Be forewarned: This thread is not going to include any of the seemingly now-requisite rage about society and/or politicians.
My employer is offering, on a seniority basis, some pretty generous packages to employees in my group with the opportunity to take leaves of absence for periods of time from six months to up to five years. There is a minimum amount of pay that is on the table for this period of time and the worker cannot return early unless the company recalls the worker early for operational requirements. Most benefits of active employment (insurance being the biggest) remain intact and seniority and longevity continue to accrue. In other words, they can't hire off the street ahead of workers taking the leave.
I am 53 and am seriously considering taking a multi-year leave of absence, knowing that it's not impossible I never return though that would be the plan.
It seems to be a great opportunity to pursue interests or other life goals with some level of certainty that a job is waiting for me on the other side. Of course, in life there are never guarantees but my employer is in the best shape financially of their peers and at least for now I don't see trouble on the horizon. Of course, these measures are being taken by the company to stem the cash bleed they are currently experiencing. These LOAs are an effort to avoid involuntary layoffs, something my employer is proud to have never had to do in their history.
The people with whom I've shared this have all asked me, "So what would you do for five years?" The answer of course, is, "Hide out in the Alps and ride my bike in the summer and ski all winter". But these are things that need supplementing with other more productive activities.
If you were presented with an opportunity for a partially paid, multi-year LOA how would you occupy the time? The pay is enough to cover my living expenses so there would be no absolute need for finding other work, at least not immediately.
More school? Serious volunteering? Another career opportunity? Or just hitting a reset button because I've been working at the redline since 1996 until Covid-19? This is the longest period of relative quiet in my career in 24 years and I'm kind of liking it.
If you were offered a gift of time (because that's what I see here - Time), would you take it? How would you use it? I already know my answer to the first part. I'm just crowdsourcing ideas for the second part.
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