When we talk about a gap year, what goes through your mind? A moment of rest to travel, a period to recycle, to dedicate to your family… Today we will see the issues to consider if you want to request it. Take note of all of them!
In Spain, this period of time is recognized in the Workers’ Statute as “Leave of Absence”. Know the regulations in detail and work in Human Resources departments specializing with the Talent Management and Digital Skills Course of Training.
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What you need to know to take a gap year: write down!
Ana wanted to do a gap year to travel for three months and, on her return, start a master’s degree. Her company was somewhat suspicious, and she also had doubts about what she should keep in mind when making this request. Are you in the same situation? Take paper and write down some of the recommendations when requesting this resource:
- Negotiate before you go how it will be your reinstatement. As discussed below, Not all leaves of absence allow you to return to your same job and automatically.
- It is also very important that this sabbatical year is not the result of improvisation, but that it is planned ahead: that you have matured and prepared it. This will give you time to:
- Save to alleviate the theoretical lack of income, especially in the event that you are not going to work elsewhere.
- Get organized: efficiently manage that doctorate, that new career, that trip, that time spent with your family…
- Finally, the third aspect to take into account is how you are going to formalize it at work. Although the concept of a gap year is understood by everyone, materializes in Spain as leave of absence (In other countries it does contemplate it as is its labor legislation).
Take a gap year: leave of absence in Spain
Do you want to do a gap year? The first thing to keep in mind is that leave of absence occurs when a worker leave your job voluntarily and temporarily. In general, this right does not guarantee that you will be readmitted automatically and only reserves, in most cases, a certain priority in the selection processes to return to the company.
The sabbatical year does not appear in Spanish legislation as such, but is materialized as “leave of absence”
According to his own Workers’ Statute in its Article 46, There are certain exceptions to this last statement:
- forced leave of absence The worker leaves his job to hold a public position in a geographical, provincial, regional or state area that makes it impossible for the person to go to work. In these cases, the company is obliged to keep his job position and his seniority.
- Leave of absence to care for a family member. In this case, either for maternity or paternity or for the care of a relative up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, during the first year the reservation of a job is guaranteed, although the duration of the leave may be three years. in the case of maternity or paternity or two years in the case of caring for a relative.
Thus, whether it is the second case, when it exceeds one year, or whether it is a voluntary leave of absence (for studies, to travel, etc.), we must take into account:
- He no automatic re-entryfor which we already recommended in previous points, to negotiate the return before starting the sabbatical period.
- To apply, you must have a minimum seniority in the company one year old
- Even if you don’t guarantee re-entry, you have a preferential right to return when there is a vacancy in a category that is the same or similar to yours.
- The leave may have a duration between 4 months and five years.
- Between leave and leave (that is, you can request more than one during your stay in the company) must have been at least four years.
- You do not have to specify the reasons that lead you to request the leave of absence. Even so, to be in good harmony and to favor the negotiation of the return, it is interesting to comment on them and discuss them with management. It is important to know that, in many cases, on that leave of absence, you cannot go to work at the competition. Nor is a notice period regulated, but as we pointed out before, it is always positive to coordinate well with the organization so that they have time to make your substitution.
Companies that look favorably on employees who want to take a gap year have an interesting premise for the most promising workers in their sector. get ready with him Talent Management and Digital Skills Course to form a professional team that is at the forefront.
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Advantages of gap years for companies: are they profitable?
Although going on a gap year seems like a luxury within the reach of few, the truth is that it is a labor flexibility tool that can contribute to both parties. Read on to find out about some of its business advantages!
- The main benefit is that staff satisfaction will increase.
- It is a social advantage that not all organizations allow and that, without a doubt, contributes to improve the brand of companies that they do. It makes working in them appealing and an image of modernity, conciliation and corporate social responsibility is projected, which can mean a competitive differential for the company.
- In addition, as a third advantage to point out, we could say that, after these sabbatical periods, it is possible that Workers come back with more ideas, can contribute knowledge and new experiences and, ultimately, are in a position to offer more value for the product, the brand and the organization. This usually occurs especially in the group of highly qualified professionals such as researchers, doctors, computer scientists, etc.
Specialize in Talent Management!
Now that you have cleared up your doubts about how to do a gap year, enhance your knowledge and delve into the Human Resources area with the Talent Management and Digital Skills Course.
In Formation We have been digitizing the most requested professional profiles in the labor market for 18 years. In this training we have achieved it with a complete training material endorsed by Arena Media and by the International University of Valenciawhich once you finish the course, will also give you an accrediting title.
This training is recognized by Arena Media and the International University of Valencia
During the course you will be able to access Digital, our online learning community. A space that will allow you to interact and communicate with other students. You will not feel alone at any time!
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