Ryan FowlerUK workers are increasingly seeking extended time away from work, with new data from specialist recruiter Robert Half showing that 42% of employees want access to sabbaticals in 2025. The findings, published in the company’s latest Salary Guide, suggest growing concerns around mental health, wellbeing and burnout are driving this shift in employee expectations.
According to the research, 62% of workers believe employers risk overworking staff this year. In response, some organisations may view sabbatical programmes as a cost-effective way to support wellbeing, retain talent, and avoid long-term disengagement, particularly at a time when budgets for salary increases or additional benefits may be constrained.
Matt Weston, senior managing director UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said: “Given the increased focus on mental health and wellbeing that has been growing across the UK workforce for the last few years, it’s perhaps unsurprising that so many want access to time away from the office to rebalance or to pursue a dearly held goal. However, underlying reasons for this trend perhaps paints a concerning picture that businesses need to be aware of. The fact that so many workers tell us that they are concerned that they will be overworked in the year ahead suggests a level of uneasiness in the workforce that could have a lasting impact.
“Aside from the temporary issue of backfilling people who are on extended leave, failing to address the reasons why so many workers are longing to take extra time out of the business could create a talent headache longer term. If employees are overworked – or believe they are at risk of this – they won’t hang around for long. The damage this can have on employer branding is detrimental. It is important that firms monitor any increase in trends such as this to ascertain what the root cause of it is and act accordingly, otherwise they could face an exodus of talent.
“If we look at how people are using sabbaticals, there is growing evidence that many people are simply in need of a moment to themselves in their busy lives.
“There’s a wealth of data that showcases the potential burnout crisis people are facing, with Mental Health UK reporting that 90% of workers across the country felt stressed last year. Even those employers that are already offering extra time off – paid or not – should be mindful of trends such as this to ensure they are offering a truly holistic benefits packages that meets the needs of workers today.”
Robert Half says employers who act on this insight and consider sabbaticals as part of a broader benefits review may be better positioned to retain high performers and support workforce wellbeing in a competitive market.
