Work Dilemma!
 

Ok, I've been at my current job (Office Mgr for a small family business) for 6 months and I want to start by saying that there's absolutly nothing wrong with the job itself. However, I have been offered an interview for a full-time postion at my part-time job (I work at a nursing home on weekends). They already know what I make at my current full time job, and the personnel director told me that "You never know what Amanda (the Nursing Home admin.) can do". I haven't gotten a firm offer (I would find that out in the interview), but they indicated they would be offering at least $1/hour (yes, I'm hourly, it sucks), plus their benefits are 1000% better then where I'm at now. Also, it's about a 20-min less commute. Another thing: where I'm at there's ZERO chance for advancement, where at the other one, I would have ALL KINDS of oppertunies to advance.

Here's the full weigh-out:
Current Job:
Pros: I like my boss and my actual job. She's paid for me to become a Notary (which I would definatly feel obligated to pay back). I know this job well, and it would put her in a huge bind to find someone new. My boss now treats us like family.
Cons: NO BENEFITS, longer commute, less money

Potenial New Job:
Pros: More money, better benefits, MUCH shorter commute, 100% better chance of advancement
Cons: Less "stuff to do" (I like to be busy), I would put myself in awkward postion with old boss and leave her in a HUGE bind.

Any thoughts???

I hated my last job, but loved my boss. That was a major reason for staying. I decided to take my new job, which I absolutely love. He understood, and although it put him in a huge bind as well, I needed to do what I needed to do to move on and better myself. I see where you are coming from, but at the same time, is this where you really want to see yourself for years to come? I say take this new job as a stepping stone to bigger and better! Who knows? If it doesn't work out, maybe you could always "go back" too ;).

Jess -

You have a babe to take care of! I would go with the better benefits and less time commuting, even if the chances for advancement were crap which isn't the case. This isn't just beneficial for you, it's beneficial for your family as well.

Offer to help your old boss find someone and train them - she should understand the situtation if she's as nice as you say she is.

Always remember, it's your life you are living and you must do what is best for you...people understand that. Besides by offering no benefits and no advancement potentional any employer has to know that the likelyhood of keeping someone in the position for a long time is slim.

The ironic part is that this company has been around for 25 years and had one lady in this position for 20 years and the other for 5 years...and both only quit because they moved.

I'm still up in the air. I'm really leaning toward the other job IF that's what the offer is. I've at least decided to take the interview...it can't hurt. They'll understand if I decide not to take the offer and just stay part-time. Although a good sign is that I've been part time with them for about 6 months and I've been offered a full-time activities postion, a part time personnel postion and now this, so there is definatly plenty of room for movement.

I would take a higher paying job with benefits and a shorter commute over a lower paying job with no benefits and a longer commute. The loyalty you feel for your boss is a great quality, but it's no reason to stay in a job with no benefits and no chance for advancement.

Is there any way that you can talk to your boss and explain your situation to him? Tell him you like working for him and want to stay there but you need the extra money and benefits. Maybe he'll try to match the other company's offer.

Whatever the offer, of course I'm going to give my current boss an oppertunity to beat it...however the other woman I work with has YEARS of experiance in construction and my boss would have to put me up close to her to beat the other job's offer, and then I think my boss would be in danger of losing her, because the other woman would be offended if I made anywhere near what she made (and it's a small office, everyone knows what everyone makes, plus my payroll books are kept in her office because it's the only office that locks).

Ok...so here's the deal...
My current boss came back and offered .50 more then the other job, but still no benefits (well, it's 5 vacation days a year and there IS health insurance, but it's $300 a month for $10,000 deduct.) The new company offers 10 vaca & 12 personal/sick and Insurance @$150 for $250 deduct.

My current boss wasn't angry, but I could tell she was upset. I really don't know what to do now, because I don't think .50 is worth the benefits, but I do like it here. Also, I don't want there to always be this resentment that I tried to leave. (I don't really know if there would or not)...

If she's upset, then at this point, I think you should definitely leave.

You're not leaving to go to a competitor and blab all their secrets. You're not leaving them in the lurch - you are giving her advance notice (as opposed to my ex-coworker who left a message on her boss's machine saying she quit). It is nothing personal, and she's making it personal.

You're not 18 with just you to think about - you have a family to take care of - and you have to do the things that will benefit them as well as you. If your current boss can't understand that, she's way too sensitive.

She started in on "I paid LOTS of money to train you off the staffing service, and the only reason the other company wants you and is willing to pay that much is because they don't have to train you..."

She's really not trying to be mean, and she did say that she would support my decison, but she really didn't want me to leave.

Oh man, talk about a guilt trip.

When's your deadline for a decision?

