Octopus Overlords

Smoove_B wrote:

LordMortis wrote:Luck to you. I didn't know you were teaching at the university level. It seems like all universities around here have been moving to part time teachers, specifically so they can pay them a smaller wage, no benefits, and cut them and rehire with the needs of a specific semester.

I do have some protection there, but all they really need to do is cut me back and give my old time slots to someone else. What's hilarious is that as part-time lecturers we teach over a 1/3 of all the credit hours at the school. I think part of the problem is that students have no idea of our status (or lack thereof) and they just assume we're all fat and happy tenured staff (like Captain Caveman). But in terms of benefits? Nope. Straight contract salary for 15 weeks of work with no guarantee of future employment. As I said, it's been a good six year run and I am grateful for what I've been able to do so far. I don't believe I should be offered the same salary and benefits as a tenured staff member but the temporary nature of the work has been a source of stress as I never know exactly what I can expect until a month or so before the work begins.

The wife used to be adjunct faculty at a University theater school, teaching yoga. Straight contract, semester by semester, but she loved the kids. Then they decided to do away with the adjuncts and roll it all up into a full professor to save money. So now there's one person teaching first-year theater students yoga, voice, strength/exercise, and movement. What a weird person that must be.

Smoove_B wrote:

LordMortis wrote:Luck to you. I didn't know you were teaching at the university level. It seems like all universities around here have been moving to part time teachers, specifically so they can pay them a smaller wage, no benefits, and cut them and rehire with the needs of a specific semester.

I do have some protection there, but all they really need to do is cut me back and give my old time slots to someone else. What's hilarious is that as part-time lecturers we teach over a 1/3 of all the credit hours at the school. I think part of the problem is that students have no idea of our status (or lack thereof) and they just assume we're all fat and happy tenured staff (like Captain Caveman). But in terms of benefits? Nope. Straight contract salary for 15 weeks of work with no guarantee of future employment. As I said, it's been a good six year run and I am grateful for what I've been able to do so far. I don't believe I should be offered the same salary and benefits as a tenured staff member but the temporary nature of the work has been a source of stress as I never know exactly what I can expect until a month or so before the work begins.

There is never a shortage of applicants.

That's definitely true - the other interesting problem is an overwhelming majority of them are PhD-level individuals that cannot find tenure. I'm beginning to think I need to go back for my substitute teacher certificate and learn how to deal with more more mature individuals, i.e. middle school kids.

My wife just finished her masters of education, and an integrated license for teaching, and is teaching Chemistry and Physics at the high school level. She loves it, but had to get the integrated license to prove she could teach Physics with a Chemistry degree. And it was kind of funny, she had to take Geology classes to make her degree rounded enough to teach Physics and Physical Science in general.

But she enjoys the students for the most part, and she get's paid well, and the benefits are nice. If you are really looking, then look for a program called woodrow wilson. That is the program that paid for her to go back to school and get her masters, and all he had to do was teach three years in a title one school district. Not all inner city schools, my wife teaches in a very rural community and it is title one. Of course her masters was focused on inner city schools, but it was good information and seems like a good program. Here is the website: Woodrow Wilson Fellowship program website

They are currently accepting resumes/applications for New Jersey, I think that is where you are at. Deadline is in 4 days though.

Well, I just did something I haven't done in about 8 years...I sent off a resume and cover letter for a different job. I probably won't get a call, not sure I'm well aligned with their job requirements, but you never know.

I have no idea if job hunting is the right decision or not. I've been with my company for almost 10 years. I'm overpaid and will never find a job making the salary I make here, and I still have about 14 months before I'm debt free. But, I travel a lot and I genuinely feel like the travel is affecting my health quite a bit. My kidney function is getting worse, and I think that I should probably try to be at a job where I don't travel BEFORE they fail and I need dialysis. I can't imagine trying to fit dialysis in with my travel schedule here at my current job. I have trainings in 6 different states in the next 5 weeks, how would I even make that work? But it's also taking a risk to start a new job and then possibly have them fail a few months later. Ugh. I just don't know. Half of me says to ride it out at my current job as long as possible, or at least until I'm completely out of debt and the other half of me says that money is just money and my health is more important and the travel and stress are definitely having an adverse affect.

