I think I am going to quit my job...

FutureMrsLynch

So after that mess with my boss a few weeks ago (she told me if I didnt come back from maternity leave early I would be fired) my job opened up at a campus closer to my house which would cut my commute by 3 hours a day!    I instantly contacted the closer campus and let them know that I was interested in a transfer.   Today I heard back that if I want the transfer I would have to interview for the position and then take a $5200 pay cut...   I am fine interviewing for the position even though I think it is strange since I already do that job at another campus, but I am not ok with the pay cut!   I shouldn't have to accept a paycut to do the exact same job at a different campus, its still the same company and everything!   I think I am just finished with this company. 

 

Now does someone want to come over and tell my husband for me?? 

bigislandhi

Wow that is weird. I wonder why they would offer the same exact job, thru the same exact company at a lower pay.  I guess its economy driven or maybe they had a salary in mind for this position.  Regardless, I think quitting is the best choice in this case since your original manager was being an a$$.  There are greener pastures out there - once we get over this economy rut! Good luck!

IdahoGirl

Hmmmm...I'd think about taking it and working there for awhile so I could find something else - or build up the stash for when your DH gets a job and you could quit...

FutureMrsLynch

IG- yeah I'm still not sure, but if I do quit we have enough savings for us to last almost a year even if neither of us have a job.  I wouldnt do anything that would possibly put us in a bad spot.

MrsH_08

I think I would probably do what IG said, too...just for a while.  Maybe the reduced salary is all they have been planning to offer your possible replacement at your current location.

You said your commute would be reduced by 3 hours.  Wow!!!  I barely spend 3 hours commuting in a week!  The last time DH and I moved, my commute went from 12 mins to 20 mins each way, and it feels too long for me.  I can't even imagine how long you must have spent commuting! 

I have to admit that commute would be a motivator for me, knowing you'd reduce the time away from baby.

JRS72206

Is it just me or does it seem like this company is jerking you around?? That said I also think I would go back until DH got a new job. Or as long as you can last.....

Sorry girl! 

IdahoGirl

Well then shoot...go for it sister!!!!!  You can quite and take the time to find what you really want and stay home with H!  I just get nervous being jobless in this economy without at least one person working.  I bless the fact that my DH has a union job every day...it'd take a lot of lay offs before they got to him.

CDMay2006

$5000 a year is a lot, but...
1. the reduction in commute time will increase your quality of life (if you hate commuting as much as me!) and increase your time with family
2. Probably a thousand of it will be made up for by reduced gas costs because of the reduced driving
3. If your boss is looking for a reason to replace you and is being a jerk, then you are likely going to worry and be miserable, too, during the time you are working there.  Even though you'll have the same job at the other campus, you may not have as many responsibilities, and certainly won't have the same boss.
4. If you are confident you are a good fit for the job, and you convince them on this, then perhaps you'll have room for negotiation.
5. If you have plenty of savings to live on in the event you both were unemployed, you could take this job until you find one that pays what you want and has a desireable commute, and have the savings in case you need it, but be loosing less money in the mean time.

So, given what you've shared, i think it is the best choice to consider the new placement.  If both of you were unemployed, you'd have private/cobra health insurance, a new baby and all your regular expenses, without either income.  That's a lot on your financial plate.

JRS72206

FutureMrsLynch:

IG- yeah I'm still not sure, but if I do quit we have enough savings for us to last almost a year even if neither of us have a job.  I wouldnt do anything that would possibly put us in a bad spot.

I didn't read this before I replied. I say do it then! Take the time to be with Mr. Holden and find something you really want to do! I'll come tell your H for you.  

FutureMrsLynch

CDMay2006:

  If both of you were unemployed, you'd have private/cobra health insurance, a new baby and all your regular expenses, without either income.  That's a lot on your financial plate.

Crap, I forgot about stupid expensive Cobra   more to think about...

RobynK

CDMay2006:

$5000 a year is a lot, but...
1. the reduction in commute time will increase your quality of life (if you hate commuting as much as me!) and increase your time with family
2. Probably a thousand of it will be made up for by reduced gas costs because of the reduced driving
3. If your boss is looking for a reason to replace you and is being a jerk, then you are likely going to worry and be miserable, too, during the time you are working there.  Even though you'll have the same job at the other campus, you may not have as many responsibilities, and certainly won't have the same boss.
4. If you are confident you are a good fit for the job, and you convince them on this, then perhaps you'll have room for negotiation.
5. If you have plenty of savings to live on in the event you both were unemployed, you could take this job until you find one that pays what you want and has a desireable commute, and have the savings in case you need it, but be loosing less money in the mean time.

So, given what you've shared, i think it is the best choice to consider the new placement.  If both of you were unemployed, you'd have private/cobra health insurance, a new baby and all your regular expenses, without either income.  That's a lot on your financial plate.

This -- I TOTALLY agree with CDMay.  I would take a pay cut to do my job and be closer to home.  I commute 2 hours total each day and that puts me at seeing the babies about 2 hours a day during the week.  Working closer and taking the paycut would be worth it for me.

