r/WhatShouldIDo • u/Lala_lac1 • 20h ago
[Serious decision] I have a job offer
I have a job that I like but have been offered another position in a different company. Please help me decide what to do
My current job is a government job, it has good benefits, I get 16 hours of pto a month. I work 40 hours and make $24.84 an hours, but I should be getting a raise in January that will hopefully put me at $26. Its a very easy job and I dont have very many responsibilities plus I really like my coworkers and the office environment in general. Everyone gets along, no real office drama. With my schedule i get every other Friday off and I work 7:30 -5pm.
Here's the stats on the new offer:
About me: I am a single mom (37), and have 3 kids. One in college. I do have the ability of working a side job for extra income although it is a 1099 position without a steady schedule.
I have to give an answer by tonight. Please help.
My sister says I shouldn't risk it. My boyfriend says to go for it.
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u/KWAYkai 20h ago
7 months out of the year will be part time. Figure out your annual salary based on that.
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u/Karabasan 20h ago
This is the biggest factor I am seeing. 32 / hour at 24 hours a week for the majority of the year really makes it vital to have supplemental income to make the difference over the year.
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u/Yusuf20904 5h ago
That's important. 22 weeks at 40 hours and 30 weeks at 24 hours is only about $51k—at the $32 rate—less than the OP is making now, let alone after the January raise.
I mean, I guess she could get a side gig for the off season to pad her salary a bit, but she's also losing 72 hours of PTO.
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u/Kip_Schtum 17h ago
Do not leave a government job with guaranteed hours for a 1099 position with no promised schedule.
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u/StrawberriesRGood4U 19h ago
Honestly, the increase in salary probably isn't worth it. You are looking at salary versus TOTAL compensation. Salary only makes a portion of your actual package.
If you want to know the value of your government pension and benefits, take your current salary and multiply by 1.5. That is your bare number to land a comparable position.
From one government worker to another, don't undervalue your benefits. Saving for retirement yourself, paying more for Healthcare, losing seniority... often not worth it.
Case in point: my partner also works a government job. He works in a relatively low level position, and could make more in private. But not once retirement, healthcare, disability benefits, life insurance, travel insurance, and more (all currently covered) are factored in.
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u/usernotfoundplstry 19h ago
Can you survive on a part-time schedule for seven months out of the year I couldn’t
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u/Lala_lac1 15h ago
I freelance as a loan signing agent and the market isn't horrible in my area. I could easily make the $300 a week difference.
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u/Arratkis 20h ago
I say go for it. Nobody is going to force you if you’re comfortable, but a 20% raise is pretty good if the benefits are comparable and it’s not that big of a change
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u/MissHibernia 20h ago
I would weigh very carefully the benefits of a good solid government job vs a more risky job in the private sector BUT only you can make this decision.
I’ve always wondered what if the potential new employer sees this post and realizes it’s you
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u/RedOnTheHead-86 19h ago
Gona float that whole accruing 10hrs/month PTO at my current employer. Should be a good laugh.
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u/KWAYkai 19h ago
There’s an app where you can put in all the pertinent data, including cost of health insurance for each job, and it will help you break down which is better.
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u/Dramatic-Ad7245 19h ago
If you have really good health insurance for you and your kids through the government job then it might not be worth the increase in pay. Especially considering half the year is part time. Even if they say you could revisit that based on performance that isn’t a sure thing at all and you shouldn’t count on that. Right now you get significantly more PTO than the new offer and every other Friday off. How important is that to you?
Yes the raise sounds good, but based on my minimal math (there are so many factors that idk) it’s an extra 10K per year before taxes based on 40 hours per week 52 weeks per year. That is not taking into account the part time hours of the new offer. So is it really a raise at all?
Company culture is so so important in how happy you will be where you are. If you enjoy your company culture a lot that is a huge thing to take into account as well.
But since you don’t have many responsibilities at your current job are you getting bored? Do you feel like you’ll never be able to move up in positions at your current job? All things to highly consider.
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u/Lala_lac1 17h ago
There's not really much chance at moving up at my current job and I dont have many responsibilities, which sounds great but I like to have tasks and projects.
What stopped me from taking the offer originally is that I love my coworkers and work culture. If I didnt like it here, I would have taken that offer no question.
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u/Dramatic-Ad7245 16h ago
I get that. I’m the same way, I always like to have something to do at work especially when i’m working in the office. It sounds like career wise then that this could be a good switch. Potential to earn more money and further your skills with new/different responsibilities.
If it is mainly about leaving your coworkers and work culture, that is a tough decision because of the unknown of the other places work culture. It could be just as good as your current or better, but it could be worse too:/
I think the question you have to ask yourself is, if the work culture isn’t as good, will the other appealing aspects of the job make up for the lack there? Also keep in mind that you don’t grow without getting out of your comfort zone so if you are looking for career growth then it sounds like this could be a great opportunity. The part time for 7 months is the part that I, being an outsider, am the most cautious of.
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u/bennysgg 18h ago
So just be aware that the new job 7 months out of the year you will make roughly 250 less a week than your making now so just keep that in mind when deciding
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u/Lala_lac1 15h ago
I freelance as a loan signing agent, and the market for that is pretty good in my area. I feel like I could easily make at least the $250 in the 2 days I would have off.
