Startup Years Feel Like Dog Years—That’s Why Sabbaticals Count
We all know the feeling: the laptop battery is at 3%, your coffee is cold, and you’ve opened the same email five times without actually reading it. That’s your brain politely saying: “Hey… maybe we need a break.”
Time off isn’t just about sandy beaches and postcards; it’s about recharging mentally, physically, and creatively. Research shows that people who take regular breaks from work report higher job satisfaction, better health, and (yes!) greater productivity when they return. Gallup even found that employees who use their vacation time are more engaged at work and less likely to burn out. Translation: vacations aren’t a luxury, they’re maintenance.
Now, imagine taking that same benefit and multiplying it by a factor. That’s what a sabbatical is - a longer, intentional break designed for genuine renewal. Instead of a week or two, it’s months of dedicated time to rest, explore, learn, or focus on personal growth. Sabbaticals aren’t just “extended vacations”; they’re opportunities to hit reset and return with fresh energy and perspective.
At BEMO, we believe this so strongly that every team member becomes eligible for a 3-month paid sabbatical after 5 years of service. It’s not just about rewarding tenure, it’s about investing in long-term well-being, creativity, and balance.
This benefit was born from the vision of our CEO, Bruno Lecoq, who, from the very beginning, dreamed of offering a benefits package that went beyond the basics. His goal was to create something that truly supported balance and renewal. That dream became reality in July 2020, when sabbaticals officially became part of BEMO’s benefits package.
Since then, two people have already taken advantage of this opportunity, and now we’re celebrating a new milestone: the third person at BEMO has reached sabbatical eligibility. What makes this moment especially meaningful is that it will be the first time an international team member chooses to use their sabbatical, a reflection of how global our team has become and how important it is to support rest and renewal across borders.
Time off isn’t just a nice-to-have — it transforms how we work and live. Here’s what we know:
And yes, there’s data to back it up: in a study by Gallup, people who were engaged in their work and took vacation time scored significantly higher on overall well-being than those who were disengaged—even if they had more vacation time.
Skipping vacations or sabbaticals is like ignoring that software update your phone keeps reminding you about. You can hit “remind me later” a few times, but eventually… things start freezing up. Sabbaticals are the ultimate system upgrade—one that makes you faster, sharper, and far less buggy when you return.
At BEMO, we’re proud to champion sabbaticals and regular time off. We know that when our team members return rested and inspired, everyone benefits—our people, our culture, and our business. If you’re considering a sabbatical (or just remembering to use your vacation days), know this: taking time off isn’t stepping away from your work. It’s investing in your best self—and in the long-term success of everyone around you.