Anyone tried taking unpaid leave of absence for at least a year and was successful? Just to get away from all this bu-----t for a while. Of course, I am prepared to quit if the answer is no, but just to try my luck in case things improve 1-2 years down the road.
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Really? Why not? It gets approved fir anyone sleeping with someone.
I have seen the same scenario played out so many times. In the end it is all about whose a-s your kissing.
You have to be management material or otherwise they will push you out. Examples: a guy traveling the US with an RV for a year. Came back, no problem. A gal taking a year off to travel the world. Came back, no problem. Both in "leadership" positions now. Another guy wanted to be with his spouse who was on assignment with another company overseas. He was told, sure, but you most likely won't have a job when you return. Ultimately, the PIP'd him. Typical, widespread, and unethical double standards at ExxonMobil.
I am going to take a shorter unpaid leave, it was approved as I am going back to support my family in my home country and they don’t want to lose my experience. I started to talk about it to my manager about 3 months ahead so they can prepare for the transition. I don’t think a request to skip a full year would fly.
@1uiz+1bauaSGs Only the slackers wants to take sabbatical leave to escape being expelled from EM. It should not be allowed in the current state we are in. Either bite the bullet or leave, we have no room to carry dead weight moving forward.
Double the earnings!
Yes why can’t you take unpaid leave? If someone is feeling mentally stressed or exhausted, they should be able to take a small break, be energized and come back. This is no different than taking a leave of absence for child birth. Why is mental fatigue not deemed in the same light? Because we can’t see it externally on the person’s body, it doesn’t mean it’s not effecting them.
I brought up the idea of an unpaid leave with my boss last year, I was strongly cautioned against it and ultimately didn’t. Ended up PIPd shortly thereafter, perhaps I wasn’t demonstrating a strong enough cultural fit?
@OP just take a few weeks vacation to get some perspective first. If you come back and still feel awful- just make the leap to find new work. Best of luck to you.
OP is ready to quit if s/he doesn't like the answer.
JFC who are we raising today.
Exxon never forgives or forgets. I took medical leave and was never forgiven.
6 months sabbatical with no need to provide a reason is offered in our site/country and it has been used successfully - I would say 95% of people then returns.
I am not sure tho how it would be seen in the current environment and even unsure if it wasn't frozen like all our benefits
I’m all honesty, the company shouldn’t and likely won’t approve a unpaid leave for you in this scenario. If you are that unhappy you need to make a decision for yourself. Either decide to leave or decide to stick it out and make a decision later. You can’t expect the company to be ok with you just leaving for a year to see if you want to stay, all the while continuing to keep you on the books.
Most you can take is 6 month if you want them to guarantee your employment when you come back. At least that is what HR and my managers told me.
I know some engineers took it in SGCX. Considering that hiring is freeze, manpower is super lean, giving unpaid leave is one of the way to keep team headcount. Better to get engineers coming back instead of them resign and no replacement with piling works
I personally know two people that did it and are still here. Word of caution though, you need a good reason to do it. Examples: one in a lifetime trip opportunity, care for a sick person not in the immediate family, long term religious mission trip.
I’ve seen it done, sometimes unsuccessfully, sometimes the person decides not to come back. I haven’t seen where someone takes leave and doesn’t get a position when returning, but it can definitely happen.
A good strategy to hide in the shadows which they sl------r the existing employees with year on year headcount reduction through PIP. Wise clever indeed!
Good luck!
Not done it myself. But yes, I’ve seen it done. YMMV. You are not guaranteed what position will be upon return and ‘permission “ can be easier or harder to get depending on your management and your personal characteristics.