Wife said last night she wants to update her resume. A close friend at work is interviewing at a short term rehab facility (so, no dementia patients) and a former coworker there is making 70% more after a year. The things is, she was projecting to make 130% more once she gets her LPN if she stays put, but that is now not until middle of next year at the earliest. This place is also farther away, increasing the desperate need for a second car.

Was discussing my company's impeding split with a colleague in Colorado this morning. He said he'd like to follow one of his peers (who was involved in my hire), as she would allow him to continue working from home. My boss seems to be taking every opportunity to introduce me as someone originally from the "Financial business" -- this will be the smallest of the splinter companies, and a likely candidate to be swiftly acquired. I really don't want to find myself attached to this company as it will not only be far less stable, but also I'd likely have to travel some, supporting a larger geographical region. Perhaps I too could work at home several days per week to offset the difficulties travel would present at this time.

MHS wrote:But, I travel a lot and I genuinely feel like the travel is affecting my health quite a bit. My kidney function is getting worse, and I think that I should probably try to be at a job where I don't travel BEFORE they fail and I need dialysis. I can't imagine trying to fit dialysis in with my travel schedule here at my current job. I have trainings in 6 different states in the next 5 weeks, how would I even make that work? But it's also taking a risk to start a new job and then possibly have them fail a few months later. Ugh. I just don't know. Half of me says to ride it out at my current job as long as possible, or at least until I'm completely out of debt and the other half of me says that money is just money and my health is more important and the travel and stress are definitely having an adverse affect.

Can you get a doctor to limit your travel for health reasons? You may want to speak with someone about getting an accommodation under the ADA/FMLA. I can't give you any actual advice, but look into the Federal laws if you really have a health concern. Note that there are exceptions that the company can use to avoid giving you the accommodation, but you already have one foot out the door, so you may not have anything to lose by trying.

Jag wrote:

MHS wrote:But, I travel a lot and I genuinely feel like the travel is affecting my health quite a bit. My kidney function is getting worse, and I think that I should probably try to be at a job where I don't travel BEFORE they fail and I need dialysis. I can't imagine trying to fit dialysis in with my travel schedule here at my current job. I have trainings in 6 different states in the next 5 weeks, how would I even make that work? But it's also taking a risk to start a new job and then possibly have them fail a few months later. Ugh. I just don't know. Half of me says to ride it out at my current job as long as possible, or at least until I'm completely out of debt and the other half of me says that money is just money and my health is more important and the travel and stress are definitely having an adverse affect.

Can you get a doctor to limit your travel for health reasons? You may want to speak with someone about getting an accommodation under the ADA/FMLA. I can't give you any actual advice, but look into the Federal laws if you really have a health concern. Note that there are exceptions that the company can use to avoid giving you the accommodation, but you already have one foot out the door, so you may not have anything to lose by trying.

I have a nephrology appointment next month. Based on what my blood work and GfR look like then, I'm going to start researching a lot of options, potentially including getting a disability lawyer.

If I talked to my boss and mentioned my concerns, it's possible he'd be interested in having me stick around in a non-travel or less-travel capacity. But we're a REALLY small company (only 6-7) people, so finding a way for me to be useful would be hard. He'd have to hire someone for the travel aspects, no one here would be able to step into that role. And if he decides to let me go after I disclose what's up, I'm really screwed since I need to maintain my medical insurance, so it's risky.

LawBeefaroni wrote:The wife used to be adjunct faculty at a University theater school, teaching yoga. Straight contract, semester by semester, but she loved the kids. Then they decided to do away with the adjuncts and roll it all up into a full professor to save money. So now there's one person teaching first-year theater students yoga, voice, strength/exercise, and movement. What a weird person that must be.

