Why do you work where you work?

[emer95]

I’m a teacher and I love my job. I teach 3rd grade. I love that age, and I love my students. We really do become a little family every year. My salary started out low but I’ve been there for 17 years and the increase each year is very good. When I hit 20 years I’ll make a considerable jump in pay. The benefits are fantastic. I feel very lucky.

 

[dez1978]

I noticed this in my state as well. I would make the same if not less in the public sector as a senior software engineer as I do at my current job, and my current job's pay is not great.

Yeah, with the exception of top positions, there are very few state positions here that make as much or more than they would in the private sector. Heck you can make more working at Target than you can as a Corrections officer here and not have the worry about getting stabbed. When the state advertises for CO positions its always "can make xxx per year" sure if you count the 20 hrs a week of mandatory OT (if not more). But where I'm at now, we have a psychiatrist who makes 225k a year and only works 2 days a week if that.
Meanwhile the forensic psychologists, who have the really interesting jobs and do a lot of work, get paid around 60 here. Those same positions privately make well over 100k

 

[RogueX]

I tried getting a job in a field that I love, but the pay was miserable and the benefits were nonexistent. I ended up where I am now, which I am pretty apathetic about. I was just excited to have those wonderful things in life that come in handy, like health insurance, having paid sick time was exciting, and I was overjoyed to not have to work weekends and get paid time off. The starting pay felt like a fortune compared to what I was making. 21 years later, there have 3 instances where I have actively wanted to quit. I don't though.

I'm over qualified/over paid for similar type of jobs, my coworkers for the most part are good to work with and my current boss is someone who works with his employees to use their strengths in their job.

 

[DisneyLover83]

I work in public accounting for a large international firm. I'm here for the pay - I will leave at some point but only to work less hours for the same pay

2020 and 2021 saw double digit % raises and the largest bonuses I have received to date - the masses were leaving and those who stayed were compensated..... so I'll be here a while.

 

[bakerworld]

I've worked 3 places in my life: a non-profit hospital, a tech company, a non-profit community college. I'm clerical, regardless of BS titles. My preference for the 3 places were the non-profit as I felt I was giving back to the community while earning a wage. My spouse also worked 3 place in his life as a machinist, the last place he still helps mentor employees. We both retired this summer at 65. I enjoy being retired, although we haven't been retired long enough to get bored.

 

[GAN]

I'm within 4-years of retirement so I'm not going anywhere unless they make me! I've been prepping them for a remote position in the next couple years, and if that works maybe I'll go up to 6-years more. But I love going to work -we have a great camaraderie in the office, the clients I work with are friends, and we have a lot of laughs along the way. On top of that, the Company has a great bonus structure where we can make significant money each year -so even financially it's beneficial.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I'm a school librarian in a very large district. When you apply to the district as a new teacher, you don't apply to specific schools, you just apply to the district and then schools that need certain positions call you for an interview. I was in the process of moving to Louisville and didn't really know much about any of the schools. I really lucked out - I've been at my school 16 years now and it's a wonderful school. I drive almost 30 minutes and there are times I wish I didn't have that, but other than that it's a great place to work. As far as school pay goes, it's very good in my district - we have a Union and are, by far, the highest paid teachers in the state. I will retire in 12 years and plan on staying right where I am until retiremement.

 

[soccerdad72]

Another public sector employee here - I originally took the job because the benefits were great and they were good about being flexible with my work schedule. I took a decent pay cut to come here (community college), but now I’m 11 years in and will likely be retiring by 55. The job is fine - it’s not overly difficult and stressful, it’s just changed over the years.

My wife is a partner in a Big 4 firm and has been there since college and is set to retire next year at 50. If I can figure out a way to get at least part of our health benefits covered by my employer, I’d retire earlier, but I think I have to wait to 55 for that to happen, so that’s why I likely have 5 more years. Which works out well enough, as our younger son will be just about out of college by then.

 

[RangerPooh]

Generous time off. College tuition discount for myself and children at any of our states board of regents institutions. Best paying institution in the region.

 

[spiders]

One of the biggest perks, that many also see as a downside, is that they force me out at 56 because I'll be too old. The pay is good, the pension is better because you're forced out, and you're still young enough to do something else if that's what you want to do. Just plan accordingly. It's like the movie Looper -- we all know when our time is up. Some people get caught with their pants down at the end which I don't really understand -- you've known about this for at least 25 years (You're too old to be hired after your 31st birthday).

 

[ronandannette]

One of the biggest perks, that many also see as a downside, is that they force me out at 56 because I'll be too old. The pay is good, the pension is better because you're forced out, and you're still young enough to do something else if that's what you want to do. Just plan accordingly. It's like the movie Looper -- we all know when our time is up. Some people get caught with their pants down at the end which I don't really understand -- you've known about this for at least 25 years (You're too old to be after your 31st birthday).

