ETLs are supposed to change position sometime after every 18 months anyway. Often they will go to a different store
What is going on is not normal ETL rotation. (the 18 months change you refer to)
Here is how you know:
Normal ETL rotation:
1. You will usually hear an ETL is changing to a new store about two months ahead of time. This is usually not a secret, and anyone from TL down to the cart attendant hears about it well ahead of time. Usually, it is announced in a huddle.
2. There is usually a "going away" party of some kind, which can take the form of an actual party, or be something simple like a cake and/or going away card that lots of TMs in the store will sign.
3. After the ETL leaves, you will occasionally hear other ETLs mention this ETL and say things like "Oh Sarah says hi from her new store and misses you guys".
4. If you ask how the ETL is doing at the new store, other ETLs will usually say "they are doing well" or something along those lines.
If an ETL is termed/quits:
1. You will not hear a damn thing ahead of time. They will be there one day, and all of a sudden the next day they are gone. Poof.
2. There is zero going away party, cards, cake, etc. No mention of the ETL what-so-ever either before or after they leave.
3. After the ETL is gone, every other ETL will act like he/she never existed and will never bring that ETL up for any reason.
4. If you ask another ETL how the ETL that disappeared is doing/where the ETL went/why they are gone/etc, you will almost ALWAYS get the following response "Sarah is no longer with the company" or "I don't know/can't talk about it"
Every TM who has been with the company a fair amount of time knows how to tell if an ETL just transferred or if they disappeared and are "no longer with the company". The signs are pretty obvious.
This is not a case of ETLs transferring and people are mistakenly thinking they quit/got termed. There is a mass exodus of ETLs leaving the company right now, and most TMs at most stores are fully aware of what is going on. ETLs may not want to tell us what the deal is, but I promise you most TMs are smart enough to figure it out....