Career breaks

Career breaks are granted at management's discretion and depend on the needs of the service.

You can take a career break for:

• domestic reasons (such as child-rearing)
• educational purposes (such as getting a post-graduate qualification)
• foreign travel

Who can apply for a career break

Employees who have completed their probation period can apply for a career break.

If you are still on probation, you may be granted a career break in special cases (such as to cope with unusual domestic difficulties). Your probation in this case will be extended by the length of your career break.

Approval of career break applications

Career breaks are granted at management's discretion and subject to service requirements. Your manager will consider your application based on service needs and advise you of their decision.

Length of career break

The minimum period for a career break is 1 year (except where leave is needed to cope with unusual domestic difficulties). The maximum period is 5 years.

Taking multiple career breaks

You may be granted up to 3 career breaks in total. The combined length of these breaks must not exceed 8 years.

If you have already taken a career break, you must return to work for at least the same amount of time as your previous break before you can apply for another one.

In exceptional circumstances, this requirement may be waived.

Notice to return to work

When your career break ends, your usual role may not be available. If this happens, you may be offered a temporary role at a lower grade.

You will receive the salary applicable to that post during this period. You are guaranteed to return to your original grade within 12 months of the end of your career break.

You must give at least 3 months notice that you plan to return to work. Your right to return to work depends on giving this notice.

Taking a career break after special leave

You can take a career break immediately after special leave with nominal pay, as long as the total time away from work is no more than 5 years.

NCHD career breaks

Provisions on career breaks for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) (PDF, 137 KB, 1 page).

How to apply

Apply for a career break using the Career break application form HR105 (PDF, 323 KB, 5 pages).

Related documents

HR Circular 010-2013 - career breaks (PDF, 75.9KB, 2 pages)

Career breaks for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) (PDF, 137 KB, 1 page)

Career break application form HR105 (PDF, 323 KB, 5 pages)