The Work Thread

[Arkandel]

@roz One of my team leads came to me with an offer from another company. But it was in good faith and they were going to pay him significantly more than he was making - it made sense he'd take it if we didn't match. And he did ask if we would - and we did.

When there is trust from both sides it works out.

However if you expect that person to strong-arm their way out the first time they get the chance to make 4% more elsewhere, or they expect you to screw them over because that's the working relationship you've established with them then that whole exercise changes.

[Roz]

@arkandel said in The Work Thread:

@roz One of my team leads came to me with an offer from another company. But it was in good faith and they were going to pay him significantly more than he was making - it made sense he'd take it if we didn't match. And he did ask if we would - and we did.

When there is trust from both sides it works out.

However if you expect that person to strong-arm their way out the first time they get the chance to make 4% more elsewhere, or they expect you to screw them over because that's the working relationship you've established with them then that whole exercise changes.

Yeah that requires a LOT of trust for me. Because it doesn't even have to be someone being a jerk and consciously refusing to give me opportunities after giving me a raise to retain me; even an otherwise decent job can just get the seed planted in their brains that you were looking elsewhere and might again and so might give you a bit less, etc.

[Testament]

I've spent a lot of time reading stories from r/antiwork, and I gotta say, there are a lot people simply deciding to fuck off from their job, believing they are worth more than what they're currently being paid.

I say good on them for having the courage to tell someone to go kick rocks. At the same time, it also fits in my dystopian capitalistic hellscape we're living in where, instead of raising wages for employees companies already have, they're leaning into trying to hire 14 and 15 year olds for 'work experience'. and trying to lure people in their 60s back to work with suggestions that "You can still be important and valued!"

As if working is all you need to feel worthwhile.

[Arkandel]

@roz said in The Work Thread:

Yeah that requires a LOT of trust for me. Because it doesn't even have to be someone being a jerk and consciously refusing to give me opportunities after giving me a raise to retain me; even an otherwise decent job can just get the seed planted in their brains that you were looking elsewhere and might again and so might give you a bit less, etc.

Yeah I can see that.

To me it's pretty simple; I wouldn't refuse a 20+% rate boost, so why would I expect anyone else to? It's a major career step up - and a QoL change.

I'd have been happy for him if he had taken the other job, although I was happier that he stayed.

It also takes knowing the person and being willing to read between the lines; do they want to keep their position? Would you have to talk them into staying? Or would they rather stay but the money on the table is too good to turn down, and that's where you come in?

[faraday]

@roz said in The Work Thread:

Yeah that requires a LOT of trust for me. Because it doesn't even have to be someone being a jerk and consciously refusing to give me opportunities after giving me a raise to retain me; even an otherwise decent job can just get the seed planted in their brains that you were looking elsewhere and might again and so might give you a bit less, etc.

I mean, it works out for some folks doesn't it? Otherwise I would assume it wouldn't really even be A Thing.

It could make the bosses consider you to have your foot halfway out the door already and treat you accordingly. It could also motivate them to be like: "OMG we don't want to lose Roz, we need to start treating them better so they want to stay." Theoretically anyway. I've never tried it in practice.

But that assumes your bosses are decent humans who actually want you to stay. If you're otherwise happy in your job and just need more money, maybe it makes sense? If the reason you're job-hunting in the first place is because your workplace is toxic, then run when you have the chance. Who knows when another escape route may present itself.

[saosmash]

@ganymede unfortunately I'm appointed because it is a guardianship case and they tend not to care that the government entity has to pay extra when they want to cry...

[Tributary]

Guys, I'm excited about this fancy D12 that finally arrived today. It's for tracking time, so I can keep tabs on how much time I spend on different projects (I'm a contractor, and I need to bill different projects differently). And maybe it'll keep me on task. For once in my life.

I feel like a huge dork for being excited about this.

https://timeflip.io/overview

[silverfox]

@testament said in The Work Thread:

I say good on them for having the courage to tell someone to go kick rocks. At the same time, it also fits in my dystopian capitalistic hellscape we're living in where, instead of raising wages for employees companies already have, they're leaning into trying to hire 14 and 15 year olds for 'work experience'. and trying to lure people in their 60s back to work with suggestions that "You can still be important and valued!"

I think we're safe from this happening. I don't have anything but anecdotal data from working in K-12, but more parents are suggesting their child not work (especially in low and up income levels) so they can focus on schooling instead, and supporting their <18 children to quit if their work is messing with their schooling.

