View from AOP: Supporting career breaks

Earlier this month, the Department for Education revealed a £5m sabbatical fund for teachers. As England suffers a shortage of teachers, with thousands changing career each year, the new fund, letting them take time for activities relevant to their field, is designed to help them to stay in the profession.

It would seem more of us in the UK, including eye health professionals, are opting for career breaks. But, while a paid sabbatical is commonplace in universities, most sectors sadly do not offer the same luxury.

Reflecting this growing trend, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry found a fifth of UK companies already have a career break policy in place, while another 10% were considering introducing one.