I've spent 25+ years at universities and that's the first time I ever heard of an administration getting rid of adjuncts in order to save money by hiring a full professor. How curious.

MHS wrote:...the other half of me says that money is just money and my health is more important and the travel and stress are definitely having an adverse affect.

Listen to that half.

I am still interviewing at places. I had a few offers I turned down, as they were for Sr. Analyst positions and not management. But I have two interviews for management positions coming up, 1 is a second interview, and one is the first.

I have no one inside at the place where I have the second interview, but I have a friend at the other place, so we shall see how that turns out.

dfs wrote:I've spent 25+ years at universities and that's the first time I ever heard of an administration getting rid of adjuncts in order to save money by hiring a full professor. How curious.

What I've noticed is that if they have need for you, they make room. There have been a few people hired in the last two years (one that actually just took my lecture) that are titled "teaching professors". They don't have PhDs, but they do have former jobs with various state or federal government agencies or they left high-level positions in the non-profit sector. They're full-time faculty and have benefits . No idea what their salaries are like but I'd imagine comparatively less than their tenured professor counterparts. Instead of doing research and getting grants and notoriety through publications, they have lots and lots of contacts. It's all a giant shell game and not surprisingly, it's all who you know. Same as it ever was.

MHS wrote:Well, I just did something I haven't done in about 8 years...I sent off a resume and cover letter for a different job. I probably won't get a call, not sure I'm well aligned with their job requirements, but you never know.

You have nothing to lose - and sometimes there's value in knowing you're not trapped in a job - even if you don't actually leave. My wife travels about once a quarter, sometimes for up to 7 days. It absolutely throws our usual routine into a tailspin and I don't know how anyone travels all the time as part of a job. Best of luck with your health. Health first. Always.

Smoove_B wrote: My wife travels about once a quarter, sometimes for up to 7 days. It absolutely throws our usual routine into a tailspin and I don't know how anyone travels all the time as part of a job. Best of luck with your health. Health first. Always.

I actually really loved the travel aspect of my job when I felt better, although Kayla was in her teens when I started traveling, which is a lot easier than trying to do it with a less independently aged child at home. I suspect I'll miss it quite a bit when I give it up, but I find it physically exhausting even to get through a regular office day anymore, and the time it takes me to recover from my works trips gets longer and longer.

hentzau wrote:I just passed 26 years here. Am I lazy, or just really needed at my company? I've survived numerous rounds of layoffs, and a 3 year wage freeze during some of the bad times here.

I just applied for an open position that was left on my team by the other lead engineer. It's basically doing exactly what I have been doing, but at a higher pay grade. The job description was pretty much written for me. My team lead and Senior Manager are both supporting the move, so I'm hoping this just turns into a rubber stamp so that I can finally be moved to that position. It's all politics, I kept being told that the only reason I wasn't being promoted was that the other lead engineer was already an E band, and they couldn't have to E band employees on the same team.

So if I don't get the position I'll be applying elsewhere, probably in the company. I have a good reputation here, and I'm sure I can find something someplace here. Hope it doesn't come to that, I like what I'm doing, I just need another me now that I've lost the other me. As far as outside, I have a pretty good skill set, but I don't know that I could match pay/benefits/PTO time I get here. Golden handcuffs indeed.

Woody Allen wrote:If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.

So they had a bunch of layoffs here a few weeks back, including a big chunk of E band employees. One of them was our client computing architect, who was good friends with our Senior Manager. Well today they told me that they're using the open position to hire him back. And not to help me, mind you, just to get him back. So now I'm out an engineer, and didn't get the promotion. Not happy.

MHS wrote:I have no idea if job hunting is the right decision or not. I've been with my company for almost 10 years. I'm overpaid and will never find a job making the salary I make here, and I still have about 14 months before I'm debt free. But, I travel a lot and I genuinely feel like the travel is affecting my health quite a bit. Half of me says to ride it out at my current job as long as possible, or at least until I'm completely out of debt and the other half of me says that money is just money and my health is more important and the travel and stress are definitely having an adverse affect.

