Since July 2022, Uhlmann offers a a sabbat­ical of between one and twelve months. Since then, more than 20 employees have already taken the chance to fulfill some personal wishes. Not a single appli­ca­tion has been rejected by the company. The reasons for a sabbat­ical and its dura­tion vary greatly and are always tailored to personal needs. You find out more about the condi­tions and options for sabbat­i­cals in the portal, from the Works Council or at HR depart­ment.

Two employees have agreed to share their expe­ri­ences during their sabbat­ical with us.

When were you on sabbat­ical?

I was on sabbat­ical from 01.06.2022 to 30.05.2023.

Was it your first sabbat­ical?

Yes, it was my first sabbat­ical.

What made you decide to take a sabbat­ical?

To take more time for myself and give myself the space that I don’t get enough of in my day-to-day work.

What did you use your time off for? Were there any special projects?

I let it happen to me and started a live & busi­ness coaching course during that time and completed a yoga and sound healing (sound bowl therapy) course in India (2 months).

Just do it, take it easy and enjoy the time

Natalie Maier – Projekt Manager Digital Solu­tions at Uhlmann Pac-Systeme in Laupheim

What did you expe­ri­ence there?

In prin­ciple, I was able to inten­sify my inter­ests. India was also a completely new expe­ri­ence for me. In addi­tion, I not only met many great and inspiring people there and through the coaching training, but also had enriching expe­ri­ences, which contributed to my personal devel­op­ment.

How did the appli­ca­tion and approval process at Uhlmann go?

Smoothly. The approval process at Uhlmann was very good, there were no hurdles.

How did you prepare for your sabbat­ical?

I didn’t prepare myself, I only had a rough struc­ture of what I wanted to do, but I let myself drift and let things come to me. In the end, it was the right way to go, because I was able to do what I wanted to do spon­ta­neously.

What were the biggest chal­lenges?

There were no chal­lenges for me, I didn’t even find it diffi­cult to get up because I was allowed to do what I wanted to do every day.

Are you plan­ning to take another sabbat­ical in the future? If so, what would you do differ­ently this time?

Not at first, as the sabbat­ical means I’m now doing the things I enjoy.

How did you prepare for your return to work?

I had to get my IT access back (which is under­stand­able after a year), and I let the rest come to me.

What impact has the sabbat­ical had on the way you work and your daily routine since your return?

I decided to work part-time.

Are there any long-term changes or goals that have resulted from your sabbat­ical?

Yes, very many. On the one hand, the deci­sion to work part-time, the start as a yoga trainer and coach, and on the other, personal changes, such as the imple­men­ta­tion of mind­ful­ness and serenity with all the resulting bene­fits.

Would you recom­mend a sabbat­ical to others?

Defi­nitely yes.

What advice would you give to colleagues who are consid­ering a sabbat­ical?

Just do it, because there is never the right time. Don’t plan every­thing in detail, just let it happen and enjoy the time.

Plan and apply at an early stage so that you can develop the resulting measures together with the team and agree on takeovers. Consult with colleagues, the team leader and HR in advance.

When were you on sabbat­ical (leave of absence period)?

I was on sabbat­ical from 01.07.2023 – 30.09.2023.

Was it your first sabbat­ical?

Yes, it was my first sabbat­ical

What made you decide to take a sabbat­ical?

We simply wanted to get out of “civi­liza­tion” and into the moun­tains for a longer period of time.

What did you use your time off for? Were there any special projects?

We worked at the moun­tain hut in South Tyrol, above Brixen at an alti­tude of 2300m.

We were hiking if the weather and time allowed.

We just wanted to get out of “civi­liza­tion” and into the moun­tains

Tobias Dangel­mayr, Design Engi­neer at Uhlmann PacSys­teme in Laupheim

What did you expe­ri­ence there?

It was a complete contrast to my usual surround­ings. Hard phys­ical work, plenty of food and still losing weight.

The hut proved to be the ideal starting point, you start directly at an alti­tude of 2300m. This saves you the journey and the long ascent and allows you to start your enjoy­able hike straight away.

The weather condi­tions at this alti­tude are forces of nature that are rarely expe­ri­enced in this inten­sity in the valley. Storms, hail and thun­der­storms are almost a daily occur­rence in midsummer.

How did the appli­ca­tion and approval process work at Uhlmann?

Without any prob­lems at all. My managers and HR didn’t put any obsta­cles in my way, they were very accom­mo­dating.

How did you prepare for your sabbat­ical?

We sublet our apart­ment for the time. That was the biggest part. We let the rest come to us.

What were the biggest chal­lenges?

The switch from precise and accu­rate work to fast, energy-sapping work.

The rough treat­ment and many mind­less tasks.

Are you plan­ning to take a sabbat­ical again in the future? If so, what would you do differ­ently this time?

Nothing is planned.

How did you prepare for your return to work?

Prepa­ra­tion was not neces­sary.

What impact has the sabbat­ical had on the way you work and your day-to-day work since your return?

After this extreme expe­ri­ence, I appre­ciate working at Uhlmann even more than before and know that I have a good employer.

Would you recom­mend a sabbat­ical to others?

It’s a good way to fulfill a dream.

What advice would you give to colleagues who are consid­ering a sabbat­ical?

It is impor­tant to coor­di­nate with your manager and colleagues at an early stage.

Many thanks to Natalie and Tobias for the insights into their private lives and the great pictures they share with us.