job decision

[barkingspider]

I let him read your responses. Wow, he is stressing out about this decision. We calculated the cost of the company car, gas and insurance and we got $8500-$10K per year. The metro train is fine, its clean but no wifi. I usually take a nap or Im on my phone surfing the web while on the train. He wasn't really looking to leave his current job, I just told him there was a spot open at the state and he should consider it so he did. He is good at what he does and he and his family seem happy. The reason why I made the jump from private to state job was because the pay cut I took was insignificant, like $1k less than I was making. If it was $10K, I may have stayed put. Another thing he mentioned was his current job has yearly bonuses depending on how the company does and his performance. Says he got between $5K-$10K ea of the past few years. Now that he mentioned that, its looking like I would have stayed put and dumped a bunch into my 401K and retirement if it was me.

CA gives approx. 1 sick day and 1 vacation day per month depending where you are.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

He's 40, which is kind of a "magic number" for future employment decisions. Around here the Public Sector pensions are more generous than Private Sector examples.

Typical PS Pension is Age + Years of Service =80 for full pension. So at age 60 (60 + 20) he could retire with full pension. Taken into perspective, that could account for the $10K annual salary difference.

Assuming he saves the full $10K/yr for 20 years, that's $400K + interest/appreciation which would not buy a Guaranteed Annuity equivalent to the PS pension. (You need about $1 million to pay out a 25 year annuity @ about $3500/mo.)

Also here an Annuity cannot be Guaranteed beyond 15 years (his age 75) while a pension may have survivor benefits. Annuity would end at 85, pension would continue.

Now. I realize California is a completely different animal, but that would be the prime criteria were it me. Especially since many can't save properly by themselves, and an illness could take those savings away while the pension will always be there.

Ask what he does with those bonuses. If he spends them, maybe he's not so good at saving. Basically what I'm saying is he needs to determine his retirement plans before he decides to stay or move.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Doesn't California give it's state employees one sick day a month?


I'm not sure because I'm one of the odd people who doesn't abuse our sick day time off! I know it seems like a lot to me and my co-workers aren't bashful about calling in sick if they have a hangnail.

I *think* that varies depending on what specific Union you're a part of and different organizations have different Unions. The Nurses Union is the strongest and from time to time they'll threaten the citizens with legal extortion, oops (Freudian slip) I mean a strike when they threaten to walk off the job at a moments notice unless we kiss their, (oops, another Freudian slip), I mean give them what they want which is (no surprise) more $$$.

Ed

 

[PandaBear]

Personally I'd take the current job because of the higher pay. He is only 40, too early to settle down for lower stress.

 

[barkingspider]

Originally Posted By: CKN
If I didn't have to pay in to Social Security that would be a major point for me. I don't believe California state workers pay in to Social Security.



Oh, I certainly do pay SS...approx. 17% of my gross pay goes to SS, I just checked.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
Originally Posted By: barkingspider
Correction, he works approx. 9-10 hour days at his current job. The state job is 8 hours a day mon-fri


The state job is ten hours per day because of the commute. In his own ride, if I read your post correctly.

His state job will be $10,000 per year less and his fuel and maintenance expenses will increase.

If neither of those realities is a concern for him, more power to him. If that's what he believes is best for his career and his family.


+1.

The commute is a big factor. I travel a lot for work, but I cant imagine having to commute 30 minutes, let alone an hour to get to my office.

On the flip side, 10 extra hours/week in the current job, over 50ish weeks is 500 hours of extra work at his current job. If he makes $10k more per year, thats $20/hr he is making for that time. If he is commuting, he is making $0 and paying his own car and gas for the same time away from home (loose assumption since his current commute is some amount of time too).

Seems like the private sector earns more and provides a better deal than the government job.

 

[Dave Hess]

$10,000 is peanuts for 2 hours of dealings with traffic.

 

[Number_35]

There are some really good points on both sides here.

I like to do the coin toss to let me know how I'm really feeling. Heads = stay in present job, tails = move to the government job. Toss the coin, see how it comes out, and see how you feel. Relieved, or disappointed?

 

[hpb]

Only 2 weeks a year paid holidays? Wow, you guys get screwed!

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: hpb
Only 2 weeks a year paid holidays? Wow, you guys get screwed!


yeah, when starting a job here in NA, that's pretty common.

I was lucky when I started my job. I wanted a higher salary and instead they offered a compromised (slightly higher amount) with an additional week of holidays (3 weeks from the start).

It's more than I've ever had! This summer is going to entail a week of holidays from July, August and September.

Add to that the employee shares in October (I've never had that from ANY employer), I'm a happy camper

 

[hpb]

Jeez, most jobs here have a minimum 4 weeks paid leave. I get 6 weeks a year, plus long service leave - after 10 years, I was entitled to 12 weeks paid leave, and that continues to accrue at about 1 week per year. So I take anything up to 10 weeks a year on paid leave. Wifey gets 12 weeks per year leave, plus her long service entitlements. Oh and sick leave is basically unlimited, as long as we provide a doctors certificate

 

[DBMaster]

In the USA, corporations (employers) get to treat employees like feces. It is actually encouraged. If you do not enjoy the treatment, you are not dedicated, not a team player, or a negative naysayer.

 

[DBMaster]

Of course, we are much happier, enjoy our jobs more, and lead a better life overall - NOT.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: hpb
Jeez, most jobs here have a minimum 4 weeks paid leave. I get 6 weeks a year, plus long service leave - after 10 years, I was entitled to 12 weeks paid leave, and that continues to accrue at about 1 week per year. So I take anything up to 10 weeks a year on paid leave. Wifey gets 12 weeks per year leave, plus her long service entitlements. Oh and sick leave is basically unlimited, as long as we provide a doctors certificate

Wow, that kind of seems like a lot even to us Canucks. I started at 3 weeks and have 4 now, and after 9 years on the job will have 5, but it maxes out at 7 weeks after 20 years.
My sister transferred to the US and regrets not negotiating some more reasonable vacation time. She gets 3 weeks, plus they have only 4-5 statutory holidays... We have 6-7 now I think.

 

[Dave Hess]

You can still find good jobs with good benefits in the USA, but its getting more difficult for companies to offer the package they had 20-30 years ago.

I'm approaching the 30 year mark at the company I work for. The old timers get a lot more benefits than the newly hired.

 

[hpb]

Sounds like we have it pretty good compared to other parts of the world.

 

[kschachn]

I would suggest that you quit your job at once (assuming you have one). It seems like the best thing under the circumstances.

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
In the USA, corporations (employers) get to treat employees like feces. It is actually encouraged. If you do not enjoy the treatment, you are not dedicated, not a team player, or a negative naysayer.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: hpb
Sounds like we have it pretty good compared to other parts of the world.


you do

 

[DBMaster]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
I would suggest that you quit your job at once (assuming you have one). It seems like the best thing under the circumstances.

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
In the USA, corporations (employers) get to treat employees like feces. It is actually encouraged. If you do not enjoy the treatment, you are not dedicated, not a team player, or a negative naysayer.


That's exactly what they want. Then, they can make the employees remaining simply work harder for the same money, or replace you with someone they can pay less. That's why they look down upon you if you stay in the same job too long - they end up paying you "too much" eventually.

 

[DBMaster]

I was not saying that my current job is like that. I am saying that a meaningful employer/employee relationship (besides trading time for money) is rare these days. Employees are no longer very loyal to corporations and many corporations - not all - have done little to nothing to inspire the expected loyalty. Vicious circle. That may be why 70% of those polled hate their jobs.