How mandatory sabbaticals will transform your company and your life | Scott Woods | TEDxPSU

What if you and every other employee in your company were paid to take an entire month off of work off every year, in order to pursue your dreams? How would that impact your company? How would that impact your life? Scott Woods’ company West Arete tried exactly this experiment, and the results are amazing.
Fifteen years ago Scott Woods and his wife, Ieva, quit their jobs, canceled their lease, and sold almost all of their belongings. It was a difficult and unlikely decision; by all measures they had great jobs, great friends, and a great place to live. But there are some experiences that can’t be achieved with a 9to5 job.
They spent the next several years traveling around the world, rock climbing and running ultramarathons full time. Their many adventures included climbing towers in the desert, remote walls in South Africa, alpine peaks in Peru, and running 100mile trail races. They spent many seasons in Yosemite Valley, making trips up Half Dome, El Capitan, and other big granite walls.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@makeupgirl8886]

Now, Chris and Sally are made redundant because their leadership decides that if they run successfully for 1 month without them, they can always run successfully without them. Would love a company to care enough to give sabbaticals, but corporate greed is real.

[@sabbaticalstory2807]

Completely agree with this. This, among other research we’ve done, helped inspire us to take our first sabbatical. We’ve learned a lot along the way and we validate the claims made here. Sabbaticals are amazing experiences that transform our lives!

[@vinayramachandran4992]

Wow I wanna join this company!!

[@Aritul]

Me too.

[@KalloMoney]

Cause i don't bruise easily ❤

[@NiceToSeeYou]

Most of the countries ensure a month or more off work by law.... by the title i imagined it would be longer term.

[@makeupgirl8886]

In the u.s. 2 weeks per year is the most common amount of vacation provided, and that is if your company even gives you paid time off.

[@jimbojimbo6873]

Yh thought he was gonna say 3-6 months

[@Seethi_C]

But do they have to cut salaries to make this work?

[@scottwoods5744]

Good question, Seethi. We did not cut salaries to make this happen. The first year we did it as an experiment-being transparent that we didn't really know what the full economic cost/benefit would be, and whether it would be sustainable. The good news is, it worked! Really well in fact.

[@joelgraupner8738]

Are you guys still hiring? :)