To change jobs or not to change?

briezygator

So Tuesday I kind of hit my breaking point with my job.  The people I'm supposed to be working with want nothing to do with me, my boss is beyond irritating and condescending, and a girl on my team got a promotion that I think I deserved more than her.  Pretty much I'm not happy doing what I'm doing. 

What I'm trying to decide is whether or not I should even bother staying with the company (I applied for a position in a different department today, not sure if I'll get it) or if I should try to look somewhere else.  Right now, strangely enough, the decision seems to be hinging on the benefits I'm getting at my current company for maternity leave.  H and I aren't planning on trying to get pregnant for probably another year or so, so it's harder because it's not an immediate thing, but it's something to definitey consider for the future. 

 At my current company, I'd get a total of 4 months maternity leave at 60% pay, which is pretty ridiculously good from what I've heard, and I don't know if I'd be able to find another company with that long of leave, espcially for a newer employee.  So is it worth dealing with a crap job for another year or two for those benefits in the long run?

moonstone523

Nope.  It wouldn't be worth it to me. I value happiness over anything else.

Ditch the job.  Start saving now and you can cover those four months yourself.  

Floridamom224

The maternity leave might have made me stay, if I KNEW i could get pregnant an QUICK.  That doesnt happen for everyone, so I wouldnt be able to stay around just for that.  I am a BIG advocate for being happy with what you do.  I love what I do.  Do I LOVE getting up everyday? No.  But, since I have to work,I CANNOT stay somewhere I am not happy.  I did that once and it was so stressful that it led me to develop ulcer.  Your happiness  and health is the most important thing so do what's right for u!

ChangeOfPace

I think whether or not I would consider depends a lot on how career driven I was.  It sounds, from the fact that you are upset about missing out on the promotion, as if you are interested in having a career with opportunities to advance and challenge yourself.  If you stay at your current job where you are not getting ahead just because of the maternity benefits, you are basically mommy-tracking yourself before you even get pregnant.  Two years is a long time to sit it out and tread water.

Meanwhile, if you start looking for a better opportunity now, you might actually find a job where you have opportunities to advance and you may even be surprised to find a place where the benefits are just as good.  You won't know if you don't look.  Also, bear in mind that, while many companies don't offer 4 months off at 60% pay, many do offer other things that are equally valuable like flexible schedules and the ability to work from home.  If I were you I'd start looking.  Nothing says you have to take an offer if the pay and benefits aren't worth the change. 

2008PelicanBride

like usual, I couldn't have said it better than this! 
looking for something doesn't mean you have to take it. See what you can find then weigh the options. It seems silly to be unhappy when there might be something else equally good you could go to. Good luck!! And I'm sorry that you are being treated this way.

ChangeOfPace:

I think whether or not I would consider depends a lot on how career driven I was.  It sounds, from the fact that you are upset about missing out on the promotion, as if you are interested in having a career with opportunities to advance and challenge yourself.  If you stay at your current job where you are not getting ahead just because of the maternity benefits, you are basically mommy-tracking yourself before you even get pregnant.  Two years is a long time to sit it out and tread water.

Meanwhile, if you start looking for a better opportunity now, you might actually find a job where you have opportunities to advance and you may even be surprised to find a place where the benefits are just as good.  You won't know if you don't look.  Also, bear in mind that, while many companies don't offer 4 months off at 60% pay, many do offer other things that are equally valuable like flexible schedules and the ability to work from home.  If I were you I'd start looking.  Nothing says you have to take an offer if the pay and benefits aren't worth the change. 

jennifer80808

I wouldn't stay unless I knew that getting pregnant and needing the maternity leave was an immediate thing.  I've worked in some awful jobs, and for awful people and it's just not worth it.

Aegis2005

jennifer80808:

I wouldn't stay unless I knew that getting pregnant and needing the maternity leave was an immediate thing.  I've worked in some awful jobs, and for awful people and it's just not worth it.

So true - it's not worth it.

jen812

ChangeOfPace:

Meanwhile, if you start looking for a better opportunity now, you might actually find a job where you have opportunities to advance and you may even be surprised to find a place where the benefits are just as good.  You won't know if you don't look.  Also, bear in mind that, while many companies don't offer 4 months off at 60% pay, many do offer other things that are equally valuable like flexible schedules and the ability to work from home.  If I were you I'd start looking.  Nothing says you have to take an offer if the pay and benefits aren't worth the change. 

I completely agree with this and Moonstone's advice too.  Start looking & start saving.  It might be difficult to find something else.  Knowing that you're looking, may help your current job be more bearable in the mean time.  Keep an eye out & good luck.

tashaandsage

moonstone523:

Nope.  It wouldn't be worth it to me. I value happiness over anything else.

Ditch the job.  Start saving now and you can cover those four months yourself.  

These are my feelings exactly. Especially since you are not palnning on getting pregnant in the very near future.