[pct-l] Exitting

[Wes Rose]

Great post Day-Late.  I would personally have a difficult time enjoying my trek if my departure injured
my employer.  It may be that some who are leaving jobs feel that their departure will have no impact, or 
minimal impact, to their company, which is kind of sad, really.  

Along side all of the logistics, gear and food planning, another important way to ready oneself for the adventure of 
a lifetime is to leave no shadows; to make things right in one's personal and professional relationships to the 
fullest extent, and to leave with a clean slate all around.  Guilt is an awful hiking partner and is best left at home.

[pct-l] Exitting
David Thibault dthibaul07 at gmail.com 
Fri Dec 24 16:44:33 CST 2010 

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While everyones situation is different, don't immediately sell your current
employer short.  I let mine know a year before my first thru hike that I was
planning to take the trip.  I asked for a Leave of Absence because I also
liked my job.  They were aware, because I informed them so, that this was a
lifetime dream and just something I had to do.  They so far have given me 2
LOA's for thru hikes and I'll be asking for a 3rd in 2012 (I expect I'll get
it).

I always do whatever I can to minimize the impact of my leaving and make
them aware of this also - but they also know that when I return they are
getting a "known productive worker" that requires 0 training to getting up
to speed.

Anyway if you like the job you currently have, give them a chance to keep
you.  Make it their decision - don't just make it for them.

Of course, if you are unsure how they will react to this news and could take
reprisals then I'd wait.  Of course if they did take reprisals they are
probably not a place I'd want to return to anyway.

just my $0.02.

PS.  I am now known around the plant site as the guy that takes 6 months off
to go do crazy stuff - like hike from Mexico to Canada.  You would be
surprised at how many folks at work I work come up to me and are amazed and
glad someone does this kind of stuff.  I think most people have a dream of
being able to do this - but unfortunately never fulfill it.

Enjoy the Trail.  It is a great adventure.
Day-Late