Every member of Team Jeni’s, from part-time ice cream Ambassador through CEO, is eligible for a 4-week paid sabbatical every three years. The purpose of sabbatical is to rest, restore, and get inspired. In 2023, 58 team members spent their sabbatical doing things like traveling the world, spending time with people they love, or learning new hobbies. There is no wrong way to sabbatical…except to check work email or check in with one’s boss; those activities are not allowed while on sabbatical at Jeni’s. “How-did-you-spend-your-sabbatical” stories are as unique as each of our team members, and we love hearing them upon each person’s return. Here is our Director of Training and Resources, Jacob’s recent sabbatical story: “This March I celebrated my 4th(!) Jeni’s sabbatical. (We call this one the quadratical.) During my previous sabbaticals, I did a lot of major traveling, and self improvement. This time, I stayed close to home and focused on 3 things: Cooking good food, nurturing friendships, and spending as much time as possible with my 6 month old baby, Griff. I took Griff on a few short trips to meet family and future friends, cooked him several soups, and hosted several dinner parties. We spent Monday mornings at the local library for baby read-a-longs, and Friday mornings at the swim center for baby swimming lessons. In between we had lots of play time, walks, and contact naps. It was 4 weeks of an alternate life as a house-dad, just like my father was to me growing up. I loved every minute and when the time came to return to work I was refreshed and felt reborn. I feel very lucky to have had this time with my son.”
Cheers to non-traditional benefits that add value for people and companies!
I took my own 2.5 year professional sabbatical (left my company of 13 years) and it allowed me to rest, recharge, and redefine my purpose on my own terms. I returned to the workforce with more mindfulness, passion, and drive than ever. I am so fortunate to have had the financial stability to make this decision despite being the sole income earner for my family, but I truly believe that more corporations should implement sabbatical programs as a way to invest in and retain talent.
We love this! Our company does annual 40-hour sabbaticals for employees with the same goals in mind-- nourish the soul, explore hobbies and step away from the work to reset. Love to see other companies embracing this ??
Jeni's culture is as sweet as the ice cream ??
It's amazing to see how Jeni's values rest and rejuvenation for their team members! Jacob's sabbatical story is heartwarming and inspiring. Focusing on cooking, friendships, and precious moments with his baby sounds like the perfect way to recharge. Kudos to Jeni's for creating such meaningful opportunities for their team. ??
Love this! Burnout is such an issue for many, so it's encouraging to see companies making efforts to help employees rest and recharge. I hope you continue to inspire others!
This company (from my hometown) has always been amazing. Jeni always makes decisions that show how much she values her employees, her customers and her creations. ????????????????
More companies should follow suit! If we lived in another country that has more vacation time, we may not have to push so hard for breaks like this (you worked her X hours, therefore you are deserving of X break). But it's great to see more U.S companies - especially those in my state - reward their employees in such a positive and equal way. ??
This is amazing! Everyone deserves a reset! Employee burnouts are more costly than some quality self time.
This is precisely why we implemented a week-long paid Summer and a Winter Break every year for all our employees! Everyone deserves some well-deserved R&R ??