Interesting. Are you an air-traffic controller by any chance? It's one of the few professions I've ever heard of that has age restrictions like that.

 

[spiders]

Interesting. Are you an air-traffic controller by any chance? It's one of the few professions I've ever heard of that has age restrictions like that.

Yes. Early retirement (1.7% for the first 20 years then 1.0% after - as opposed to 1 to 1.1% all years for others) also applies to law enforcement and firefighters as well. Outside of the federal government, pilots are forced out at 65.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes. Early retirement (1.7% for the first 20 years then 1.0% after - as opposed to 1 to 1.1% all years for others) also applies to law enforcement and firefighters as well. Outside of the federal government, pilots are forced out at 65.

Very interesting - thanks. I know a fair number of firefighters; in our jurisdiction they are not retired at 56 but perhaps they move to different types of duty off the front-line. I'll have to ask; it didn't occur to me before.

 

[spiders]

Very interesting - thanks. I know a fair number of firefighters; in our jurisdiction they are not retired at 56 but perhaps they move to different types of duty off the front-line. I'll have to ask; it didn't occur to me before.

Well that is for federal firefighters. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[debster812]

I work for a small-ish (but growing) family owned pool company. We do new construction, repairs, maintenance, service, and have 3 retail locations. I started in 2010 as a Marketing Assistant, and have worked through a bunch of positions and am now the Customer Service Manager. I run the Service Department with a technical Service Manager, and we oversee 10-12 technicians. I’m slightly underpaid, but it is balanced out by having incredibly understanding bosses (the owners) who understand that family stuff happens (I was able to leave early to see virtually every HS and College soccer game of DS’s). We also took the entire week after Christmas off, and I’ll be working only 2-3 days a week until March. It’s a nice re-charge, and I am lucky enough that DH has a good job, and we can afford for me to take a short winter pay cut. (I can also collect unemployment if need be).

I can only see leaving if the company gets sold and gets headed into a different direction, or the management style is vastly different.

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I work as Production Planner for a Soda Pop company. Sort of landed the job accidentally. Applied for a part time evening dispatch job 12 years ago. Got hired as Full Time Production Planner. Thing is I really like the job - I tell them what to make and when to make it. It's a big puzzle that I enjoy putting together - over and over again.

On the flip side, it is family owned and they like to micromanage various aspects of the business from one year to the next. And this year is our turn and I hate that. Lots more reports giving out the same information in different formats. And contradicting rules that make putting the puzzle together very difficult.

As for the money side, I am NOT paid well enough for the job I do as I am VERY good at what I do and not appreciated for it as much as I should. But I make well enough for the area and don't plan on leaving the area at this time.

There are days - sometimes weeks that have me looking around to see what else is available. But I am loyal to a fault and have a few managers / team members that I respect and enjoy working with and would hate to leave them in the lurch.

 

[lisaviolet]

I really don’t want to work but my current job was just given to me after being a SAHM for 15 years. I wasn’t looking but they wanted me. I tried to quit last year and they doubled my salary. I’m overpaid and work about 14 hours a week and pretty much make up my own rules. I’m there for the $$$.

So curious and clearly nosy!

Even if you do not answer what industry this is I am having fun trying to guess.

Good for you.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

I teach Kindergarten. I love the kids but that is honestly about it. The health insurance costs us $750/month. We are barred from getting cost of living increases and can only get pay increases based on our "performance." Got a kid with a problem? I have to fill out around 30 pages of documentation to prove that there is a problem. So frustrating!

Being required to write detailed lesson plans that end up being 20 pages a week is just asinine. I get a whopping 180 minutes a week to plan, have parent conferences, prepare materials, complete documentation etc. There is just no way to get it done . Despite having my master's and multiple certifications, now there are rumors that everyone will have to eventually be special ed certified. Nope. I'm gonna tap out if that happens.

The kids are struggling so much these last couple of years and all I hear is how the schools need to pick up the slack. Nope. IMO, the pandemic revealed just how much schools have become defacto parents. My job used to be to teaching children how to read, write, add, subtract. I could go on a really long time about how much my job has changed in the last 7-8 years.

I love the school I am at though. My Principal really tries to keep as much off our plates as possible but he's under intense pressure district/state/federal to keep our test scores going up.

 

[threeboysmom]

LOVE where I work!! It’s for a financial firm with the best benefits, policies, and colleagues. PLUS I get to work remotely. I thoroughly enjoy every day (even thestressful ones). So blessed.

 

[CallieMar]

I work for the state. I moved over from the private sector for the benefits but mainly for the work life balance. Sometime it’s a little boring and other times it’s challenging and rewarding, but I’m always learning something new. I did take a pay cut, and then dealt with a temporary furlough/pay cut for almost a year during the pandemic. Even with all of that craziness I have zero regrets and would do it again. My mental health has been pretty good during these difficult times and I know that a lot of it is due to the reduction in stress coming directly from my job.