Every year, one or two employees of the city of Winchester, Virginia (23,600), take a six-month sabbatical from their regular jobs to work in other capacities within the city government. These employees submit an application explaining what they would like to do during their sabbatical, and those who are selected are assigned to a different department. The program provides employees with a change of pace, an opportunity to develop new skills, and the chance to learn about how the city works.