I'm in nearly this exact same position right now. I've made more in the past two years than I did in the previous 12 years combined. I can guarantee I will never again find another job that will make me this sort of $$. However, the constant travel (I'll end up about 10K miles away from Diamond status on Delta for the second year in a row), the ridiculous stress levels, and the feeling that I'm completely missing my kids grow up is weighing heavier and heavier on my mind. Even when I am home, I don't feel like I'm actually there since I'm constantly responding to e-mails and texts. I took a "vacation" and spent half of it sitting on the beach doing work on my laptop. I panic whenever I can't find my phone because "OMG, WHAT IF I MISS A CLIENT CALL?!" I spent 3 days in the hospital in March after coming down with pneumonia, bronchitis, and mono after spending a week in Anchorage. I've gained about 30 pounds in two years, rarely sleep more than 5 hours a night, and have very little energy to do anything. "Playing" with my kids (6 year old and 2 year old twins) usually ends up with me simply laying on the floor and letting them climb all over me. I'm becoming the dad I told myself I'd never be.

I'm out of debt except for the house and have a pretty decent safety net built up, and I keep wondering if it's worth it to keep going at this rate. Not having to constantly stress over money is nice (especially since I lived paycheck-to-paycheck for the first 12 years of my career), but when it's at the expense of everything else...not sure it's worth it. It's feeling more and more like this pace isn't really sustainable, but making a switch is an even more daunting challenge. Especially when there's not anything I have a burning passion to pursue.

I'm going to see how this fiscal year (started September 1) plays out and then re-evaluate. Hell, maybe everything will come crashing down and they end up firing me.

I have thought for years that I was a year or two away from quitting and moving somewhere cheaper and trying the one man indie thing for a while. One thing that kept me from doing it was that a more indie like project internally came along (which you will never hear about because we got canceled). It was frankly my dream job - tiny team with a big company backing us. But in the end it just didn't work out. But now the thing keeping me from it is my daughter. We're moving to a bigger place with a better, closer, school. I am HAPPY about this. But it means I am now valuing stability much more than "excitement". I now believe I will be at Blizzard for the next decade.

I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I have been on GG/OO longer though.

tiny ogre wrote:I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I've been at my company almost 13 years. After jumping around every 1-3 years for the first 10 years, it does feel weird being at one place for so long. But having kids and acquiring "stuff" forces you to chose financial security over everything else. I'm fortunate that I like my job, my boss and coworkers, but I am burnt out and will ride this job out as long as its available.

Jag wrote:

tiny ogre wrote:I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I've been at my company almost 13 years. After jumping around every 1-3 years for the first 10 years, it does feel weird being at one place for so long. But having kids and acquiring "stuff" forces you to chose financial security over everything else. I'm fortunate that I like my job, my boss and coworkers, but I am burnt out and will ride this job out as long as its available.

20 years here.

But my boss just resigned after a year on the job and political maneuvering around several mergers is reaching a fever pitch. I expect big changes soon. Seriously considering taking an extended leave from working if shit gets stupid.

tiny ogre wrote:But now the thing keeping me from it is my daughter. We're moving to a bigger place with a better, closer, school. I am HAPPY about this. But it means I am now valuing stability much more than "excitement".

tiny ogre wrote:But it means I am now valuing stability much more than "excitement".

This is what I tell every recruiter who comes calling. Although now with the company splitting into three; there is still a big over the future that's been absent the past 5 years. I'm still inclined to wait and see how it all shakes out -- there is a good chance I'll be essentially unaffected, but still a slight chance I'll be put in a much more volatile and undesirable situation (a job that requires travel). I do tell recruiters that I'd be willing to consider getting back into healthcare IT but as staff, not as a contractor. Nobody has yet called back.

LawBeefaroni wrote:

Jag wrote:

tiny ogre wrote:I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I've been at my company almost 13 years. After jumping around every 1-3 years for the first 10 years, it does feel weird being at one place for so long. But having kids and acquiring "stuff" forces you to chose financial security over everything else. I'm fortunate that I like my job, my boss and coworkers, but I am burnt out and will ride this job out as long as its available.

