ARGGGH!!

so my brilliant plan isn't working out so brilliantly. i met with HR a while ago and found out it's now a company policy that i cannot use my PTO to extend my last day of work.

so i thought i had an option of still leaving jan 11, taking my PTO, and coming back to work a week in march, but apparently that is not an option to me, after talking to my boss(es - i don't know who my real boss is anymore) and HR and after them talking to HR. i don't know the reason why, but that is what i was told. so really, my two options are:

1) quit Jan 21 and cut my losses. it'd have to be jan 21 because i have lasik on jan 18, and i MUST be employed on jan 18 for my lasik. i'd lose on health insurance and espp, which totals to quite a bit of $.

2) work through end of feb. (or more like march 3). obviously this is the one my boss(es) want, and that was what was presented to me first. i'd get my espp, and they would talk to HR to work out a deal where i'd get something like 3 months of COBRA paid for after i quit. and i'd get the hawaii trip.

there's a third option which i really don't want to consider, though if i'm being practical, i should, is stay through april 1, which is when a chunk of options vest. the value of those options (already subtracting the cost of the options, but pre-tax) at present time is a little less than half of my annual salary. so an additional extra month for half my annual salary (well, plus my normal salary). this is why i picked jan 11 in the first place, so i wouldn't keep saying, "if i stay for just another month, i could get this much..."

when i first found out about the policy, i was like no WAY i'm staying through end of feb, but then i also thought i'd be able to take my 7 weeks of PTO and come back and work for a few days.

so now... i'm stuck in this dilemma. i think i'm actually leaning toward option 2, but i don't know. can i handle that? what should i do?! if i do option 2, my countdown increases from 13 working days to... 46!!! ironically, the same exact countdown to jan 11 from this day.

i need help! which should i pick!?!?!