Help with pr application under new pathways

[Dimdim03]

Hi! I arrived June 17 2016 and my work permit expires on June 16 2018. My question is my employer took a vacation outside Canada for 3 weeks with me. Will that be an issue for applying for permanent residence? If not, do I apply for pr right away before my work permit Expires or do I have to apply for a new lmia? The thing is I won't be working as a caregiver anymore after my contract and would like a different job. Do I still need to have a new lmia? My current employer is not willing to apply and pay for a new lmia just for my pr application as they are not exempted on the new policy of lmia fees.