Work dilemma - WWYD?

*sparky* · May 2013

I work 3 days/week for one company. They are very good about giving me flexibility and don't have me track my hours or anything even though some weeks I work a little more and some less. They always pay me the same salary.

I also do some consulting for a very small consulting firm and get paid by the billable hour. Any administrative or other non-billable time including CPE, firm lunches, etc. are unpaid. Her business has been a little slow and I would say since January 1 I have only made $5,000 from this.

So I messed up this week and forgot about a firm lunch for job #2. It is tomorrow. The only days I can go to job #1 this week are Tue/Wed/Thu and I already told them I would be in the office those days. However, the firm lunch for job #2 has been scheduled for a few weeks. They already had to reschedule it once. Because of the location of the lunch vs. my office, I would have to leave work by 11 to go to this lunch and probably would not make it back in the afternoon.

I know I made the mistake in forgetting about the lunch, but now that I have this issue, I feel like I really should not jeapordize my regular paying job (job #1) for an unpaid lunch with the other firm. Honestly, the consulting work has become more of a pain than anything else and I am not really making enough for it to be worth the hassle anymore, due to the unpredictable nature of the work. So that is definitely factoring into my decision that the lunch is less of a priority.

Anyway, DH thinks I should just go to the lunch but I am really on the fence about this. If I am not going, I need to let them know today. If you were me, WWYD?

Pips09 · May 2013

What is going on at the firm lunch? How important is it? Do you see yourself continuing to work with them?

And how often do you leave unexpectedly/call out last minute from your first job? How badly will it inconvenience them?

This is what I'd consider before making a decision.

EastCoastBride · May 2013

Pips09:
What is going on at the firm lunch? How important is it? Do you see yourself continuing to work with them?

And how often do you leave unexpectedly/call out last minute from your first job? How badly will it inconvenience them?

This is what I'd consider before making a decision.

I agree.

*sparky* · May 2013

Pips09:

What is going on at the firm lunch? How important is it? Do you see yourself continuing to work with them?

And how often do you leave unexpectedly/call out last minute from your first job? How badly will it inconvenience them?

This is what I'd consider before making a decision.

The firm lunch is just to get everyone together since we all work remotely and rarely meet in person. I would like to continue to work for them, but she has not been getting enough work for me and so if it continues as it has been I may have to give it up.

Two weeks ago I had to take a last-minute vacation day because I had to take care of some personal things. Next week is an extremely busy week and I have to get ready for that this week.

I also had some last-minute consulting work dropped on me by my one client yesterday so I have to figure out how to fit that in this week as well.

ASmallWonder · May 2013

I absolutely wouldn't sacrifice time at the regular job for something that the consulting job can't expect you to attend. It's unpaid and as such, it can't be mandatory. Let your supervisor there know that, although you wish you could make it, you're already committed to work at that time.

EastCoastBride · May 2013

Based on your update, I would skip the lunch. You have too much going on at your "real" job.

*sparky* · May 2013

elmoali:
I absolutely wouldn't sacrifice time at the regular job for something that the consulting job can't expect you to attend. It's unpaid and as such, it can't be mandatory. Let your supervisor there know that, although you wish you could make it, you're already committed to work at that time.

Thanks - I think that is a good way to look at it.

jf198400 · May 2013

elmoali:
I absolutely wouldn't sacrifice time at the regular job for something that the consulting job can't expect you to attend. nbsp;It's unpaid and as such, it can't be mandatory. nbsp;Let your supervisor there know that, although you wish you could make it, you're already committed to work at that time.

I agree