Paying it forward

“I laid down all my burdens in a way.”

That’s how Melanie Bahnke described embarking on her sabbatical in 2018. The president of Kawerak Inc. enjoyed what she called the best summer of her life those 12 weeks, staying close to home, picking berries, making smoked and dried fish, spending time with her children and being a homemaker for her family.

During her sabbatical Bahnke said she got to be a bit of a kid at heart, fishing as long as the fish were biting, staying up late, baking cookies and singing songs.

“I truly let go and it was freeing,” she said.

That feeling continued into Bahnke’s re-entry back to work where she found herself talking more to her staff, rather than always being in a hurry to tend to business. Bahnke said she felt more settled after her sabbatical, energized and refreshed, but not so rushed.

So successful was her time away, Bahnke and her board have instigated a similar program, a month of paid leave awarded annually to Kawerak employees who’ve worked there at least 10 years.

Bahnke said she’s grateful to have had the sabbatical experience herself and excited that other Kawerak employees now have a similar opportunity. To date, all eligible applicants have been awarded the month of leave, she said, adding that Kawerak plans to continue offering this benefit to employees in the future.

“Kawerak has found that employees who are able to recharge are returning to the workforce with renewed enthusiasm,” Bahnke said.