WEX Pilots Expedition: A New Sabbatical Program

If you thought you had to work in academia to be eligible for a sabbatical, think again. This year WEX is piloting Expedition, a new sabbatical program for all our employees across the globe. The goal? To provide an opportunity for personal development that can also bring new perspectives, energy, and creativity into the workplace when employees return.

“Expedition is based on our belief that personal development is just as important as professional development. People are encouraged to use this time away to pursue their own passion, whether it be climbing the Himalayas or reading the top 100 novels ever written,” said John Tynan, WEX Global Director of Human Resources.

Salaried employees with six or more years of service with WEX were eligible to apply for the sabbatical, which provides 20 working days of paid leave. The application process was designed to be easy and non-judgmental, with no questions asked about what people planned to do.

Check out the promo for the program here:

The Genesis of Expedition

The idea of fun at work has become a bit of a mantra at WEX and influenced development of Expedition. “We want our associates to be challenged by what they’re doing, while enjoying the people they work with, and the place where they work. When people are passionate about their work and the opportunity it presents, they’re going to have pass that on to each other and to our customers and partners,” says WEX CEO Melissa Smith.

A sabbatical program came squarely onto our radar during the acquisition of WEX Health, which had developed its own program. That concept was taken in hand by our Benefits Department, which focuses on innovative global programs that support employee well-being in all aspects of life. Fast-forward to this year and the launch of Expedition, along with another program for all associates offering up to two additional paid days off a year to volunteer.

Selecting Participants

This March, 12 associates were chosen at random out of 44 total applicants to participate in Expedition. They span all of our lines of business and geographies, and have tenures ranging from six to 23 years with WEX. The only real requirement of their participation is that they have to work with their manager to figure out how their work will be covered while away.

Expedition participants have until March 31, 2018 to take their paid leave, and we already know that a good number of those adventures will take place from June through September this year. After returning from leave, there’s no requirement for a formal presentation. We have asked associates to share their experiences in whatever way they’re comfortable, whether that be blogging, sharing photos or even speaking at company gatherings if comfortable. We’ll also be looking for feedback from participants about the program to help shape what we’re going to do in the future.