Why do you work where you work?

[stsomewhere]

I just went back to work after 21 years of being a stay at home mom. The photographer that I use to work for posted that he needed some help. It was just him for the last 18 months. I am an office manager, photo assistant, customer service, receptionist, sales, cash handling, editting, assembling orders, cleaner etc. I enjoy it. It gives me some extra money and something to do since both of my kids are out of high school and my husband works from home.

 

[kanerf]

I am a Government contractor so I have to work where they have contracts. Right now I am in the DC area as that is where the most contracts are, but in the past I have worked in Germany, Arizona, California and Pennsylvania as well.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Because I can work from home. Left a job I loved to work from home because public schools are a poop-show right now and full of Covid.

 

[sasywtch]

I really liked the type of work I did for the state but began to not like the new bosses, favortism and violence. I stayed because of the retirement, vacation, sick leave and health care.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am comfortable where I am. I am not looking for anything else. I work in banking in the "back office". I like the hours (besides the occasional half day Saturdays), I like that I have 4 weeks of vacation now, and I like that they pay most of my insurance. I also like the people I work with.

I would like the company more if they paid me more of course.

 

[slo]

It’s a long story that I will give the cliff notes version of….

I managed a custom picture frame store and the Chiropractor I work for now was a good customer.

I became his patient in 2007

In 2007 I opened my own custom picture frame store and the doctor remained a good customer

in 2012 I decided to close due to working an insane amount of hours and missing out on being with my girls

Summer 2012 the doctors office manager was murdered by her husband and then the husband killed himself (she was a customer of mine too. In fact, I had items of hers waiting to be picked up)

I told the doctor I was closing and that I could come work for him (that was an incredibly weird phone call - Hi, I’m closing, your office manager was killed, can I have her job? - so awkward!)

The doctor agreed that this would work out and 9 1/2 years later I’m still there and I’ll remain there until he decides to retire - he’s 6 years older than me.

 

[Kitty 34]

Substitute Teacher for 34 years

Why? Because I wanted to. I loved the kids, my cowokers and my flexibility. Pay was never great but because of DH's job I could do it.

 

[china mom]

Meh, I don't hate my job but it is nothing special. DH and I I retired at age 46 and 47 with a six and eight year old at home.

We stayed on our previous employers health insurance but had to pay the full premium ($1200/mo). I worked part time for about five years with no benefits and low pay.

I found this job mainly for the health insurance and the convenience - 7 minute commute and just enough flexibility for a mom of young kids. DH fell into a really great second career with good pay but the health insurance here is better and less expensive (thank you government job!!). I am not challenged in my current job and don't feel like I am making some big contribution to society like my last career but it isn't hateful.

So, to answer the question... I don't hate my job but I am here for the health insurance and some spending money.

I met with a financial advisor who has the philosophy that you should be financially secure enough in retirement that you are working because you want to and that you are able to quit the moment you have three bad days. And he told DH and I that we are there! If I have three bad days here, I am outta here. It feels good.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I work for nonprofit that serves wounded Veterans
Yes I enjoy my job a lot
I have freedoms here I never had at any other job
My boss has faith and trust in me and shows it
My boss is a very generous person and I appreciate that on a work and personal level
I enjoy the work I do and I enjoy my coworkers - that is hard to come by - something I had not found in over 20 years of working
I feel very blessed

 

[NMBCFangirl]

Some days I love my job! Some days I remind myself that starting over elsewhere would lose me the 6 weeks of PTO I get per year because I've been there so long. Depends on how the people on the phone treat me that day.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I like my job. It pays very well, it's intellectually challenging, and my coworkers are pleasant and interesting. I have a LOT of time off and my schedule is fairly flexible. The majority of my work can be done from home at any time of day, or if I choose to work from my office I can come and go as I like and no one would even notice. I have a lot of agency over how I do my job with a minimum of oversight.

I would not like to work a job at which I were heavily "managed" and had to be present from 9-5 every Monday-Friday.

 

[Kimkimba]

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 $$$.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Family history - 3rd generation to work there, proud of the products, good pay, great vacation time.

 

[dez1978]

My wife and I stayed with our jobs for over 40 years because we liked the work. If we had been financially smart we would have gone into the public sector, had better pay and benefits, and would have retired 10 years sooner. But I live in an area where public sector pay is generous.

Wow, thats totally opposite from here. Public sector has decent benefits I suppose as far as insurance and time off but the pay is HORRIBLE. I beleive we are still ranked either 49 or 50th for the worst paid state govt employees in the nation. But hey, we're #1 for Meth so theres that lol

 

[tvguy]

Wow, thats totally opposite from here. Public sector has decent benefits I suppose as far as insurance and time off but the pay is HORRIBLE. I beleive we are still ranked either 49 or 50th for the worst paid state govt employees in the nation. But hey, we're #1 for Meth so theres that lol

Well, again, I am in California and public sector workers are highly unionized here. I will try and track down the link but Pew did a study a few years back that the typical total compensation for a public sector worker in the U.S. is 28% higher than the same job in the private sector.

 

[dez1978]

Well, again, I am in California and public sector workers are highly unionized here. I will try and track down the link but Pew did a study a few years back that the typical total compensation for a public sector worker in the U.S. is 28% higher than the same job in the private sector.

I do know that the same job in California that I held when I worked for corrections would have paid roughly 2x as much there as here. But the cost of living was also much much higher so it wouldn't have been a win.

There is also a BIG difference between state and federal workers even tho they are both considered public sector

 

[mylilnikita]

I would not work where I work at regardless of pay.
I enjoy being around most of my co workers and enjoy meeting people from different places.
Our company has been purchased by another company recently so we are now starting the transition. Hopefully it will be a positive change because I was going to leave and then got the word that the company had been bought.
Interesting enough certain people have put in their notices or changed to a different position because they would more then likely get fired
because they were part of the problem.
I am very excited for the change!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I work where I work because I think the industry is important and helps students, teachers, and parents (we make K-12 administrative and LMS software).

I already don't get paid enough, so I guess the money question is moot. Although I've thought about moving on because of the low pay. The only problem is that it's not really that low. It's low for the field (software development), but it seems ridiculous to complain about it when my family is able to live the life we want to on the income we have. But it is kinda insulting that I could get paid 20-30% more elsewhere.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Wow, thats totally opposite from here. Public sector has decent benefits I suppose as far as insurance and time off but the pay is HORRIBLE.

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.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm a school speech pathologist. I've been with my district since I graduated grad school in 2011. At that point I went where I could get a job, but honestly for a school gig, I've got it pretty good. The pay is fine for a school job in the region I'm in. Same with the general benefits. School SLP jobs are always chaotic but I prefer working with school age kids so a school is where it's at for my geographic location. I love the team I work with and that makes a huge difference. Working in education in a pandemic has been a nightmare, but on a whole my district has found the right balance of attempting to support us, providing ample PPE and safety measures, and doing what is needed to get kids in school and educated.

So...are there things that aren't the best about my job? Of course. Am I going to be looking for a new job come contract time in the spring? No.