Will companies sponsor vagabonding?

Jamie, a volunteer at Sanyu Babies' Home in Uganda. Photo: Dylan Walters / Flickr Creative Commons

“You’ll be entitled to take a sabbatical abroad at company expense.”  That would be music to the ears of any vagabonder looking for work. One of the big factors holding people back from travel is the worry about finding employment upon their return. However, it would be nice to have the security of returning to your job after a stint abroad.

The Economist reported about how IBM sends employees overseas to do volunteering: Big-Hearted Blue. The company proudly bills its program as “the corporate version of the Peace Corps.”

Naturally, IBM doesn’t exactly do all this purely out of kindness. Cooperation with local-level governments can lead to future contracts for the company. There’s the cost benefit as well: ” . . .it’s a lot cheaper than a traditional international assignment,” said one executive. Putting up a busy manager in a tent in Africa would be a bargain compared to a $10,000-a-month serviced apartment in Hong Kong.

On the bright side, employees seem to favor the program. It’s relatively rare for major corporations to allow people to leave work for volunteering. As for continuing to pay full salary and travel expenses, that’s near impossible to find in an employer. Getting the chance to make a difference is icing on the cake.

Near the end, the article mentions that other firms are following in IBM’s footsteps, such as FedEx and Novartis. Maybe even more companies will embark on volunteer initiatives in the future.

How do you feel about this?  Should companies leave the aid work to NGOs? Or is it a great deal for vagabonders? Share your thoughts in the comments.