His Two Weeks

*details recorded so we remember the what and why. likely dull and wordy to outsiders. important to us.


Two weeks back, Matt gave his boss notice that he'd be quiting. Though probably a shock to them that we'd really jump ship, it was a decision we'd been thinking of for a while.

Matt really liked the boss he worked with (one of two). That was the one big thing that kept us hanging in and "taking one for the team." It was the nit-picky policies and procedures that the other boss's wife was lining up that began piling up as red flags. Like pulling out a sheet of paper and writing the good and bad in two neat columns, the cons became pretty obvious when listed aloud: no health insurance, terribly late hours (expected...but), being paid for only 40 hours (regardless of working well over that each week), on-call, attitudes from the ladies in the office, and having to go in on your day off to make up for a vacation day you wanted to request off.

With those bad points rubbing us wrong, we wondered if we should turn elsewhere or stick it out. But, constant late nights (seemingly unpaid because they were over the agreed 40 hours) were hard on us. Hard to not hold bitter feelings. The breadwinner coming home exhausted each night feeling like he wasn't given the credit he was due. Coming home realizing it is doing the family no good to be away so long, with no form of compensation to show for it (but, really no pay could compensate for the hours gone...he just needs to get home).

So, when an option was dropped in our lap we considered it. An old employer began begging Matt to come back about a month ago. Spendlove Plumbing. I hesitated at reconnecting with the past. Being let go once when things slowed down didn't show much loyalty. And, the atmosphere was negative the last go around. Was that worth leaving a boss you do like? At first we told him no. We'd stick it out and wait for the promised eventual. But, when the old employer offered again, we began the questioning again.

There were certainly the perks to consider: a pay raise, health insurance (though it might kick the kids off CHIP and end up making our month's end sum be less...so we're definitely not "chasing the $$" in this change), NO ONCALL (that's HUGE, I hate my kids recognizing and dreading the chance that the "other phone" may ring for an entire week each month), Hourly and Overtime pay, Paid vacations (without having to make up the hours some other time), office nearby, truck and phone provided, they allow side jobs (no hush-hush guilt if he's accepts a side job to pay bills), and this boss is out of debt completely compared to the others trying to repay the past.

Basically everything we'd been complaining about was offered to us. A blessing we didn't have to go to far for. It'd seem like an easy black and white decision to jump. But at the same time it is always far easier to stay in the known rather than changing. Changing again. Perhaps we needed all those things in a row to walk away from loyalty. It comes down to doing what is good for the family. And all things offered seem to be very good. Good for our family.

The past few weeks of finishing up with the others was awkward and bitter, but alright. Today was Matt's second day with these guys. Things went well. Here's to hoping that the change will be smooth and that what sounded good will turn out to really be that good...