I am in the midst of a fairly significant career decision. My wife has an option for further work on her doctorate, and I am considering taking a one-year sabbatical to go to the United Kingdom with her. How do employers view this type of move and what impact could this have on my career?

A year in England, soccer, pubs, study…where do I sign! Seriously, this should be a joint decision, and there should be a lot of “if / then” discussions. “If” your wife decides she wants to go, “then” you have to consider both the personal and the professional impacts of going and not going.

In one sense, it is ideal as you can both fully participate in this experience. As for your current employer, you will need to consider the timing of your trip and the implications for the rest of the team. Some employers will support this. They see it as a good way to build loyalty, to reduce costs for a season, and for employees to come back renewed and full of energy and ideas.

If you get a leave of absence, you are making a commitment to come back to your current employer. You need to think through the decision of quitting or taking a leave (if that is an option). The advantage of quitting is that you are totally in control of where and what you do next. The advantage of a leave is that you have a place to return to once your sabbatical is over. The other key with sabbaticals is to have a plan. (As a personal aside, my wife and I seized a one- year sabbatical/volunteer opportunity, and were so glad we did. However, we were amazed how quickly the time went. You need a great plan to make the most of the time.)

Another option to consider is a hybrid approach. In this high-tech age, you may consider telecommuting for your current organization. This could enable you to be productive and keep connected professionally. You also have to consider the financial implications of this type of decision, and the impact of returning to your current organization. If you are not planning to return and are planning to relocate, this may not be an issue. If you are planning to return, try to negotiate a leave of absence. That way, you have the option to return or not to your current situation.

The world of careers is not as linear as it once was. More and more professionals are taking different roads to Rome. At the end of the day, the key question to ask yourself is: what would you regret not doing? That may lead you to the best answer. This window of opportunity may not open as easily in the future.

Alan Kearns is the Head Coach and the Brand Champion! of CareerJoy. He is one of Canada’s foremost experts on all things career. With more than 14 years of experience coaching people through successful career changes, he brings an intimate knowledge of the entire transition process to all of his clients. To contact Alan about paid professional services, e-mail alan@careerjoy.com or visit his web site www.careerjoy.com.

To submit a question for a future column, please e-mail it to careercoach@charityvillage.com. No identifying information will appear in this column.

Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.