20 years here.

But my boss just resigned after a year on the job and political maneuvering around several mergers is reaching a fever pitch. I expect big changes soon. Seriously considering taking an extended leave from working if shit gets stupid.

Well, my old boss just called and offered me a job at another hospital. It's a bump up and has a lot of room for upward movement. Right now her old spot (Director) is open here but it's probably going away when we merge with a newly acquired group. I was hoping they might fill it and was waiting for news but I may have to outright ask. If they say no, I will consider the new place.

It's a tough call right now, 20 years is a long time to walk away from, but honestly it will probably come down to salary and bonus. Why the hell not leverage the offer, right?

tiny ogre wrote:I have thought for years that I was a year or two away from quitting and moving somewhere cheaper and trying the one man indie thing for a while. One thing that kept me from doing it was that a more indie like project internally came along (which you will never hear about because we got canceled). It was frankly my dream job - tiny team with a big company backing us. But in the end it just didn't work out. But now the thing keeping me from it is my daughter. We're moving to a bigger place with a better, closer, school. I am HAPPY about this. But it means I am now valuing stability much more than "excitement". I now believe I will be at Blizzard for the next decade.

I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I have been on GG/OO longer though.

Can you tell them that we need a new damned MMO and not just expansions of a decade old MMO please?

Thanks

I have been with the same company for 17 years. Part of the attraction is the pension, which we still get. When I retire I'll have investments + pension. I'm never going to get rich working for a company, but it sure is secure. The other part of the attraction is the people at this company.

I just went through the Leukemia thing since November and you wouldn't believe the outpouring of support. Gift baskets, gift cards, and they even bought me an iphone 6. It was quite humbling and touching.

How did I miss that? How you doing?

Might make it easy to justify a new car, lawbeef. Congrats!

Zaxxon wrote:How did I miss that? How you doing?

It's in an obscure titled thread about my wisdom teeth being removed. We discovered it that way.

The good news is that it's something called Hairy Cell Leukemia which is highly treatable and is usually a managed type disease like diabetes. They gave me my 7 day treatment and with any luck it will stay gone for a decade or more before it comes back. Then I get the treatment again.

(knock on wood)

Glad to hear it!

My company now essentially has me doing the work of at least 3 people (maybe 4 on a bad day). I'm raking in overtime pay hand over fist but the stress levels have been steadily rising for the past 2 years and I'm not sure at what point it'll hit critical mass. Some days it's nice to feel needed. Most days - I want to throw my computer out of the window. Unfortunately, at this point I will not be able to get anywhere the pay level and number of vacation days working a similar position anywhere else (it's healthcare IT tech support).

So I'll just stay where I am for the foreseeable future.

2016 is shaping up to be some major job stress for me too. The company is splitting into 3, and I still don't know what projects are going to fall into my lap, only that they will need to be urgently completed. Yesterday was spent putting out fires for teams who needed some things right away for projects concerning the split. My boss was on vacation -- I need to speak with him on Tuesday about conferring his bossly superpowers to me and the other supervisor even when he gone just a day (typically, he only does so when he's gone a week).

I lost one of my most reliable guys last week to another team. He was one of 3 techs at a logistics facility, the oldest notified me his retirement date is set for March 2017 although he might linger until July to make it an even 45 years. His skill set will be hard to replace. The third guy there is probably my most willing tech when it comes to needs anywhere and anytime -- even the middle of the night on a Saturday. But he's prone to be a fuck-up, and can't be trusted to work unsupervised for long periods of time. I'll be spending the day before Presents Day this year manning that facility by myself as he's out on vacation. He's also the guy I usually move around to augment staff needs elsewhere, and I can't do that anymore. And I'll need more help in the coming weeks as we bring up a new sales office/call center in downtown Chicago. One of my 2 techs in downtown Chicago was supposed to retire at the end of this year, but put it off indefinitely. He already bought his retirement shack down around tgb's 'hood; I think once the pressure gets too much, he'll bail.

