trait of white supremacy culture. Systemic inequities in funding Black, Indigenous, people of color led organizations result in leaders of color having to stretch themselves thin with limited resources to invest in rest and well-being for themselves and their teams. Organizations such as the BIPOC-ED Coalition and advocates like Tricia Hersey, Founder of The Nap Ministry are lifting up the dangers of glorifying work without rest. These and other leaders are encouraging the social sector to create space for rest and restoration through sabbaticals at all levels. As the sector continues to raise awareness around the need for rest, foundations are funding sabbaticals for nonprofit leaders while centering leaders of color specifically.
Community Wealth Partners has a sabbatical policy in place for staff who have worked at the firm for 10 years. We took time to reflect on rest through sabbatical at Community Wealth Partners in an intimate conversation with our CEO, Amy Celep, Associate Director, Rachel Hutt, and Senior Director, Amy Farley. The following audio clips were recorded with intention to reflect on their sabbatical experiences, challenge our thinking as a firm, and share what we are wrestling with in an effort to normalize conversations around rest in the sector.
It is important to note that to date only 4 people have been beneficiaries of sabbaticals at our firm so far, all of which are white women. As we continue the discussion around rest, we are examining our own policies to determine what changes we might need to make to ensure our team members experience time away from work for rest and recovery.
Below are some questions we are holding as it relates to the future of rest through sabbatical. We encourage you to reflect on these questions and continue the dialogue with your colleagues, friends, and family.
How would our work be impacted if we normalized rest as fuel on the road to changemaking in the sector?
What practices could we examine within our organization to normalize rest?
What do our colleagues of color need to feel supported in taking time to rest?
Parking Lot Conversations at Community Wealth Partners | Rest Through Sabbaticals
Amy Celep, CEO, Rachel Hutt, Associate Director, and Amy Farley, Senior Director share their reflections on sabbatical and the importance of rest on the road to equity.
What is the history and thought behind the sabbatical program at Community Wealth Partners?
Amy Celep, CEO
What did you do during your sabbatical?
Amy Farley, Senior Director
What were your big “Ah-ha” moments during sabbatical?
Amy Farley, Senior Director
Rachel Hutt, Associate Director
Looking back, what did sabbatical give you?
Amy Farley, Senior Director
What are your observations of team members when they return from sabbatical?
Amy Celep, CEO
What role did your colleagues play during your sabbatical?
Amy Celep, CEO
Rachel Hutt, Associate Director
What are your observations around sabbaticals in the field?
Rachel Hutt, Associate Director
Amy Celep, CEO
Amy Farley, Senior Director
Historically, white women have been the beneficiaries of sabbaticals at CWP. What are your thoughts around that and what changes might you consider moving forward?
Amy Celep, CEO
Resources:
https://thesabbaticalproject.org/
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/using_founder_sabbaticals_as_organizational_reset
https://bipocedcoalitionwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Sabbaticals-for-BIPOC-Leaders.pdf
https://wawomensfdn.org/grantmaking/rest-repair-awards/
https://bipocedcoalitionwa.org/news/2022-sabbatical-awardees/
https://durfee.org/our-programs/sabbatical/
https://durfee.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DIY-Sabbatical-Guide_CDA092519.pdf
https://www.barrfoundation.org/barr-fellowship
https://coloradohealth.org/nonprofit-sabbatical-program
https://www.zsr.org/sabbatical
https://fieldstoneleadershipsd.org/clare-rose-sabbatical-program/
https://www.healingtrust.org/our-grant-programs/apply/sabbatical-grant/