For low income families that need the income it is not so much the idea that work proves their worth as it is their families NEED their work.

[mietze]

My 18 year old twins and 19 year old worked through the school year starting at 16 including through the pandemic. Only one other kid in their large circle of combined friends did so. Much of the time except for during summer they were one of maybe 2 or 3 at most other high schoolers working at their respective places of work.

I'm sure that companies will say they keep wages low because teenagers. I think perhaps that actually isn't why they're keeping wages low.

I would say that I think one of the reasons why there's less working teens in our immediate acquaintance network is the fact that a shocking number have little desire to get their drivers licenses (or their families could not afford the cost), and with busing shitty in most areas and Uber too expensive access to work may be too much time juggling for mom/dad taxi.

[silverfox]

@mietze

This is super true in cities, though less in rural areas. I will forever be amazed my husband saw no reason to learn to drive before he went to college and realized he couldn't do anything without a car there. Whereas we sat on the exact day of my 14.5 when it was legal for me to get my learners permit, and I took my real test only days after I turned 16. My parents weren't about to deal with the nonsense of driving me the 20+ minutes it took to go anywhere, plus I could now be delegated the responsibility part time of seeing my two younger sisters were transported to where they needed to be.

[Ganymede]

@mietze

I think it is a cost issue. Cars cost a loan payment and insurance. Most households do not have a car for kids. So why bother getting a license?

[mietze]

I dont think its a bad or good thing (certainly we could not have afforded to have all three teens on the insurance because of the premium increase). But i am pretty sure it is a trend that a lot of folks my age or a little younger just don't get.

Also my driver's ed cost $50 and was done via my school. Drivers ed now in my area for teens costs more like $500 at the bare minimum.

[Macha]

Oh the temptation to quit is.. yeah. It is suuuuuper strong this morning.

I had an issue with the work software. I took pictures, sent them, documented, etc.

Then I had a sugar crash. Told them, tried to deal with it.

I was getting messaged within 5 minutes, asking me what I was doing. Was I claiming tasks, was I doing work, etc etc. And messaged excessively. I didn't respond so I didn't explode.

[Too Old For This]

@mietze said in The Work Thread:

I dont think its a bad or good thing (certainly we could not have afforded to have all three teens on the insurance because of the premium increase). But i am pretty sure it is a trend that a lot of folks my age or a little younger just don't get.

Also my driver's ed cost $50 and was done via my school. Drivers ed now in my area for teens costs more like $500 at the bare minimum.

This ^^^^^

Neither of my kids got their license before 18 specifically because the cost of driver's ed is freaking ridiculous. My youngest still shows no interest in getting his license or leaning how to drive. I can't really blame him, given how badly people seem to have forgotten how to drive in the past couple years. Instead, he's found himself a job he can walk to easily from our apartment, he takes the bus to and from school. Now, as he's gotten older, he's also determined that likes being able to hang out with friends, so he may change his mind and decide he wants to learn (which is fine) and he can help share the cost of the car, since I work from home.

[faraday]

@ganymede said in The Work Thread:

I think it is a cost issue. Cars cost a loan payment and insurance. Most households do not have a car for kids. So why bother getting a license?

And parents aren't always happy to share the car. My dad pretty much always had our one car and was happy to play chauffeur so I never got my license in high school.

In college I lived within walking distance of 90% of stuff I needed and could take buses to the rest.

It wasn't until I got my first job in suburban Chicagoland (with its spotty bus service) that I had both the means and inclination to learn to drive so I could get a car.

[saosmash]

Signed a contract to double my income and also my workload. The torrent is already beginning. The excitement has worn off and left me with muppetflailing panic.

I'm working with a new case management software and working on inputting all of my cases to it while trying to stay above water. Organiziation and calendaring were ALREADY a problem for me BEFORE I did this.

What have I done. Lol.

[Arkandel]

@saosmash You chose to adult.

[Herja]

@saosmash said in The Work Thread:

Organization and calendaring were ALREADY a problem for me

I have a months worth of audits to do in 2 weeks (thanks seasonal depression!) and just trying to get all the paperwork organized and the actual audits scheduled makes me wanna crawl back in bed and hide some more.

[silverfox]

Husband is getting a face to face interview!!!

[Too Old For This]

@silverfox I would upvote more if I could! All the luck to him!