The thing is, while other departments are expanding their staff for this split (which, in turn, adds to our work load), my department is being told to cut expenses and not to expect any replacements for open positions. Unlike gilraen, though, I can work all of the hours I can without getting a cent of extra pay. I've been making sure so far to compensate extra hours worked with extra time off, but that might not be possible as things get crazy.

Hmm, the coaching business went down hill few years back and shows no abatement there, the only plus that we have team in place, so there is not much work for me on it. My eCommerce is doing alright, but needs a lot of work still. And my seo / didgital gig pretty solid. All in all , i need to have one break out project. Digital marketing is most likely to be brake out, but also requires most hand holding and i am not sure if i want to do it on full time basis, i do enjoy it as part time gigs.

msduncan wrote:

tiny ogre wrote:I have thought for years that I was a year or two away from quitting and moving somewhere cheaper and trying the one man indie thing for a while. One thing that kept me from doing it was that a more indie like project internally came along (which you will never hear about because we got canceled). It was frankly my dream job - tiny team with a big company backing us. But in the end it just didn't work out. But now the thing keeping me from it is my daughter. We're moving to a bigger place with a better, closer, school. I am HAPPY about this. But it means I am now valuing stability much more than "excitement". I now believe I will be at Blizzard for the next decade.

I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I have been on GG/OO longer though.

Can you tell them that we need a new damned MMO and not just expansions of a decade old MMO please?

Thanks

I worked on a new damned MMO for 6+ years and it didn't ship. I might not be your guy for that particular message! Overwatch is built on the ashes of that game, but it Is sure not another MMO. I am on the Hearthstone team at the moment, which is as far from an MMO as one can get at Blizzard

tiny ogre wrote:

msduncan wrote:

tiny ogre wrote:I have thought for years that I was a year or two away from quitting and moving somewhere cheaper and trying the one man indie thing for a while. One thing that kept me from doing it was that a more indie like project internally came along (which you will never hear about because we got canceled). It was frankly my dream job - tiny team with a big company backing us. But in the end it just didn't work out. But now the thing keeping me from it is my daughter. We're moving to a bigger place with a better, closer, school. I am HAPPY about this. But it means I am now valuing stability much more than "excitement". I now believe I will be at Blizzard for the next decade.

I've almost been there 15 years. I guess I'm going to have an old fashioned career after all and spend most of it at one company.

I have been on GG/OO longer though.

Can you tell them that we need a new damned MMO and not just expansions of a decade old MMO please?

Thanks

I worked on a new damned MMO for 6+ years and it didn't ship. I might not be your guy for that particular message! Overwatch is built on the ashes of that game, but it Is sure not another MMO. I am on the Hearthstone team at the moment, which is as far from an MMO as one can get at Blizzard

#sigh

Shitty, in answer to the original thread topic.

Financially better than ever, but I went from loving my job to hating my job in the span of 5 months after our tiny company was bought out by a publicly traded behemoth. And to think I was HAPPY when my boss, the owner of the bought company, told me he was selling to this company!! Naive fool! Not happy, but excited at new prospects, new ways of doing things, improving and energizing something that had stagnated.

Nay, NAY. Instead of improving the product, they are picking it apart piece by piece, and it actually is WORSE than before because so many people have their hands on it. Worse, and 20% more expensive!

Whoo...ok rant over. Anyhoo, I am looking for new career horizons to say the least...finding a company with less than say 200 employees will be my first search criteria.

I've been working on a major project for the last 9 months. In the past 4 months I've been working on it pretty much 40-60 hours a week exclusively.

We went live today, and it went better than expected. CIO was thrilled, management was happy, upper leadership was happy. Still some mop up work to be done this week, but right now it looks really promising that our week and a half of 12 hour shifts might be cut to just 3-4 days.

Zarathud wrote:Might make it easy to justify a new car, lawbeef. Congrats!

I get the details on Thursday.