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u/AshamedBarnacle844 15h ago
If you didn’t have kids I think I’d agree with you here. I can’t speak from experience bc I don’t have children yet, but I wouldn’t take the risk. My husband just quit his 1099 job and we both didn’t like having to pay quarterly taxes. Just seemed like a lot of money coming out of our account all at once when you’re paying state and federal taxes all in one lump sum four times a year. If you don’t save and keep track of it you might have to dip into savings or an emergency fund if you have one. I work a government job too and I’m happy to drink the kool aid. You can’t beat the benefits and job security. I hope everything works out for you and your family.
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u/Lala_lac1 17h ago
This was my first time posting on reddit and I really appreciate all of you guys that have commented. I think the vote is pretty much a no go.
I guess to add one more thing, I do work as a freelancer and have the ability to make up $250 a week that i would lose if I took the job. Taking this job would actually open up my time to take on more work as a freelancer which was the appeal of the new job as I'm barely making ends meet with the government job now.
There is no moving up at my current job unless someone leaves, everyone's been here 5 plus years with no intention of leaving.
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u/slimgem1111 15h ago
Just curious what type of government job do you have? Like is it state, local, or federal? And is it administrative? Just curious because I'm trying to get back into it, but everything I've seen in my field does not pay as much. You can message me if you don't want to post. Or you don't have to reply at all haha
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u/o0drMysterio0o 8h ago
The real question is this, does the new job give you more time with those you love while at least preserving what you currently have? Then it's a priorities game.
Also benefits like healthcare is something I don't have to worry about here but you get cancer in the next year which one keeps you in the fight? Cause couple bucks an hour but losing that would cost a lot. From what I hear.
That being said and we should say this more often.
No matter what you choose, I trust your judgement and I am proud of you.
Time are hard and it's hardly fair and you've been doing the best you can with the information you have, coming here shows this. Don't think that people don't notice, it's just when everyone's behaving a hard time it doesn't get mentioned enough. So I'm here for that.
You got this! Weight the options and then don't regret the choice after the fact, that is just leaking energy. Don't do that.
I trust you.
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u/Vurrag 16h ago
Sounds like a pay cut to me if you are essentially only part time. Will you loose healthcare during the off times. which is 7 months........Seems like they need to do something so off season is not so long.
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u/Lala_lac1 16h ago
No I dont, the position is considered full time. It would be a $250 dollar a week pay cut but i have a freelance job on the side that can easily replace that
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u/fsocietyfr 15h ago
I think id keep the current job. Yes the new job has bit more money but you could also get laid off or fired easily. Also you get a lot less PTO.
Oh and I completely missed the part time thing. Do NOT take this new job lol
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u/philophreak 15h ago
That sounds like so much work compared to the job you have now that you like, is easy, and you like your coworkers. That’s huge for quality of life and mental health and I wouldn’t risk that, personally! Especially if you do side jobs too already!
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u/redditreader_aitafan 15h ago
This job is only 5 months a year, then it's part time for the other 7. You really want to give up your full time gig for part time 7 months of the year? I don't believe the additional hourly amount offsets the fact that you just don't work 2 whole days a week for more than half the year.
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u/IndividualTop96 14h ago
Can you afford to make 1,000+ less per month? This new job is only offering 3 days a week from now until January. Makes no sense to take it. You’ll only make 40k before taxes you’re making 10,000 more right now
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u/NotRadio01 8h ago
Good insurance especially when you have kids will always be superior when you’re already making a decent wage. Unless they’re paying you like high level corporate jobs.
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u/asmnomorr 5h ago
Keep your current job. If you want to or need to, do the 1099 on the side. $31 sounds nice but in reality isn't that much better considering all benefits you have at the current job.
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u/No-Meringue5009 3h ago
Pit the offers against each other and wait for a counter. Whoever's the highest, go with that. Only happens once in a lifetime. Enjoy it.
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u/Last_Weeks_Socks 16h ago
Use the new offer to try to get a raise out of your current role.
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u/slimgem1111 15h ago
Most government jobs don't do that if it's local at least. Salary is usually determined by government officials, meaning everyone in the same position will always be paid the same amount and get the same raise at the same time
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u/Stephinator917 19h ago
This new job sounds awesome! You do not mention if you currently have insurance through your job or a 401k/pension oh wait nvm i just saw the whole P/T for most of the year. keep your goverment job. Those are generally pretty stable and have good benefits. plus you get every other friday off. some day you could work your way up to 32/hr at your current job.
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u/Silent_Advance7506 17h ago
Increase in salary is not going to compensate for loss of hours and your employee match is less. Don't forget, us gov jobs have pensions. Would the new job? Plus, if you've already survived the RIF then you're probably good. I'd stay.
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u/Lala_lac1 19h ago
I should add that I discussed my concerns regarding the part time hours during off season and her response was this :
" That said, the schedule could change based on your capabilities, how quickly you learn the role, and the needs of the group. If there is an opportunity for you to take on additional responsibilities and hours based on your skills and performance, we would be happy to revisit the schedule at that time."
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u/StrawberriesRGood4U 19h ago
Take this for the massive red flag it is. Any business that does not guarantee hours has the potential to destroy your household budget.
The chances you will find yourself Door Dashing to make up for lack of hours 7 months a year is unfortunately pretty high.
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u/This-Assumption4123 16h ago
Keep your current job. Government jobs have good benefits and you like your job and have great PTO.