Joining the Paid Sabbaticals Club

One of the earliest adopters of sabbatical programs in the Springfield area was Paragon Architecture President Brad Erwin, who launched his company’s program in 2020 after two years of planning—drawing inspiration from similar local programs.

FourOneSeven was motivated by this growing trend. Owner and Publisher Logan Aguirre took her own sabbatical in 2023. She says she had been experiencing burnout, and she knew that wasn’t a good thing for the leader of a company. “I just needed time to take a rest, have a lot of intentional time with my family and step away in order to recharge and be able to keep going,” she says.

Soon Aguirre decided to invest in the rest of the FourOneSeven team, rolling out a company-wide program that went into effect in early 2026. Sabbaticals start at five years and grow in length as tenure increases. They are paired with travel stipends. Editorial Director Katie Pollock Estes was the first to take her sabbatical this year, celebrating 20 years with FourOneSeven, traveling to Scotland and spending a month recharging at home.

There are business expenses too, like hiring additional resources to help fill gaps. But with a bit of foresight, it’s doable. “As long as you can plan for them and know there will be expenses tied to it, in the long run you’re able to reward somebody who’s been with you for a really long time—giving them the gift of time as a sign of gratitude,” Aguirre says.