I worked for a company like you describe (construction and all), but the owner was male. Anyway, I only know what you have posted, but my experience was eerily similar. My suggestion is to take the other job and don't look back. In the end it's all business - no matter what. Trust me if/when bids start slowing down she won't think twice about letting you go.

For what it's worth I am of the school that you should not let your business and your personal life intermingle as much as possible.

I wouldn't discuss this with anyone at the company again. You have to make the best decision possible for yourself and your family without your boss trying to make you feel guilty.

You know this is a really good thing. Two companies want you. All your hard work is beginning to pay off, and you should enjoy it! :D

I got guilted so much from leaving my last job. They offered me raises, gave me a party, food, gift certificate to my fave store, the whole sha-bang. In the end, obviously I left. And you know what? My whole team who loved me so much and didn't want me to leave, especially my supervisor, I haven't heard from them since I have left, AND I have left messages. I am confident that I made the right decision, and I think you will too. Don't give into the guilt.

Ok...so the new job wanted a decision today...but I think I'm going to call and ask for the weekend.

My current boss did beat the other offer, BUT still no benefits...(nothing she can do about that right now).

SO...my mom called me last night and told me that if I stayed at my current job that she would no longer babysit for my baby on Fridays and that she would charge us $100 more a month toword our mortgage (they technically own our house) because if I stayed and continued to work two jobs to support my family, I'm a bad mom.

What does your husband think?

No offense toward your mom, but I hate it when moms try to do that crap. My mom tries to bribe me with financial stuff. Her latest angle is that if I go to law school in Florida, she'll pay for it.

That's too bad, I'm sure it's not that she thinks you're a bad Mom. She is probably saying what she thinks will get you to make the decision she thinks is right.

Exactly!

Like Peaches-n-Cream said YOU have to make the decision that is right for you and your family.

I know its a hard situation, I am not going through the entirely same situation, but I can relate to the feelings of a smaller company and not wanting to let people down, or leave them in a bind. But the way I began looking at it was.. firstmy job is not paying me at all what I'm worth.. high stress level... I don't see the opportunity for advancement like I would wish for..

of course these were all things that I was told would be available.. but still have not seem any of them, but no company is going to tell you this when you are applying.

My thoughts think about situation.. go for the job you see taking you to the point you want to be at in your life. If this job is not getting you there, find one that will or ways to get there.

Do you get benefits through your husband and what would the cost difference be? I thought about this a little more and coming from a Social Work background, I know that certain jobs like in nursing homes and the like may not be all they are cracked up to be. There is a ton of bureacracy and shadiness that goes on, especially in institutionalized settings. Have you noticed anything remotely like that as of yet? That's the main reason I left my last job. I would have ended up a patient if I stayed any longer ;). I also do not have as good a benefits package, however, the sanity and independence was worth it to me. Keep us posted when you make your decision!!

I'm in process of checking out benefits through my husband (he's been with his company for a year and refuses to look in on it).

Here's something else I just found out...the new job has ANNUAL raises at about 4%... The girl I work with just had her review and our boss said that she's going to start doing 6 month reviews and the other girl got 5%. Also, my boss said that she would do health insurance benefits on a percentage next year instead of a flat rate for everyone (currently the company pays $140 which no where comes near doing it for me).

I'm still VERY MUCH sitting on the fence, not knowing which direction to go.

On a side, but still related note, the current boss said that long-term, she's looking to retire and hire an assistant to take my job and I take her job...so there is KINDA someplace to go...

I don't know, I was just re-reading the thread from the beginning, and that seems like so much money to shell out monthly for health insurance (I assume it's probably more if you add husband/daughter). While you will probably still have to pay to add them if you take the new job, it may not be as much. Plus, yeah, she may retire, but who knows what could happen between now and then. If you really like this new place and it provides these great opportunities, and with the more you post, the more it seems like the logical choice to make. You have good experience and seem to be moving up the career ladder fairly quickly, so I wouldn't limit yourself. Try out this opportunity. You never know what other doors it may open. AND no one is saying that you can't start your own business one day either if that is the direction you choose to go in.

If you take into account family deductions for health insurance, the new job's deductions are high, but not really horrible. I just reviewed my company's health plans, and a family of four would pay just short of what you'll pay.

Personally? I'd take the new job. When you figure in offered vacation and sick days (which ARE benefits, and quite honestly are good for your health!), plus a much more reasonable health care plan, you're making out far better salary wise in the long run.

Also-- as far as your current boss commenting on what direction she *wants* to go (the hiring, promotions, etc.), you can't let that determine your decision. That happened to me, where I was told a position was in development, and I was the only one for it. Only-- about six months later, the manager above my direct manager left, and the position development was scrapped. Anything can happen in the future.

Make all decisions as to what is currently *in position* at the companies. Is there a position open right now for you to move to in your current company? If not, then take the new job.

~ Melissa