Projects - Great way to stay involved while on leave

Contemplating or already taking a leave of absence from work?? Read this!
...women [or men!] who plan to return fulltime should seek out project work or find short-term consulting jobs to remain in closer touch with the business community. "Being part of a project is a way to prove your mettle," says McGrath. One woman surveyed negotiated a deal with her boss to work on projects, even though that type of agreement was not official corporate policy. She took on short-term projects for different parts of the organization over nine years. "When she came back fulltime she knew the company and she knew all the people."
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/1257.cfm