Matt Cutts Sabbatical Update

[jmccormac]

Has Matt Cutts returned or is his sabbatical permanent?

Regards...jmcc

[edited by: goodroi at 1:23 pm (utc) on Nov 4, 2014]
[edit reason] Split from Negative SEO Thread [/edit]

[rish3]

Has Matt Cutts returned or is his sabbatical permanent?

Checking...hmm. Today, he made an odd series of blog posts related to complicated Halloween costumes that he made. A few tweets, but also not work related. Sounds like he's not back as of now.

[netmeg]

Has Matt Cutts returned or is his sabbatical permanent?

He's extending his leave into 2015.

[edited by: goodroi at 1:24 pm (utc) on Nov 4, 2014]
[edit reason] Split from Negative SEO Thread [/edit]

[Clay_More]

Sabbaticals are pretty common, it is surprising Matt went as long as he did without taking a couple.

If it's a leave, it's well deserved and perhaps we should respect his "off-time".

[rish3]

It is a little odd for the sabbatical to be open ended. He is a public figure, by choice, so I don't find it mean spirited to discuss it.

[RedBar]

Sabbaticals are pretty common

Really, where?

After 46 years in business I could do with one but there's no chance in hell!

[goodroi]

In certain industries they are common but it is probably more accurate to say they are less unusual in certain industries. University professors are encouraged to take sabbaticals so they can learn new things to bring back to the school. For Google it makes sense because it helps them to attract new hires and avoid burning people out who might otherwise consider quitting/retiring.

I don't want to start any rumors so I won't mention anyone that might be considering seed funding a new company that specializes in 3d printed cat clothing using recycled spam cans :)

[lucy24]

University professors are encouraged to take sabbaticals

My impression was that professors are required to take sabbaticals. They can't force you to leave the country, and they may not put someone else in your office, but they can choose not to offer any courses with your name on them.

"Sabbatical" = every seventh year. (This works very nicely in universities that abide by the tenure-after-six-years rule. In the seventh year, she rested.) How long has Matt Cutts been around? Calling something a sabbatical doesn't make it a sabbatical. Could just be a paid leave of indefinite duration. Depending on google's severance package, this could come out cheaper overall.

[aristotle]

I've always had the impression that the purpose of a Sabbatical for a university professor is to give him or her an opportunity to write a book or do full-time research for a year. As for Matt Cutts, I think it's an opportunity for him to get away from the frustrations of trying to fight spam for a while.

[superclown2]

I don't want to start any rumors so I won't mention anyone that might be considering seed funding a new company that specializes in 3d printed cat clothing using recycled spam cans

Wow. Where do I buy shares in this?

[RedBar]

In certain industries they are common

I know a lot of people in a lot of different industries and professions, including professors etc, and I cannot recall anyone ever taking a sabbatical except for a female manager of a job centre!

Is this an American thing?

I know what the discussion in the pub is going to be about tonight:-)

[rish3]

Is this an American thing?

The BBC says this:

A sabbatical — typically a three, six, or 12-month leave from work meant to allow you to recharge or try something new without losing your job — is more common in countries like the US, the United Kingdom, and Australia. They are most common among academics and healthcare professionals. Less than a third of US employers allow sabbaticals, according to the 2012 National Study of Employers by the Families and Work Institute.

That said, I have not encountered anyone taking a sabbatical here in the US at any placed I've worked. It doesn't surprise me though, to see it in a Silicon Valley firm. I've never worked anywhere with free shuttles and lunch either.

[mrengine]

rish3, the free massages would be the interesting part. Just like you, I don't know of anyone in the US that gets sabbaticals, outside of those in religious professions. Even then those religious sabbaticals are used helping others around the world.

BBC may want to revise their statement. Heck, many people are lucky to get three weeks of vacation after 7 years of service in a company.

[Clay_More]

@lucy24
I believe Matt Cutts has been with Google 14 or 15 years so he could have taken a couple of sabbaticals of defined duration.

Calling something a sabbatical doesn't make it a sabbatical. Could just be a paid leave of indefinite duration.

Seriously?

[creeking]

a former prof told me he could take six months off after three and a half, or wait and take a full year.

not quite sure, but I was thinking he meant the year off would be year #8, not year #7

[lucy24]

I know a lot of people in a lot of different industries and professions, including professors etc, and I cannot recall anyone ever taking a sabbatical

###, are you serious? It's well known that English universities are pissy* about interlibrary loans, but I didn't know that they also don't do sabbaticals.

A sabbatical is a paid, pre-scheduled leave at set intervals. You can't just take a day off and call it Sunday.

Seriously?

Heck, why not? As long as we're indulging in wild speculation about something nobody has any concrete information on, why not go the whole hog :)


* Huh. Thought for sure the Word Censor would kick in so I wouldn't have to come up with a more grownup adjective.

[netmeg]

Back when I actually worked for an employer, I took(much shorter) paid leave on some occasions. Mainly because I went above and beyond on a couple of projects, and that was my "reward" - if you're valuable to them, and they want you to come back, some companies will do that. Doesn't in the least surprise me that Google would.

Also, I live in a university town and half the town is on sabbatical at any given point. Or at least it seems that way.

[Awarn]

From my experience it is more like your lucky if they allow you to use your vacation. I know people that don't take vacation because the amount of work you have to deal with when you get back makes you need another vacation. I need one of these other jobs. I would be thrilled with 2 weeks off with no calls, no issues and come back with no huge pile of work.

[RedBar]

Lasts night's pub discussion concluded that if anyone were to ask for a sabbatical that it meant, insofar as they were concerned:

1. I want to leave my job.

or

2. Can I have unpaid leave.

Some of the people I was talking with were HR heads of multi-nationals and none had ever had such a request however when I mentioned it was Google it was an overall "Well, yeah, they can afford it for their so-called superstars!"

[reseller]

Here is something which might be the main reason for Matt Cutts to take several months (maybe a year) of leave.

In addition to Matt Cutts wish to spend more time with his wife, I guess the main reason for his leave is his strong wish to spend more quality time with his two beloved cats; Emmy and Ozzie (Oz). I guess both Emmy and Oz like Matt to be around more, and not just physically present while his mind is busy fighting webspam :-)

[Savanadry]

I agree with Redbar, I've known a few people to take sabbaticals (outside of education, in UK corporate business) and it's usually when someone needs / wants to leave a job but they are persuaded to stay and take a sabbatical instead. It's usually unpaid, or paid the equivalent of sickpay and reserved for people the company don't want to lose or their skills are very much in demand. Asking for a sabbatical is the same as resigning if you are not one of these VIP's.

Another fairly common reason for a sabbatical is taking 6 months or a year off to do some kind of charity / social work in line with your skills, actually thinking about it I've known maybe 4 or 5 people who have done that. I believe they were unpaid.

[engine]

I too have known a number of people taking sabbaticals from work. Sometimes, it's a gift of the company for long service, and other times it's for training for a sports event, such as the Olympics. It's usually available from a bigger company or organisation that can share out the work across others.

I'm not convinced we'll see Matt back in the same way with the same webmaster outreach we all got to know so well.Google's Webmaster Outreach Changed Hands From Matt Cutts [webmasterworld.com]

I don't believe we'll see Matt back as he was.

[netmeg]

And I for one wouldn't blame him a bit.