How My Company Helped Me Hike Across England and be better prepared to do good work.

by Jamie Parrish

When I first heard about BPM’s Unlimited PTO policy, I wondered how truly unlimited it would be. I have worked for other companies that attempted to do unlimited PTO but we were not allowed to fully use that employee benefit during particularly busy seasons for that company. It was unlimited within certain limits. I decided to embrace the culture and just ask how we could make my request something that they could approve. I asked for the time. It was approved. And I am home now from the trip of a lifetime.

A Dream Realized: Hiking Across England

A couple of years ago I noticed a friend’s Instagram Stories were full of her walking. She hadn’t posted that sort of photo before – usually it had been family event photos and a few shots from her hobby farm. The next day there were more photos of walking, and I was struck by the beauty of the area she was walking in. The next day – more walking. I started to wonder where she was going and why it was taking her so long to get there. It turns out she was taking a walk across all of England, and it was going to take her 16 days. The photos continued and I was absolutely mesmerized. My husband and I were having some minor but chronic health challenges at the time. I wondered out loud how awesome it would be to do a trip like my friend’s. My husband said it would be awesome and that we should do it. This adventure would mean we would have to address our health concerns, learn to hike, and take 3 weeks off work. Given most employers approach to time off of work, the first two items seemed more feasible than the last item in that list of constraints. As we learned to hike, our health improved. We went on a ‘test run’ one week hike and proved that we were capable of this 190-mile hike and it was time to ask off work.

My husband and I determined that our walk across England would take 16 days, and we would need 3 days for travel. Next, we identified a time slot that seemed both of our employers might be able to approve this atypical PTO request. I submitted my request– “I would like to take a longer than my usual vacation next year. I know our PTO is technically unlimited, but I also respect that we have a customer to support.” The response? “Thanks for checking.  You can proceed.  The expectation is that your client work will be covered so you should be fine to go. Sounds like a wonderful time!!”

Rest Is Not a Luxury—It’s a Strategy

Taking three weeks off might sound indulgent. It was, but it was also more restorative than I realized it would be. I have taken many one-week vacations. You rush to close as many loose ends as you can in advance, you are off of work but your brain remains engaged in work related thinking, and then you return to a mess that you wish you had prevented. The time away was good, but not as beneficial as you had hoped. I have never taken more than 10 days off, so I didn’t fully appreciate the difference that was to come. Around the 5^th day on the trail, I realized I had mentally stepped away from work. I hadn’t thought of it as much as I usually do. I had more completely engaged in the hike, the food, the people, and the beautiful landscape. I had actually disconnected; I had actually taken time off work. My husband had a similar experience. When we returned to work, we didn’t feel a looming dread of what we were walking back in to. Instead, we returned curious and interested in what we would find. We had been given the opportunity to recharge!

Also, the effort put into ensuring that the project teams would succeed in my absence was helpful to the projects. I tend to think forward on my projects, but the pending time away reframed that horizon focus in a way that helped them be better prepared for the upcoming work. Helping them to succeed in spite of my absence was a great way to serve the project and was a transformative lesson for me to learn.

What I Gained (Besides beautiful photographs and blisters)

• Clarity: Long walks in solitude gave me space to think deeply about my work (for only a few days), my goals, and how I show up for others.
• Perspective: Being away helped me see how capable and resilient my team is. They didn’t just manage—they thrived.
• Energy: I returned with a full tank, ready to serve with renewed focus and creativity.

Service to a Greater Cause Starts with Self-Care

Our value of Service to a Greater Cause isn’t just about big client project engagements—it’s about showing up fully for our colleagues, clients, and communities. That starts with taking care of ourselves. By stepping away, I was able to return more present, more grounded, and more committed to the work that matters.

A Culture of Trust and Empowerment

Unlimited PTO only works when it’s backed by trust. I’m grateful to work in a place where taking time off isn’t seen as slacking—it’s seen as smart. Where leaders model balance, and teams support one another. This wasn’t just a vacation. It was a reflection of our culture. A culture that says: We trust you. We value you. Go live your life.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering whether you can really take that time off—you can. And you should. Because when we take care of ourselves, we’re better equipped to take care of others.

At BPM Associates, Unlimited PTO isn’t just a policy. It’s a possibility. And for me, it led to one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.