My boss wants me to increase my hours. The desired amount of the increase seems to change from week to week. Right now I work 20 hours, and could go to 30 or possibly 40. Boss asked if I would do 40 today. No talk of a higher salary.
Pros of 30:
- get benefits at a lower cost than I would at 20 hrs
- extra free time and ability to visit family on short notice (which I value intensely since my layoff and family illnesses/deaths)
- more time to apply to other jobs and interview
Cons of 30:
- can't cover the mortgage
- will I be viewed as lazy by society at large? (do I care?)
- if I need to increase my hours down the road, they may not go for it
Pros of 40:
- more money coming in
- looks better on a resume
- get benefits at a lower cost than I would at 20 hrs
- we need all the money we can get since SO is out of work, even though it would barely cover the mortgage
- I could conceivably support myself if necessary
Cons of 40:
- I don't think I like where the company is going (and my job satisfaction has greatly decreased)
- Boss sometimes makes me uncomfortable
- Less free time
- Would it really be 40 hours, or more? Weekend expectations?
- More exposure to in-fighting among coworkers
- Would likely greatly upset a difficult coworker whose hours and benefits would get cut so mine could be increased
- I'd be making what I was making in 2001, which frankly is not great. If I'm working full time and exchanging my precious free time, I feel like I should be making far more than that. I guess I justified 20 hours a week at this salary because I could balance it with my free time.
Making this list helped clear my thoughts a bit, but I'm still torn.
job hours
February 18th, 2014 at 02:32 am
February 18th, 2014 at 02:55 am 1392692122
February 18th, 2014 at 05:10 am 1392700221
How serious is SO about finding employment? How many hours per week has been devoted to job search?
February 18th, 2014 at 07:47 pm 1392752836
February 19th, 2014 at 12:44 am 1392770699
Perhaps I should clarify that I can contribute to the mortgage, but my salary is so low that SO has to find some work or he will lose the house regardless of what I do with my hours. Even a mild salary increase on my part won't help that situation. I suspect part of the reason they may cut coworker's hours in favor of mine is because that person makes more than I do. I'm cheaper labor and less abrasive.
I will definitely ask about more money. Boss likes me, but can only ask the higher-ups for permission.
February 19th, 2014 at 12:52 am 1392771143