I need someone to make this life decision for me...

[SallySparrow]

So, I got a job offer today.

I work for a non profit company. I was miserable for a while so I sent out some resumes. Then I took a slightly different position in the same company and I am a lot happier. I got an outside interview and went because...why not?

So they offered me the job. The same job I do now, just a different company. I'm an hourly employee, the new job is $3.00 more/hour. No on call. Currently I'm on call about 1 out of every six weekends.

Benefits are irrelevant. New job would offer tuition reimbursement so I can go back to school.

My commute would be longer, not as much time with A in the evenings. At my current job I can pick her up early often and finish my day at home. I can take time during my day to go to her appointments. I work close to home. All that would go away if I take the new job.

Wth should I do? I'm really hesitant to give up my afternoon times with A. I'm also concerned about giving up some of the flexibility to take A to appointment, run home during the day, etc.

I need someone to just make decisions for me.

[lolo]

How long is each commute? Would the new job negotiate for a work from home day? Would the money make a big difference in life?

[mcfelix]

The flexibility of your current job, along with short commute, would be worth keeping, in my opinion. A small bump in pay would not compensate enough for that.

[7costanza]

As someone with a long commute (2-3 hours round trip) I would not be willing to give up that flexibility unless it was a HUGE jump in pay.

[hermione]

Is going back to school important to you?

[SallySparrow]

Sept 26, 2014 21:43:36 GMT -5 lolo said:

How long is each commute? Would the new job negotiate for a work from home day? Would the money make a big difference in life?

It's kind of complicated. I work in home hospice. My current "territory" is right in the area I live. I go to the office sometimes, which is about 15 minutes from my house. The new office would be 20 minutes from my house, my new territory would be about 30 minutes in the opposite direction from the office. I hope that makes sense. lol

[SallySparrow]

Sept 26, 2014 21:45:50 GMT -5 hermione said:

Is going back to school important to you?

Sort of? I always assumed I would, and that we'd just pay for it later on in our lives. This would let me do it sooner. Going back to school really wouldn't affect my pay scale much, which is whyi wasn't in a real hurry to do it.

[sent]

My feeling is they are only little once. Work will always be there. If the extra money isn't life changing for you, stick with the flexible job that lets you hang out with your kid more.

[formerlyllizzyb]

I choose flexibility at this point in life.

[lolo]

Would your current job match their offer?

[SallySparrow]

Sept 26, 2014 22:17:01 GMT -5 lolo said:

Would your current job match their offer?

Maybe. I have no idea how to even ask for that. They couldn't match the tuition reimbursement, but they might increase my pay.

[lolo]

Sept 26, 2014 22:37:04 GMT -5 SallySparrow said:

Sept 26, 2014 22:17:01 GMT -5 lolo said:

Would your current job match their offer?

Maybe. I have no idea how to even ask for that. They couldn't match the tuition reimbursement, but they might increase my pay.

Usually you have to be willing to walk away if they won't match the #.

[niq]

How would the money change your life? More college savings? Travel? Less stress about the bills?

[ilikedonuts]

Flexibility is worth a lot when kids are this little.

[SallySparrow]

Sept 26, 2014 22:40:56 GMT -5 niq said:

How would the money change your life? More college savings? Travel? Less stress about the bills?

We could put more into A's college fund. And increase our savings. But we're comfortable without it, too. It would just be nice.

[SallySparrow]

Sept 26, 2014 22:39:37 GMT -5 lolo said:

Sept 26, 2014 22:37:04 GMT -5 SallySparrow said:

Maybe. I have no idea how to even ask for that. They couldn't match the tuition reimbursement, but they might increase my pay.

Usually you have to be willing to walk away if they won't match the #.

This is the other thing I'm concerned about. I don't want to play the "I have a job offer" card if I don't want to have to act on it.

Ugh. I need negotiating skills.Or something.

[dcn]

I have a ton of flexibility right now and i would need more than $3 an hour to give it up,

[lilac05]

In addition to lack of flexibility, one of the benefits of this job would require even more time away from your daughter. For some people, that's worth it, but it's not for everyone. Going back to school with kids is hard, and I think you really have to know you want it. Also, how much of your pay increase would be spent on commute/gas money to get to/from classes and to pay for textbooks for the classes?

At this point, it sounds like you have a pretty sweet gig. I personally couldn't leave it for $3/hr more minus extra commute time/money. (Bc that also probably means more take-out or hiring help for some things. I doubt you'd actually see an actual increase in your savings/education funds.)

[Deleted]

So just to play devil's advocate a bit ...

$3/hr is about $6,200 per year, which isn't exactly chump change.

A lot of the flexibility you describe is the kind that comes from longevity and goodwill. Yes, you'd need to rebuild that if you took the new job but it would be realistic to think you'd get to that point again. I think you need to look at the big picture when making this decision.

I can't tell you what to do but just wanted to offer another perspective.

[SallySparrow]

Sept 27, 2014 6:48:12 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

Are you guaranteed to keep your area at your current job? My dh is also in home care, and loves his job. He works mostly in our town but if visits need to be done elsewhere, he has to do them. He also know a that if other people quit, go on disability or whatever, he could be reassigned to a different area completely.
$3/hour is a nice increase IMO.

