> > > > Congratulations on your new-found freedom. What are you going to do next?
> > >
> > > I'm going back to my real job.
> >
> > That's a pretty nice company you must work for, holding your job for you like that for a whole year.
> >
>
> When the government requires you to take a year off to work for them, they generally also require they employers make it easy for you to get your job back at the end of it.
>
> It's not really alutrism to fulfil the requirements of the law.
>
> Having said that, I've known three different people in three different companies in Britain take a year off to travel or study, with the understanding of their job being waiting for them at the end of it. Again, though, I don't see that as alutrism so much as retaining skilled staff.

The Finnish law forbids companies from sacking people just because they're going to the army or civilian service. But my case was even more fortunate, as I was able to get a civilian service place from my home city, and so was able to work for my real job from home at evenings and week ends.