Taking time for yourself: the impact of Wise's paid sabbatical leave

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background

I joined Wise in 2020 as part of the German Customer Support Team, and pretty soon after, I became involved in various training projects, where I was able to apply my passion for education. Those experiences led me to a role in the People & Organizational Development Team as an Learning & Development Specialist, where I spent two great years before transitioning into the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team, where I now oversee all learning initiatives in the DEI space. In this role, I design and facilitate training, develop e-learning modules, and support initiatives that foster understanding around inclusion.

Tell us about your sabbatical leave 

When I joined Wise, the prospect of a sabbatical after 4 years was really motivating - it’s not every company that offers this kind of perk and it’s really quite rare. So I told myself: “When I make it to my sabbatical, I’m finally crossing New Zealand and Australia off my bucket list.” And that’s exactly what I did, alongside my good friend and fellow Wiser, Sirli. It took a 40-hour journey with several stops and one of the most expensive plane tickets I’ve ever bought—but the £1,000 sabbatical bonus definitely helped! 

What was your favourite part of your sabbatical?

If I were to give one highlight, it would have to be hiking through Tongariro National Park where we walked alongside an active volcano and up to the sacred lakes with their surreal blue and green hues. The volcanic landscape is just unworldly and served as a great reminder of just how full of wonders nature is. I know it sounds cheesy, but it really is! 

How did taking sabbatical leave help you recharge?

I came back from sabbatical with a renewed appreciation of how profoundly recharging nature is. With this, also a renewed commitment to finding moments of connection with nature—wherever I am. (Yes, even in currently grey and cold Estonia). There’s beauty everywhere - if you take the time to look for it. 

Leaving work behind for an extended period can feel daunting, but that’s why we work in teams! I’m incredibly grateful to my team for holding the fort while I was away. Knowing everything was in good hands made it so much easier to fully disconnect, relax, and make the most of my time off.

About halfway through my sabbatical, I couldn’t believe I still had three full weeks left! It was during the fourth, fifth, and sixth weeks that I truly felt a deep sense of relaxation and recharged in a way I never had before. The extended time really made a difference in how rested I felt upon returning to work. For the first time, I didn’t find myself saying, “that vacation was too short.”

How has your sabbatical changed the way you approach work?

I returned with a sustained feeling of being recharged and with a refreshed perspective on work-life balance. Letting go of small stresses has become easier, as has finding ways to recharge—especially after rediscovering the benefits of being active in nature. During my sabbatical, I built habits that I now carry with me—habits that take time and energy to develop, which can be hard to find in the usual work rhythm.

If you can, choose something that mentally takes you far from work, so you can completely unplug.