Convert datetime to unix/epoch format

Hi everyone,

I would like to know if there is a way to convert a datetime value stored in a variable to unix/epoch format.

I found several ways to do the opposite, but found nothing helpful on how to achieve this.

A script in a job contains a variable, say $datetimevar.

This is loaded using SQL to hold a value such as '2016/01/06 18:12:00'.

I would like to know if there is a way we can convert this value to epoch/unix format and hold it in, say $datetimevar_unix.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Sid