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Baillie Gifford’s Pacific Fund has recently lost its co-manager Ben Lloyd, who, according to FT Advisor, is planning to travel in China for a spot of R&R.

Stephen Leach, head of human resources at Baillie Gifford in Edinburgh, says it’s all part of a trend: “Modern generations have become less shy about requesting sabbaticals.”

According to Leach, Scottish fund managers have made use of extended leave to visit relations on the other side of the globe, participate in Operation Raleigh, and climb the Himalayas, among other things.

He says: “We anticipate that people are not going to want to work from 21 to 60 without any break whatsoever.”

However, Leach cautions against junior staff jettisoning the office for something a little more exciting: “Its not something you can do early in your career. You need to be fully fledged, with six or eight years’ experience, and established as a profitable member of staff.”

Richard Fletcher, of Fletcher Jones in Edinburgh, says it’s a case of “cash is king.” He sees people as young as 30 who have made a lot of money, don’t have a mortgage and have had a few bonuses go backpacking or take time out to write a book.

Nicholas Furze, a consultant at Odgers in Glasgow, agrees: when the market prognosis is “pretty gloomy” people who don’t yet have a mortgage or have paid off the mortgage are free to take off.