Ash
09-15-2009, 08:11 AM
I know I haven't been a member here that long compared to a lot of you, but since I stumbled across this site a year ago (lurking for quite a bit), and after spending a good amount of time each day reading through all the threads, I feel apart of this community, and have amassed a sense of who you guys/gals are as people. It's pretty damn cool to see members consistently taking time out of their days to do a photo-chop, review a CAD design, spend hours hunting for a piece of info vital to another members build, or just giving general support and encouragement. I Just kinda felt the need to throw that out there before ranting on something so personal.
So the city I work for was offering a buy-out for any employee interested. The department I'm in, isn't in any danger of layoffs, and is actually expanding since the city picked up a new contract for another municipality. I've been a Emergency dispatcher for 3 years, make really decent money doing what I do, and am expecting at least a 25% pay-cut when I go. Now,most of you are probably wanting to slap me for even thinking of leaving a relatively secure seeming job in the volatile times were in. But I just can't do it anymore. Witnessing another employee, who was as devoted as they come, get the deck stacked on them, really demoralized me and put a bad taste in my mouth that can't be washed away. After that, the feeling that I had finally "found my calling" had totally disappeared. The job is extremely stressful as is (multitasking to a nutty degree that can only be described as organized chaos) without having to worry if the someone has your back if the proverbial **** hits the fan.
Most of my co-workers are in a really bad spot, even if they don't recognize it. They've extended their lifestyle to the cusp of their income. New cars, fancy toys, house remodels, and all the like things America is regretting at this point in our history. Now that their spouses are getting hours reduced or overtime cut, they're feeling the pinch. These co-workers are now utterly dependent on a income they can't duplicate anywhere else if they lost their jobs. One lapse of judgment, One second of being overwhelmed is all it takes in this field to get booted. Seeing this reality happen to that co-worker hit me pretty hard. I drive a 9 year old, rebuilt titled volvo, and have a pretty modest lifestyle for the money I make. I just cant picture and quite frankly, don't feel comfortable, with the idea of making any big life decisions such as a house or starting a family while at this job. I now realize I need to pick a field of study, go back to school, and finally get my degree. The deadline for committing to the buy-out was 10:00am yesterday morning.....and after wrestling with it all last week, up untill 09:55am Monday morning, I called and got my name on that list. I've got another job lined up that will afford me the schedule to return to college, and the severance package will carry me through until the company opens up the position in early November. It was a really tough decision, but I know I made the right one.
-Thanks for reading
So the city I work for was offering a buy-out for any employee interested. The department I'm in, isn't in any danger of layoffs, and is actually expanding since the city picked up a new contract for another municipality. I've been a Emergency dispatcher for 3 years, make really decent money doing what I do, and am expecting at least a 25% pay-cut when I go. Now,most of you are probably wanting to slap me for even thinking of leaving a relatively secure seeming job in the volatile times were in. But I just can't do it anymore. Witnessing another employee, who was as devoted as they come, get the deck stacked on them, really demoralized me and put a bad taste in my mouth that can't be washed away. After that, the feeling that I had finally "found my calling" had totally disappeared. The job is extremely stressful as is (multitasking to a nutty degree that can only be described as organized chaos) without having to worry if the someone has your back if the proverbial **** hits the fan.
Most of my co-workers are in a really bad spot, even if they don't recognize it. They've extended their lifestyle to the cusp of their income. New cars, fancy toys, house remodels, and all the like things America is regretting at this point in our history. Now that their spouses are getting hours reduced or overtime cut, they're feeling the pinch. These co-workers are now utterly dependent on a income they can't duplicate anywhere else if they lost their jobs. One lapse of judgment, One second of being overwhelmed is all it takes in this field to get booted. Seeing this reality happen to that co-worker hit me pretty hard. I drive a 9 year old, rebuilt titled volvo, and have a pretty modest lifestyle for the money I make. I just cant picture and quite frankly, don't feel comfortable, with the idea of making any big life decisions such as a house or starting a family while at this job. I now realize I need to pick a field of study, go back to school, and finally get my degree. The deadline for committing to the buy-out was 10:00am yesterday morning.....and after wrestling with it all last week, up untill 09:55am Monday morning, I called and got my name on that list. I've got another job lined up that will afford me the schedule to return to college, and the severance package will carry me through until the company opens up the position in early November. It was a really tough decision, but I know I made the right one.
-Thanks for reading