19 Well-Known Companies That Offer Paid Sabbaticals (#8 Gives You 2 Months!)

MAKE MONEY - JOBS & CAREERS
These companies give you paid time off so you can take a break.
Updated Aug. 12, 2023
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Most companies offer a slew of benefits to their employees, including health insurance, matching retirement funds, and paid vacation days.

But some companies offer something less common — a paid sabbatical.

Check out this list of companies that give you the option to take additional time off in a way that lets you lower your financial stress instead of increasing it.

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The Cheesecake Factory

wolterke/Adobe cheesecake factory exterior

Enjoy a delicious paid sabbatical if you work for restaurant chain The Cheesecake Factory and take some time off without earning extra cash on the side.

Corporate staffers can earn three weeks of paid sabbatical after working for the company for at least five years. They can take the same sabbatical every five years.


AARP

Rafael Henrique/Adobe American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) logo

AARP is an organization that advocates for older Americans and helps to guide them through issues such as health insurance and Social Security.

AARP employees have the option to take four weeks of paid sabbatical for each seven years they have worked with the organization.

Instacart

JHVEPhoto/Adobe Instacart company closeup sign

Instacart allows members to order groceries and other items from local stores and have them delivered for free if the order is $35 or more.

You can take up to four weeks for a sabbatical once you’ve reached four years working with Instacart.

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Microsoft

peter/Adobe Microsoft headquarters

Microsoft offers a generous sabbatical policy. A Microsoft employee can take up to eight weeks of paid sabbatical leave.

However, as with other companies, you need to be employed for a certain number of years before the option kicks in. In the case of Microsoft, that is 10 years.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

JHVEPhoto/Adobe blue cross blue shield

Health care company Blue Cross Blue Shield offers paid sabbaticals to employees looking for extra time off.

Employees can get four weeks of paid sabbatical from the company after working there continuously for at least five years.

VistaPrint

monticellllo/Adobe logo of Vistaprint

Vistaprint works as an e-commerce and marketing company that small businesses use to promote their work.

The company allows four weeks of paid sabbatical for employees who have worked there for at least five years. You can also earn a sabbatical time by referring new employees to the company.


Zillow

Jarretera/Adobe Website of Zillow

Real estate website Zillow offers employees the chance to take a break as part of its Zillow R&R; program.

Employees who have been with the company for at least six continuous years can take up to six weeks of sabbatical.

Patagonia

Sundry Photography/Adobe Patagonia sign above the entrance

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia supports employees who want to take some time off to support their environmental passion projects.

Company employees can participate in Patagonia’s Environmental Internship Program which allows workers to take up to two months off and work for environmental groups of their choice.

Working here can eliminate some money stress if you end up needing to take the time. 

Adobe

filins/Adobe Adobe logo on the smartphone screen

Head out on a trip or stay at home with your sabbatical time from the software company Adobe.

Employees with at least five years of work for Adobe can take up to four weeks of paid sabbatical. Those with a longer length of employment can extend the amount of time they take a sabbatical.

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Salesforce

Sundry Photography/Adobe salesforce logo on tower in san francisco

Customer relationship management software company Salesforce also encourages its employees to take time away for volunteer work.

The company gives workers up to seven days off each year as part of its volunteer time off program.

The Container Store

VERTEX SPACE/ADOBE pantry shelf

The Container Store lets you earn two weeks of paid sabbatical time after 10 years with the company.

The benefit increases to three weeks after working there for 20 years.

McDonald’s

Chatchai/Adobe McDonald's in Thailand

Fast-food giant McDonald’s offers paid sabbaticals for employees with at least 10 years of experience with the company.

Veteran corporate workers who have been there for a decade or more can take up to eight weeks off as part of their paid sabbatical leave.


QuikTrip

Tada Images/Adobe QuikTrip

Convenience store chain QuikTrip offers paid sabbatical time off for employees. However, it doesn’t provide additional details at its website.

So, if you interview with Quiktrip, be sure to ask when you will be eligible and how much time you can take off.

REI

ColleenMichaels/Adobe REI Co-Op store

REI can be a great option for employees who like the outdoors, as the retailer sells gear for hiking, camping, or cycling.

So, enjoy the outdoors with four weeks of paid sabbatical leave after you have worked with the company for at least 15 years. After that, you are eligible for another sabbatical every five years.

Intel

wolterke/Adobe intel worldwide sculpture placed outside the headquarters

Intel offers employees the chance to take a break with a paid sabbatical for workers based in the U.S. and Canada.

Employees can take up to four weeks of paid sabbatical from the software company after four years of employment. Or, they can choose up to seven weeks after they reach eight years of employment.

PayPal

mrmohock/Adobe PayPal

Financial technology company PayPal will pay you to take some time off if you’re an employee of the company.

Workers can get four weeks of time off after working at the company for five years, but all four weeks need to be taken in one block of time.

Bank of America

Roman Tiraspolsky/Adobe Bank of America

Banking giant Bank of America offers employees with at least 15 years of experience a sabbatical.

Employees are eligible for four to six weeks of paid sabbatical leave every five years once they reach their 15th anniversary.

Epic

joyfotoliakid/Adobe programmer developing software using two monitors on table in discussion with colleague

Software development company Epic gives its employees the chance to see the world with paid time off to travel.

The company’s paid sabbatical policy allows workers to take four weeks off every five years and will help fund a trip for you and a guest to a country you’ve never visited before.

Buffer

Thomas Dutour/Adobe Buffer app icon on Apple iPhone

Buffer, which helps small businesses utilize social media, gives its workers a chance to take a break.

The company’s paid sabbatical program allows workers to take up to six weeks of break after working there for five years.

Pro tip: Working for one of these companies can offer great peace of mind in the event something happens so that you aren't stuck trying to find ways to pay your rent

Bottom line

fizkes/Adobe employee looks at female colleague

Are you ready to request some additional paid time off? Some organizations will give you this option, although it might only be available after you have worked a specific number of years.

You can use a sabbatical at these companies to reduce stress, or even to develop a side hustle that will help you to make some additional cash. So, consider this perk if you are debating working for one of the companies on this list.

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Author Details

Jenny Cohen Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.