IdahoGirl

Ohhh...CDMay has a good point I forgot about - health insurance.  That alone is reason to take the new job until K has found something else.

Jas*sGirl

Hugs girly! I am sorry they have been so shitty to you!!!  As far as health care goes you can get an individual policy for your family.  You just have to have your application into the companies by the 20th of the month to be effective the 1st of the following month.  So say you want your plan to start April first you would have to have your application in on the 20th of March.  Just another option out there for you if you are serious about quiting your job.

KNemo

I would be done too! That is ridiculous. Sorry that you are dealing with this!!!

iHeartHimMore

I agree with CDMay and Robyn. ?I'd take the closer job with the pay cut just so there's something coming in (and health insurance is covered) and reassess once Kelly finds work. ?In the meantime you'll have MUCH more time to spend with the little man than if you were still commuting up here. ?And you can look for another job that's a better fit without being nervous about using up all your savings.

scarletii

Keep in mind that the umemployment rate is 8.1% right now!  So, it could take you a whole year to find a job.  I also feel that no job is stable right now in this economy.  I'm in accounting which is supposed to be a more stable industry, and it's been extremely difficult to get an interview for any full-time jobs.  Honestly, I would not leave a job unless I had another one lined up.

I would strongly encourage you to do a budget with what you are currently spending, add a little extra for a buffer and see how long you'd last.  And if you need cobra, you need to add that in.  I would expect that it would cost you $400/month for just yourself.  DH lost his job in December, and our cobra for a family of 4 was $1,100/month! 

And, I think you said the new job pays $5k less...I'm assuming that's per year?  That is really a very very small amount per paycheck.  And like others said, with the reduced gas costs and wear and tear on your car, it would probably be worth it.

If your company (and you) qualifies for FMLA, they can't legally fire you.  You could decide to take a leave of absence up to a year and they'd still have to provide a job for you.  At least, that's my understanding.

Purvalicious

I'm so sorry you're being jerked around! ?But, I would NOT drain your savings!!! ?Its amazing (seriously, AH-mazing) that you and Mr. Lynchie have that much money saved, but you never know what will happen in the future and if you drain that when you could be working, you'll totally regret it when you need it later. ?

I think that CDMay said most of the things I wanted to say along with that, but I so very very much think that the absolute worst thing you could do, financially, is for you and DH to be unemployed at the same time in this economy. ?That money is going to run out and what if you can't find jobs? ?I'm just a financial worry wart, but I would never drain my savings unless it was a last resort!

Good luck, lady!!?

energyzer

Two things to think about with your situation that might help you decide how to handle your exit. It's long but hopefully helpful. 

If you let her fire you, you have some options.  One being that you can potentially sue them because you were on protected FMLA leave (and WA State leave is also in play here) based on the information you shared.  And two, with the passage of the stimulus package, anyone involuntarily terminated, other than gross misconduct, between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 is eligible for a COBRA premium subsidy of 65%, which means your COBRA coverage will cost you only 35% of the premium your employer is charged.  That is a HUGE deal because as you know, COBRA is expensive when the employer isn't paying the majority of premiums on your behalf. You can always apply for individual coverage if you relatively healthy but the coverage isn't nearly as comprehensive. If they fire you, you get the premium subsidy on your COBRA for 9 months (or you become eligible for other group health coverage).

If you quit on your own prior to going back, your company can go after you to collect any premiums that were paid on your behalf for your health insurance while you were on leave.  FMLA requires an employer to treat you the same as any other employee with regards to health insurance premiums so if they pay 75% for you and your family before your leave, they have to pay it while you are out on FMLA. But, if you don't return from that leave, you owe the company for entire cost of the coverage. That would be an expensive bill to pay.  You can go back for one day and then quit just to avoid making that payment. Some employers don't go after employees for these funds but considering your circumstances and the laws they are already breaking, I would be surprised if they didn't try and collect.

I work in the benefits industry and help employers/employees figure out these scenarios every day.  They are complicated but might help you figure out what to do.

 

 

chibipoe

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat right now. I say we both quit and playdate every day! Yeah?

Sorry, I'm not much help right now 'cause, well I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. Now is just a terrible time to be an employee.

WatchPot

I agree with Energyzer, let them fire you for the Cobra coverage and then possibly unemployement too.  However if you do decide to stay and take the lower paying job, this might help ease that pain:  With my commute, which is not 3 hrs/day but is longer than I like, we have to have more costly daycare that is open more flexible hours.  Doesn't seem like this is an issue to you now, but in the future if you become  a 2 income household, that might become an issue:  You could save on childcare by not requiring such flexible hours.  There also is a possiblity that the pay is lower temporarily due to the economy and as things improve you will be eligible for a pay increase to get you back to where you need to/want to be.  Either way, good luck with DH!  Play on the pregnancy hormones to avoid the backlash!