PurpleHaze
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2019
Hi all, I thought I would seek some outside opinions on a potential job change I am looking at and struggling with. Let me give you a bit of information to show where I find myself. I am 47 and been in my current job for 3 years. My current company is what I would consider to be midsized. I like all of my coworkers, I like what I do, and I consider my compensation fair. On the other hand, my commute is long and my office is in a bad part of town. Based on our location getting out to run errands at lunch or just getting out for lunch is difficult. My company doesn't do annual merit raises and as a result I havent had a raise in three years. My current company also has a poor 401k matching program. Basically once a year they put a lump sum amount into my account equal to 2% of my pay.
I am close to being offered a position with a larger company with a nice office building in a suburban area that I would feel more comfortable in. The work would be pretty much the same. The new office would cut down on my commute but not substantially. Again, I dont have an official offer in hand but expect a slightly higher salary. The major draw to this new company is the retirement benefits. As I said earlier I am 47, and due to poor planning and mistakes earlier in my life my retirement savings are not where they should be and my current company doesnt really help out. The new company will match dollar for dollar the first 5% of my contributions, and also contribute 5% of my salary to a dedicated retirement account no matter what I do. I would be fully vested in three years.
On the surface it seems like an easy choice. Here is the difficult part. The people I interviewed with, and I appreciate their honesty, told me the job is a grind. They routinely work 50 to 55 hours per week, and usually a Saturday every 5 or 6 weeks. Then during the busy season (a 3 to 4 month stretch in the fall) it can get up to 70 hours including most Saturdays. Currently, I work hard when Im at work but I have zero job stress and work my 40 hours. other than answer a few emails or some minor catch up work I dont work weekends. I know the retirement package at the new place sounds great and I need that but would i be giving up too much. Again, Im 47 single and my kids are older. I like having the ability to come into my office on a slow week and on Thursday ask to take Friday off and then go on a long weekend trip. Im a college football fan, and the idea of working many fall Saturdays hurts. I like being able to have flexibility in my work schedule.
I guess the question is, is the ability to provide more benefits and security for the long term worth giving up the stress free flexible work / life balance I have now. I know this has been long but thanks for your input.
I am close to being offered a position with a larger company with a nice office building in a suburban area that I would feel more comfortable in. The work would be pretty much the same. The new office would cut down on my commute but not substantially. Again, I dont have an official offer in hand but expect a slightly higher salary. The major draw to this new company is the retirement benefits. As I said earlier I am 47, and due to poor planning and mistakes earlier in my life my retirement savings are not where they should be and my current company doesnt really help out. The new company will match dollar for dollar the first 5% of my contributions, and also contribute 5% of my salary to a dedicated retirement account no matter what I do. I would be fully vested in three years.
On the surface it seems like an easy choice. Here is the difficult part. The people I interviewed with, and I appreciate their honesty, told me the job is a grind. They routinely work 50 to 55 hours per week, and usually a Saturday every 5 or 6 weeks. Then during the busy season (a 3 to 4 month stretch in the fall) it can get up to 70 hours including most Saturdays. Currently, I work hard when Im at work but I have zero job stress and work my 40 hours. other than answer a few emails or some minor catch up work I dont work weekends. I know the retirement package at the new place sounds great and I need that but would i be giving up too much. Again, Im 47 single and my kids are older. I like having the ability to come into my office on a slow week and on Thursday ask to take Friday off and then go on a long weekend trip. Im a college football fan, and the idea of working many fall Saturdays hurts. I like being able to have flexibility in my work schedule.
I guess the question is, is the ability to provide more benefits and security for the long term worth giving up the stress free flexible work / life balance I have now. I know this has been long but thanks for your input.