Just put together a CV for the first time in over 20 years.
"1996-2015 Here"


Fortunately it's just a formality.

Carpet_pissr wrote:Shitty, in answer to the original thread topic.

Financially better than ever, but I went from loving my job to hating my job in the span of 5 months after our tiny company was bought out by a publicly traded behemoth. And to think I was HAPPY when my boss, the owner of the bought company, told me he was selling to this company!! Naive fool! Not happy, but excited at new prospects, new ways of doing things, improving and energizing something that had stagnated.

Nay, NAY. Instead of improving the product, they are picking it apart piece by piece, and it actually is WORSE than before because so many people have their hands on it. Worse, and 20% more expensive!

Whoo...ok rant over. Anyhoo, I am looking for new career horizons to say the least...finding a company with less than say 200 employees will be my first search criteria.

I'm looking at moving to a small organization after we just doubled in size here the last year and a half. It's tough because I feel like I'm going from a blue chip to a family business but I can have a much greater impact in the smaller organization.

Nearly 14 years ago I went from a company of about 20 wondering if the next paycheck would bounce to a company of over 40k (ok, it was probably closer to 20k when I joined) and haven't worried about getting a paycheck since. I am what they call "risk-averse" in my old age.

coopasonic wrote:Nearly 14 years ago I went from a company of about 20 wondering if the next paycheck would bounce to a company of over 40k (ok, it was probably closer to 20k when I joined) and haven't worried about getting a paycheck since. I am what they call "risk-averse" in my old age.

Me too. It's why I've been here so long. But when I say small, I mean around $1.2B in revenue vs around $4B in revenue. About 3,200 employees vs around 14,000.

I'm not worrying about checks bouncing but more not winding up being bought by the place I just left. I'm pretty sure anti-trust would block it though.

I was discussing this with a contractor this morning. My company is splitting into three...a $1B, a $3.5B, and a $7B company. I think I will wind up in the $7B company and it will eventually be business as usual, but my background doesn't rule out getting sent to the $1B company instead. The $7B company should provide years of stability, while the $1B company is expected to be acquired or merged (while big in its field, it's a declining business that just isn't profitable in the US, although they do better overseas).

BTW, I also found out today one of my 2 guys downtown is retiring effective 2/1/16. That leaves me with one guy who hasn't been all that reliable to handle the corporate HQ and the new logistics facility by himself. Methinks I'll be working downtown a lot more in the coming year.

Met with them yesterday, talk salary today, meet CFO next week if we can match schedules.

I get the feeling it's mine to refuse. We'll see.

LawBeefaroni wrote:Met with them yesterday, talk salary today, meet CFO next week if we can match schedules.

I get the feeling it's mine to refuse. We'll see.

Good luck!

Carpet_pissr wrote: Whoo...ok rant over. Anyhoo, I am looking for new career horizons to say the least...finding a company with less than say 200 employees will be my first search criteria.

That happens to all sorts of things, but products are the most visible and easiest to define in terms of cost and what not.

Same thing has been happening to the IT systems I've been a part of. Some of the changes should be criminal, in how much they change things for the worse, and often for political reasons, not for any practical reasons.

When strangers start cutting up your baby, it sucks!

GreenGoo wrote:When strangers start cutting up your baby, it sucks!

Hmm, never thought about it in those terms, but maybe that explains my anger. Under the old regime, we had some real ownership of the product, its development and deployment. Now, those kind of things are so far out of our (the original remaining people from the bought out company) reach and domain that I have just given up. I'm tired of going up against the behemoth and losing every time. I will just slink back into my pigeon-holed role like a good little corporate monkey.

Wow, that's dark.

Jeff V wrote:

LawBeefaroni wrote:Met with them yesterday, talk salary today, meet CFO next week if we can match schedules.

I get the feeling it's mine to refuse. We'll see.

Good luck!

Thanks.

My number was too high but we did agree to something in the neighborhood of a 25% increase contingent on me meeting the C suite. Was looking for more to make it a no brainer, and I figure it never hurts to ask, but I think it's enough.