My journey to retirement started 15 months ago. Thanks to confidence inspired by reading the stories on this website, and by educating myself by reading books on women presenting themselves as worthy of nice salaries and benefits (I am a classic introvert), I met with the company’s off-site owner in November 2016. I told him (nicely and with confidence) that I would transition from fulltime to part-time as of Feb 1, 2017. I told him I would change from salaried to hourly in fairness to both the company and to me. I told him that my hourly rate would be $xx. (Which was a substantial increase to what my salaried-per-hour rate computed to.) He agreed to everything with NO discussion about changes to my proposal. I even included some benefits that aren’t usual to part-timers. My advantage was my great track record with the company and the fact that the owner really likes me and has great confidence in the accuracy and timeliness of my work. And of course, they assumed I would be replaced in short order.
My departure got stretched. Employer didn’t even start interviewing until February. They finally found the candidate they felt comfortable with in the Spring. But he had a commitment he had to fulfil and wasn’t available until the end of April. So I continued to work full-time until then. The bulk of the training took place over the next couple months…..So I was still full-time during the summer. In August the gentleman said he needed time off for a hip surgery. I continued to cover the position. During the Fall, I started to actually work only 3 days a week…..making almost as much in 3 days as I did full-time salaried!!
By the mid-to-end of November 2017, I finally cut back to 2 days a week. In December he requests time off for another surgery. The owner and general manager didn’t see a problem with that because they ASSUMED I would still be available to cover the duties of the position. So the week before and after the holidays, I was back to full-time. I told the owner and general manager that my OFFICIAL last day would be January 31. I intend to work 2 days a week these last 3 weeks. What I can teach him about year-end procedures will either get done, or not during that time. On one hand, I feel a responsibility to the company. On the other hand, this has gone on long enough.
My spouse and two grown children think I’ve been taken advantage of horribly. On some days I agree with them. But when I see my W-2 figures for 2017, I smile from ear to ear!!!! Asking for that bigger hourly rate REALLY, REALLY worked to my advantage.
I have a saying on my refrigerator (maybe it came from this site) that says ‘……upon retiring, I’m not so much happy as I am relieved’. That’s me. 7 more work days.
I can’t thank all of you enough for the initial (and continued) inspiration to stand up for myself. AND TO HAVE “FU” MONEY. Now onto retirement.