Skip a Jenkins build stage, but keep it running in the background

def deployToProduction = true
try{
  input 'Deploy to Production'
}catch(e){
   deployToProduction = false
}

if(deployToProduction){
    println "Deploying to production"
}

Required context class hudson.FilePath is missing
Perhaps you forgot to surround the code with a step that provides this, such as: node

def branch = readFile('branch').trim()
if (branch == master) {
    ...
}

stage('Validation') {
    steps {
            //Moving in to the directory to execute the commands
            dir('servicelayer') {
                script {
                    //Using the git command to check the difference between previous successful commit. ${GIT_PREVIOUS_SUCCESSFUL_COMMIT} is an environment variable comes with GIT Jenkins plugin
                    //There is a drawback though, if it is the first time you are running this job, this variable is not available and fails the build
                    //For the first time i had to use ${env.GIT_COMMIT} itself at both places to pass the build. A hack but worth it for future builds.

                    def strCount = sh(returnStdout: true, script: "git diff --name-only ${env.GIT_COMMIT} ${GIT_PREVIOUS_SUCCESSFUL_COMMIT} | grep servicelayer | wc -l").trim()
                    if(strCount=="0") {
                        echo "Skipping build no files updated"
                        CONTINUE_BUILD = false
                    } else {
                        echo "Changes found in the servicelayer module"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
   }
stage('Installation') {
        when {
            expression { return params.FORCE_BUILD || CONTINUE_BUILD }
        }
        steps {
            dir('servicelayer') {
                nodejs(nodeJSInstallationName:"${NODEJS_INSTALLATION_NAME}", configId:"${NODEJS_CONFIG_ID}") {
                    sh 'npm install --progress=false'
                }
            }
        }    
    }

stage('Stage 1') {
  parallel 'Task 1' : {
    node('requirements') {
      doTask1()
    }
  }, 'Task 2' : {
    stage('Task 2') { // new nested stage that can be marked as skipped by the 'when'
      when (mustDoTask2) {
        node('requirements') {
          doTask2()
        }
      }
    }
  }
}