Sometimes we get pulled to other areas to help, but we're never reassigned. We have a nurse who will be on maternity leave on October, so I'll have to see some of her patients, but I'll still keep my territory and be there most of the time.

[SallySparrow]

Sept 26, 2014 23:57:26 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

In addition to lack of flexibility, one of the benefits of this job would require even more time away from your daughter. For some people, that's worth it, but it's not for everyone. Going back to school with kids is hard, and I think you really have to know you want it. Also, how much of your pay increase would be spent on commute/gas money to get to/from classes and to pay for textbooks for the classes?

At this point, it sounds like you have a pretty sweet gig. I personally couldn't leave it for $3/hr more minus extra commute time/money. (Bc that also probably means more take-out or hiring help for some things. I doubt you'd actually see an actual increase in your savings/education funds.)

This is a good point. I don't know that it would actually be that much more in the long run. And I really don't want to spend less time with A.

What I really want is my current job to pay me more. lol

[anna7602]

Sept 27, 2014 6:37:01 GMT -5 @linzercookie said:

So just to play devil's advocate a bit ...

$3/hr is about $6,200 per year, which isn't exactly chump change.

.

Did you already factor in taxes? Gas for the longer commute will also take part of this, as well as added child care costs, if those are necessary due to reduced flexibility.

Are you actually EXCITED about this opportunity? Can you see yourself with this employer long-term v. Where you are now?

[djc315]

Sept 27, 2014 6:37:01 GMT -5 @linzercookie said:

So just to play devil's advocate a bit ...

$3/hr is about $6,200 per year, which isn't exactly chump change.

A lot of the flexibility you describe is the kind that comes from longevity and goodwill. Yes, you'd need to rebuild that if you took the new job but it would be realistic to think you'd get to that point again. I think you need to look at the big picture when making this decision.

I can't tell you what to do but just wanted to offer another perspective.

But, if I read the OP correctly, it's an extra ~150 miles per week driving, which will end up cutting into that also.

OP, I think I would need more of an increase to lose that flexibility.    

[ECB]

I am constantly having this conundrum. I have a LOT of flexibility at my job. A LOT. But I'm so bored. I keep looking for another job, but I get up to a certain point in the process and simply realize that I'm not going to have that flexibility. So... I stop pursuing. I always keep an eye open - you never know. But I also realize that - as said - DS is only young once. I really get a lot of time with him and I just feel that's SO important.

[SallySparrow]

Both jobs pay $0.45/mile. Since it's less than the national average I can technically write the rest off as a business expense, or so our accountant said.

I really do like where I'm at, and I love what I'm doing. I'd just be doing the exact same thing at the other company, so I can't even factor in if I'd like the new position "more" because it's the same job.

I think it's the tuition reimbursement more than anything that's making me feel bad for thinking about not taking it. My current job does not (and honestly can't afford to, being a non-profit) offer tuition reimbursement. I do want to eventually go back to school. But I'm not in a hurry to do it right now, with A being so little and thinking about having another baby, so does tuition reimbursement really matter right now? I don't know.

Also, and this is just a personal preference, the new company hasn't moved to computer charting yet. They do everything on paper still. That is insane to me. But whatever.

[mlt]

Hard call for sure! If you really don't need the money, I would probably stay with current job. Flexibility is worth a LOT. But maybe ask for a raise?

[Deleted]

If it's a very similar position, I'd ask new job more questions about how flexible they are.

[SallySparrow]

Sept 27, 2014 9:54:14 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

If it's a very similar position, I'd ask new job more questions about how flexible they are.

The new position is similarly flexible in that once I'm done seeing patients I can work from home. But, for instance, my area is the north side of our city. It's 15min to A's daycare. I typically see 4-5 patients/day who all live in that area, so within 5-20 minutes of each other and all around 10 min from my house.

The new territory is in the opposite direction on A's daycare, so 40-45ish minutes away. Anywhere from 30-60min or so from my current territory, depending on the patient's address. So my day will be longer no matter what. And I won't be able to see a patient, run A to appts, see more patients. I also usually run home for lunch, let the dogs out, get some errands done as my day allows. I wouldn't be able to do that anymore.

So that all sucks.

So if you wouldn't take the job, would you try to use it to negotiate a small raise with the current job? Or, say nothing about the job offer, try to negotiate a raise, and then not feel obligated to take the new job if the current job refuses to give you a raise?

How do I pass for a functioning adult ever? I have no idea what I'm doing.

[Deleted]

I would not negotiate with current job, other than a "market rate" discussion when the next opportunity arises(annual evaluation?). They'll see you as one foot out the door, which could put a damper on your flexibility and generally make work less pleasant.

If you're happy enough, I'd probably tell new job that you've considered it, and the commute is just a killer for you right now.

[irish]

That flexibility sounds great right now. Imagine when you would run those errands if you couldn't do them during the day. Who would let the dogs out? What would lunch cost you? Would you need to hire a cleaner?

If/when you have a second kid, the flexibility is even more important - they both get sick, but never at the same time! There'll be more errands to run...