A new job for JD?

[packrat]

I posted a long while ago that we were looking at the possibility of a couple different directions for JD, jobwise, and we were kinda in a pickle wondering what to do.

The job he wants, in either the Police or Sheriff's departments, isn't open right now, and there's no talk of anyone retiring or moving, so it could very well be years before anything opens up. He's on the Reserves and adores it. Looks hot in his uniform too, fyi.

He's been approached a few times by his direct Supervisor to be in line for his job, but nothing has been hashed out, tho it's been "strongly hinted" at again lately, so we talked about it a couple weeks ago.

Tonight he called and the day Supervisor is retiring, and they want him to take that position.

My thoughts: Better money than what he's making now. Bills could (should/better!) get paid faster, and I could take classes once I figure out what the heck I want to do w/myself. If he doesn't want to work weekends he doesn't have to-right now he does. If he *does* go in on a weekend, he doesn't have to stay the entire time the room is running and do finishing paperwork etc, he can leave after a while and get the same pay. Right now he has to stay. Day shift, so he'd be home later afternoon every day-when the kids are in school and I go back to work a little more, we'll be able to see him, whereas if he's still on 2nd shift, we wouldn't see him all week long.

However, more stress, and he's already stressed to the point he's physically sick when he leaves for work. (However, it would be a different room, so maybe it might be a room he likes better?) He's never worked w/this room before, so would have to learn it from scratch.

We don't know that the pack will be open forever. But, we don't know that an officer job will come up anytime soon either. *I* think it makes more sense to take this job and get our ducks in a row, so that *if* they close the plant down in say, 5 years, we're not SOL w/$50k debt. And, *if* an officers job opens up in a couple years, we would be that much farther ahead w/debt and me w/hopefully some direction jobwise, b/c an officer job would be a cut in pay of almost 50%.

Does that sound smart to you guys? It does to me..he's still kinda on the fence about it, seems. Thought I'd get some fresh perspective on it. I would say by end of next week he would have to tell them what he wants to do, tho I don't think they've actually given him a deadline.

No idea when start date would be, and no idea what pay would be, I just know it's more than he makes now.

 

[Blackpaw]

I remember when you posted about this dilemma a while back packrat, its a toughie.

I think the right thing to do is to take the job, for all the reasons you mention. As for the stress, if his current position stresses him out a lot, then a change might not help but its unlikely to make it worse, as it sounds like its pretty bad...

and ive found that even if a job isnt all you want it to be, taking home more money at the end of the day does lessen the pain somewhat

still, its a tough call, i hope it all works out for him and your fam...

 

[Arkteia]

I think if a job stresses him out, if he dreads the idea of the next work day, he should never stay on it!

 

[Jennifer W]

I remember your previous thread about the situation. So hard. My take on it would be if he's stressed and unhappy, he might as well be stressed with a little more cash. The change might just help a little? It isn't an easy decision though and I really feel for you guys.

I hope things work out for your family, I'm thinking about you.

Jen

 

[packrat]

Thanks for the replies everyone!
Crasru, I really wish he had that option. There aren't many jobs around here that pay what he makes..blue collar ones anyway, and there really aren't that many jobs to begin with. If he left there, he would either have to drive upwards of 60 miles to and from work and would be starting at an entry level job again most likely, and also most likely in another packing house. Here he has 10 years seniority at least. Or, we'd have to move.

Goh, dangit I gotta go. I'll be back later to finish!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think you know the answer. Good luck!

 

[packrat]

Yeah, you're right, I do! I think he's starting to feel that way too, from what I could hear when he was on the phone w/my brother earlier. Until a police job opens, we're better off if he takes the Supervisor job, rather than letting it slip by on the off chance the other happens to open up immediately. If something does happen to open up later, we'll be a little farther ahead and it wouldn't be such a shock to the system for him to make the switch.

Thanks for your input everyone!