In 2 weeks, my job will know. I get a lot of people telling me to not tell them about my travel plans but thats no fun! I'm in a very big corporate world right now with 20+ year employee's living in a cubicle so telling them my plans will make me look like i'm messed up and i love it! Everyones going to be in a confused state of mind here

hrm last post dissapeared...

I'm about to find out how my employer is going to handle this. I"m asking for a years LOA, which my spouse has gotten from his employer and is obligated to return for the same amount of time. I'm hopefull they'll aprove it...but prepared for moving on to new employment or starting school when we return.

Have fun out there Skylab!

I would like to know as well.

Originally I was going to give a standard two week notice, but then I decided to give them extra time to find a replacement for me. Do you guys think that two months is too much advance notice?

Hi strawberrylemonade — please let us know how it goes and how you went about it.

I'm planning to make the same request — but not for another 20 or so months!

It was a while back in time so it's not really current with the new economics, but here's my story on the reaction.

My boss was giving me a job review at the end of the year. He suggested some career moves for me in the future. I told him that actually I would be quitting in about 4 months to go traveling in Africa. He was shocked. He told me I didn't have to quit, and that I should ask for a leave of absence. I laughed and said they'll never grant it. He still said I should try. So, I filled out the forms for a personal leave of absence and said it would be an "educational experience". He approved it. His boss approved it. And the VP approved it. Boom, suddenly i had to come back in 6 months! But it worked out well.

I really think it all depends on what your work environment is like. I always choose easy going bosses and if I get the other kind, I move on, so that probalby helps.

I've thought about trying for a LOA but I'm pretty sure they won't accept it and I don't think I'd want to come back to this anyway. This job has made me realize how fast life can pass by doing something you never wanted to do growing up. I'm on a mission now and it's that "pursuit of happiness".

Kate and Dan wrote:Hi strawberrylemonade — please let us know how it goes and how you went about it.
I'm planning to make the same request — but not for another 20 or so months!

Well, I did it, things are in motion, can't take it back now! Sent this letter to my supervisor. She was open and excited, said she'd support me. HOWEVER, the decision isn't hers to make and it's getting bumped up the CEO. Fingers crossed! If I'm still around next union negotiation, I'm putting forward adding self-funded leave to our contracts.


Please see the attached Application for Leave, applying for Leave Without Pay covering the period January 01 2010 through December 31 2010.

My plans for this time are for extensive around the world travel with my spouse, who has a paid (self-funded) LOA from his employer. This LOA obligates my spouse to return to employment and we will both be returning to the community to resume employment and volunteer activities.

Travel of this nature is more than a vacation, it is valuable opportunity to experience & understand the culture, food, religion, lifestyle, art, language etc. of many people who do not live a “North American” lifestyle. My goal for this year is to come home with increased awareness of our global similarities.

My employment at the ****** has covered varied departments over many years and I believe that my familiarity with the procedures, functions and staff of our many facilities is an asset to my retention at the ******.

If you have any questions for me regarding this leave request I will make myself available to meet at anytime.

Wish me luck!

I had a job that I knew I wasn't going to stick to for the rest of my life. My boss wasn't all that surprised when I told her I was quitting. But when I said I was doing so to travel and not to start a new job somewhere else, she did tell me that maybe I could have my job back when I returned. I wasn't interested in doing that though, and found a much more fulfilling job after my trip.

last time I quit I got my job back when I came back, and I'd given them about 4 months notice of when I was going so they'd be able to cope sufficiently (it was a really small company). I now work in software so when I quit I'm going to offer to do occasional freelance work while I'm away, that way I'll be able to stay travelling for longer.

I was debating whether I should get a leave of absence or just quit my job. I just applied for my 2-year youth mobility visa to the UK last Tuesday and an hour later, I received an email from the president about laying off about 200 staff members. So now I am thinking of begging to my boss about being laid off assuming I get a decent severance package with it. I really hope to get laid off. I haven't told anyone yet.

The way I see it, there's absolutely no reason not to take an LOA (if you can get one) over quitting. You can always send in your resignation from the road if you decide you don't want to return. But, if you decide you want to return and you've already quit, you may be out of luck.

Thanks for bumping this post, LizzieB.

Hey strawberrylemonade, come back! Let us know how things worked out with your employer!

Lizzie B. wrote:The way I see it, there's absolutely no reason not to take an LOA (if you can get one) over quitting. You can always send in your resignation from the road if you decide you don't want to return. But, if you decide you want to return and you've already quit, you may be out of luck.

Yeah, that's what I thought as well. But the thing is, I might be out on the road for quite a while and I may want to return after 5 years. If I resign from the road without giving them 2 weeks notice, they might think twice in hiring me again when I come back after 5 or so years.

By the way, now that I have another option of being laid off, will that be better than taking a LOA?

If the choice is between getting laid off or getting a LOA, your company will likely go for the LOA. They save money not paying you for a year, they don't have to pay you any severance, and it's one less employee with sour feelings towards them. Plus they get to retain a proven, knowledgable employee for when the economy recovers. All upside for them.

That said, you might want to quietly inquire as to whether they are considering voluntary buyouts, or you can ask your manager to place you at the bottom of their employee ranking so you are among the first to be considered. If you have a good relationship with your manager and they believe you are definitely leaving regardless, this may work. But both of these options will be difficult to pull off if you have been a good performer. Your manager will have to make a case for why they should let go of someone who's been a good return on investment thus far.

If you actually get to choose between getting laid off or taking a LOA, take the lay off. You'll likely get some severance, and you'll have no obligations to return. Also, many companies prefer to rehire former employees after a recovery, so it's not like you couldn't reapply for a job with them later, if you still want one.

They're giving me a bonus!

I was originally planning to leave in winter 2009, Decemberish. I work for a non-profit organization that helps low-income urban kids get involved in civics/activism/politics.

I told my boss at my last review that I was interested in leaving to travel sometime during the winter of 2009. They kinda panicked, since I've run our Elections program the past 3 years, and offered me $1500 to stay through Chicago's next election which is February 2010 which is only 1 month off of when I planned to leave anyway.

Takes care of my flight and vaccines easy. I would have never had that money had I not told them so far in advance that I wanted to leave! Funny, eh? If I had given 2 weeks notice I would have gotten shit... but they love me enough to pay me to stay.

Yes, I rock.

I'm even going to be a good sport and donate a small portion back to the non-profit that's given me such a good living the past few years.