The Glade 4.0

So, June 30th we found out that my dept. is being moved to the NJ site. I live 20 mi from the PA site, and 52 from NJ. We got the choice to relocate or "separate" from the company. The severance package is pretty decent - 3 weeks of pay per year you've worked (so 33 weeks for me), and bonus paid at the maximum target (instead of dependent on company performance).

The decision has to be made by the 14th, and I've been going back and forth for months. There's not even been a single nibble on my resume (I've sent out a few dozen) since July, which is depressing, and big pharma is laying off left and right. *sigh*

I crunched some numbers, and I can manage for at least a year (possibly 15 months or so) without a sweat on the severance/bonus/unemployment compensation. But I'm discouraged by the lack of calls for other positions, and I don't want to risk my daughter's home. *sigh*

If I work there, I have a year to decide if I want moving assistance, but to accept it, I'd have to move at least 25 miles and end up within 40 miles of driving distance from the new site. The area is ungodly expensive, and across the border in PA isn't much better. AND, I don't meet the IRS distance test, so I'd be taxed on any of the relocation money. So I'd have to suck up the commute. I'd rather not stretch the budget to buy another house, esp. when I only owe $160K on my current house (2600 sq ft on 1/4 acre, good school district, neighborhood with sidewalks, lots of kids, walking distance to shopping, train station...). And, if you accept any money, you're an indentured servant for 2 years or you have to repay it all.

The other major factor is that I'm burned out. It's been an extremely stressful (in the panic attack way) 4 years since we bought the NJ's site's company. I came so close to just signing the separation release form last week after yet another run-in with this one (censored) person there.

On the other hand, they're losing 2/5 of their document coordinators, and I'm the highest ranking one they have (and with very broad experience touching every area instead of having been pigeonholed like theirs). I'm a supervisor already, and have been in charge of at least 2 major projects impacting two depts. If I leave too, they're SOL. They can't get the work done, and they can't hire due to the hiring freeze.

So I leveraged that into a proposal for hours that allow me to vary my work hours based on my commute and custody schedule (I work longer hours on days when my daughter is with my ex). And I can work part time at the PA site through June instead of working in NJ 100% of the time starting Jan. 4th. I'll forgo the commuter stipend and be able to keep looking for something closer to home - although I doubt I'd be able to keep my 6 weeks of vacation and bonus...

The other thing to look forward to is that my group will be merged with that of another dept as part of a "shared services" arrangement. Give me a year or two, and I'm pretty sure I can be in charge. Or at the least, in a different reporting structure.

So yeah, sucky commute, but it will be invisible to my daughter, and I'm still securely employed. I'll just miss out on being petty and walking out the door, leaving a wake of panic behind me.

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When he's underwater does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?

Hope it all works out for you Seriernya.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

The arrangement you've worked out with them seems to be a pretty favorable one. Get it in writing, and stay; as you said, prospects elsewhere aren't looking good, and at worst, when the economy shapes up and prospects brighten, it sounds like you'll have more shiny stuff on your laurels when it comes time to get serious about shipping your resume around again.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Don't know if I can get it in writing, but I kinda trust the bosses (for once) on this one. It's really just an alternative to the normal flextime program (4 9-hour days, 1 half day), in which I'll do 7 hours 2 or 3 days a week, and 9 hours the remainder. (My custody schedule is such that I have every Sun-Tues and every other Fri-Sat.) But getting them to commit to it was a hassle. HR said it was up to management, management said it was up to HR.... Neither seemed to understand what I wanted until I gave an actual schedule. Saying "I want to work all of the core hours, and 5 days a week, just not 5 equal days per week" went over their heads. My boss misinterpreted the HR rep saying "normal business hours" as being "well, people typically work around this time" instead of the company's defined core hours. (Which had been specified to me by the HR rep directly.) I had to send a copy of the policy from our handbook to my boss before she understood.

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When he's underwater does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?

Any chance they will allow you to work from home one or two days a week.

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Raell Kromwell

You made the right choice.

Unlikely. Maybe until June, but not after. For some reason if some people don't see you working, then you must not be working. However, I am allowed to work from home on occasion (e.g., my daughter is sick).

Right now, the company has no telecommuting policy - there's a task force looking into that. I'm supposed to be on one of the company-wide working groups, actually. (Intranet suggestion box - I replied with some common sense... helium hand, gotta love it.)

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When he's underwater does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?

Thanks - I think that was the hardest thing for all of these months: that I was making a mistake with either decision. I'm still worried about the negative work environment, but it likely won't be as bad as I fear once we're there face-to-face.

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When he's underwater does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?

I agree with Lenas, though thats easy to say from way over here.

Save any emails or paperwork relating to your schedule, just in case.

You have a good head on your shoulders, Serienya, and you are a good mommy. It sounds like this was a tough decision to make and hard to work out the details, but you did it. You should be proud of yourself.
Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

I think you're taking the right tack; I mean, would it even be possible to sell the house (which you fought for, right?) easily in order to move? Six, seven months from now you can start doing the serious commute (if they don't let you work at home a day or two a week), and then start casting about for a new job closer to home. Good luck!

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Crappity.

The day I committed in writing, I got a call that I'd been nominated for a brand new position at my current site. I had 2 interviews on the fly on Friday. They'd decide on Monday (today).

I didn't get it.

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When he's underwater does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?

Wait a min..rewind....huh???

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

She edited the post. She interviewed, and did not get the more desirably located job.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Oh. That is a bummer.
Well, guess that just means something better must be headed your way then, Seri.
Better luck next time.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth