I got out on PVR early early. I requested the PVR date to be brought forward by a few weeks to co-incide with the fixed start date of my new career; the desk officer declined as he felt it would set a precedent (a safe, if unsympathetic decision). However, his boss (who I knew very well) overturned this decision. My unused contingency was to apply for unpaid leave, and I think the unit was sympathetic - there was no need to gap my post as my replacement arrived early for a prolonged handover.
Like everything, there is almost certainly an element of "who you know not what you know". I am sure there are many ways of tackling such a problem, I investigated only two of them.
We give plenty of flexibility to "the system" and it is most pleasing when, on occasion, it reciprocates.
