Employers who had the foresight to encourage workers to take sabbaticals at the start of the recession are now "reaping their reward", it has been suggested.
"Following the financial crisis an unprecedented high number of employers encouraged staff to take sabbaticals - both paid and unpaid - as part of their strategy to retain skilled people during the downturn," said Katy Nicholson, researcher for the Keep Britain Working campaign.
These "far-sighted" employers "still have the skilled people they need to challenge the competition and take their business forward", she added.
Ms Nicholson said taking a sabbatical can help people "return refreshed" to their normal workplace and "get involved again with new energy".
Her comments came as recent research from Santander revealed 1.2 million Britons have taken time out since the economic downturn began.
Nearly half a million said the state of the job market was the reason behind them planning to, or taking, time out.
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