Help me with this scenario
 

Would you leave a position that you were miserable in? The commute is long. You're treated like hourly employees even though you're salary (clocking in, pay lost, commission lost if 40 hours are not averaged every week by the end of the month). Your boss rules with "fear" instead of a positive attitude. The benefits are so so. The vacation policy isn't great. There is no sick time, so in the winter everyone is sick because they come to work and keep passing it around. It's an old building and can be sweltering hot or freezing cold... you just never know. BUT, you like your co-workers. You can continually gain experience to find something better but you don't know if that something better will ever come.

You have the opportunity to leave that position to work in a nice office. Different atmosphere, different industry. The benefits are better, there is vacation, sick and personal time. It's closer to home. It's hourly but it pays more. BUT, there is no upward movement. The position is a step down from where you are now, but the pay and benefits are better and it's a shorter commute. BUT, no movement, and you're at a desk alone.

What would you do? The pay isn't THAT much more, but it's survivable compared to the salary of the first position which isn't survivable.

Get out ASAP and go to the new position. It seems like the only thing tolerable about the current job is the coworkers...and that can change in a heartbeat. They leave and you're stuck with nothing.

Even in a position with "no movement" you may be surprised at the contacts you will make.

It definitely sounds like a quality of life issue. I'd get out of there. You can stay friends with your coworkers.

Agree.... and no movement today could change tomorrow, or lead to movement to another company.
For the past 6 years I have had virtually no commute... it is amazing the benefits that brings and the risks you avoid.

Sounds like the "pros" of leaving win this one. I'd be writing that letter of resignation. And as 33girl pointed out, you may be surprised at the contacts you'll make over time. I spent 2.5 years in a position with nowhere to go within -- but the contacts I made and the experience I gained led to a managerial position with another company and a significant pay increase.

Overall, it sounds like your current situation is pretty miserable. People spend an awful lot of time at work to be miserable, and at some point, it's going to bleed into every area of your life. You've got a chance to escape to something that is better in a lot of way -- I'd take it.

Leave. Take the new job. Kick ass at it, and start looking for a new position at the one year mark. Consider the new job a learning experience and a springboard to go work somewhere else. It will be a hold over.

I would take the new job. Whether you stay at the current or go to the new, it sounds like you will want to continue looking for a better opportunity, so why not make more $$ in the meantime? Just my $0.02.

Thanks everyone. There hasn't been an offer yet, so I'm not super duper getting my hopes up but I want to think everything through if it does happen. I want to be ready. And even if this doesn't work out, the decision may come up for a different position.

This!

What you'll save in gas will amount to a big pay increase. You drive crazy far to work now and seem pretty unhappy there. Leave. You can keep your eyes open elsewhere later if you want more responsibilities/upward mobility.

I was in that position. amIblue is right, it's a quality of life issue. I left and keep in contact with my coworkers regularly. Problem solved. ;) It's a big leap of faith but you will very likely be so much happier for it.

GGGGGOOOOO!!!

:D

Life is short. Go.

Well the decision was made easier for me. I got laid off on Thursday. My position was eliminated to make room for a new employee THAT I RECRUITED. Yeah if that's not a slap in the face. But, I'm feeling good. I had a 2nd interview.... coincidentally that morning.... but I'm not sure how it went. It was with the owner and he was very straight faced. We'll see. I feel good being out of that atmosphere. It was toxic... literally and figuratively. I actually can't breathe without feeling like I'm about to have an asthma attack and I'm not sneezing all day. The carpet in there hadn't been vacuumed in god knows how long and the ceiling tiles on the 2nd floor were constantly coming down when it rained so we know there is mold up there.

Ok my rant is over. I can't wait to find a job with an appreciative staff (which I know good luck finding that anywhere) and a positive outlook. I'm going to turn this into a good thing!

Congrats. Do u get unemployment comp? :D

I thought of this thread when I saw your Facebook post. Do you think they found out you were interviewing and that's why they really laid you off?

I don't think it matters. Even if she did unintentionally sabotage herself, it is easier to look for a job when you don't have a full time job, a horrendous commute AND a lousy attitude at the end of the day.

I wouldn't plan on this new job working out and first thing Monday (take the weekend off at least) talk to some recruiters, hit all the 80 gazillion job search websites, send a letter to your entire linked in list, advise via Facebook, etc. And get fresh air, make a lunch date with a girlfriend you didn't get to see because you were too far apart for lunch before, go to the gym, yoga, whatev. Try to make this time pleasant and motivated. Then if the job DOES work out, then you can go in with a new refreshed outlook, and if it doesn't, you'll have made good progress toward whatever comes next. Good luck! And screw the bastards.

Yes thank God.

The only way he would've known is if he heard me and I made sure he wasn't around when I talked about it. We all know who is looking for new jobs. Almost everyone wants out. They lost a bid on a pretty huge project so I'm attributing it to that and them hiring a very experienced recruiter. They got rid of their tiny salary employee who was the only one doing financial reports for the group for this person. Whatever.

I've been searching for months but hit it hard on Friday, along with finding insurance (oh em gee. This is the first time in my life I'm uninsured) They had planned a goodbye lunch for the owner's nephew who found a better position, so I'll be going out there tomorrow for that and then going to see a friend's baby after. Gonna try to hit the gym everyday to keep those endorphines flowing lol

Sending you prayers and best wishes.

ENJOY THIS!!! Take a bit of time (at least a week or two) to decompress and shed the stress of the old job. Personally I advocate taking time for all those things advised... get a massage, see a movie in the middle of the day, lunch with friends that you don't usually get to see. All of those special things will help you get rid of the baggage of the old job, in prep for looking for the new one. Take that unemployment compensation... it is a benefit that you deserve, and it will give you time to find a great new job. GOOD LUCK!