Sabbatical

What you need to know

A sabbatical provides you with a break from the pace and intensity of your work and allows you to spend more time with your family, travel, pursue a social service project, or simply relax. Once you have completed 5 years of service with PayPal, you may request up to 20 consecutive business days paid sabbatical through the Global Sabbatical Program.

Who’s eligible

Eligible full and part-time* employees can request a sabbatical of up to 20 consecutive business days after completing five years of eligible continuous service. Generally, the calculation is made based on your hire date with PayPal. Time absent due to a company-approved leave of absence (either paid or unpaid) counts toward the continuous service date for the employee.

If you join PayPal as part of an acquisition. Your prior service will not be considered when calculating your years of service unless PayPal decides, in its sole discretion, to recognize all or a portion of your prior service. You will be notified regarding your sabbatical eligibility in connection with your transition to PayPal.

If you have a work schedule change (part-time to full-time or vice versa). Your pay during your sabbatical will be based on your regularly scheduled workweek at the time you take your sabbatical.

If you’re a rehire. You may receive credit for prior service at a PayPal company on one occasion in your career, but you must meet the following criteria:

  • Have previously completed at least 12 continuous months of employment at a PayPal company
  • No more than 2 years have elapsed between the end of your prior employment with a PayPal company and your date of rehire

If you’re an international transfer. The total service in all work locations will be counted towards your eligibility for sabbatical, provided there was no break in service.  

*Note: Part-time employees’ information only eligible for countries with part-time employees.

How it works

The entire length of your sabbatical must be taken at once.

You must take your sabbatical within 12 months of becoming eligible.

If a company holiday occurs during your sabbatical, you may extend your time off by the same number of holidays.

You and your manager will be notified of your eligibility for sabbatical approximately 60 days prior to your eligibility date. You should discuss your plans with your manager prior to submitting a request for your sabbatical. You will also have access at all times to your sabbatical eligibility date in Workday.

Taking your sabbatical

You should plan to take your sabbatical within 12 months of becoming eligible. Your manager will approve your sabbatical request during this time. We strongly encourage you to take your sabbatical time during these 12 months.

If circumstances do not allow for your sabbatical within the 12 months you’re eligible, you may request to take your sabbatical during the second year 12-month period. This will require approval from your manager and an additional level of management.

If the sabbatical time is not taken within the 24 months that you are eligible, your manager will need to reach out to Employee Central for approval beyond that time. This request will need justification and approval by management and by the vice president of benefits.

Pay and benefits while on sabbatical

Pay in lieu of time off is not authorized. While you’re on sabbatical, you will continue to receive your regular paycheck, based on your regular work schedule, as recorded in the Human Resources system. This includes your weekly rate of hourly wages or salary, including any bonuses paid under the PayPal Incentive Plan but not overtime pay, commission, or other bonuses or allowances.

Your paycheck will be provided through the normal process, either through direct deposit or check. If you receive a check, you will need to make arrangements for proper handling with the individual who distributes the live checks.

If you reduce your schedule from full-time to part-time, your sabbatical pay will be calculated according to your current, regularly scheduled workweek and your current rate of pay just prior to commencing your sabbatical.

Your participation in the various benefit programs in which you are enrolled at the time you take sabbatical will continue. All regular payroll deductions and withholdings will continue.

During your sabbatical, you will continue to:

  • Vest in your stock options
  • Accrue for vacation / PTO, if you are on an accrual system 

Sabbatical earnings are not eligible for 401(k) contributions.

If you leave PayPal or notify PayPal that you are resigning, you will not be compensated for any portion of your unused sabbatical at the time of termination. The sabbatical is not an accrued benefit, and it is not a reward for past service.

Provider contact information

HR Hub

This page is only accessible within the PayPal firewall.