*Waves* Long time lurker first time poster. Need some advice about a tough job situation:
Background: Currently two years out of grad school in a profession with a very, very bleak job market, especially for entry level grads.
After sending out nearly 100 applications I took the first offer I got for a government job in my field for a very low salary (about half of what I’d be making in the private sector but I was grateful to just have a job at that point). This job has continuously lied to me from day 1. When I was hired at an hourly rate, I was told I would: 1. Be given a raise and salary with full benefits once the licensing exam results were out and I became licensed and 2. That this job would require me to transfer from county to county each year but each assignment would be within “driving distance” and the next assignment wouldn’t happen for a year. Stupid me did not get any of this in writing or ask what “driving distance” means because I was a scared new grad just happy to have a job offer.
A few weeks later I passed the exam and got licensed. It took TEN MONTHS after that for them to bump me from hourly to salary, and that was with me hounding them about it all the time (no vacation or sick time during that time and overtime was prohibited, if I got sick and had to take a day off I didn’t get paid). The person who originally hired me quit and the new person denied the agency ever making the promise to bump me to salary after I was licensed. When they finally did bump me to salary they didn’t give me the raise I was promised.
6 months after I started (still haven't been made salary at this point) my direct supervisor’s higher up supervisor contacts me and says another county AN HOUR AWAY EACH WAY needed help because of high turnover (what a surprise) and I’d be assigned there and they were looking at moving me “soon”. I reminded them that they told me the transfer wouldn't happen for a year and I was locked into a year lease and wasn’t sure my car could handle an hour commute every day (not to mention extra gas money). They told me that I “don’t want to get a reputation as a whiner.” I asked if I’d receive mileage or moving costs and they laughed at me. Actually laughed. I asked them when I was leaving and they said they’d let me know.
A month goes by, I’m still at my current location . 6 months go by, I’m still at my current location. My direct supervisor is just as confused as I am and keeps asking me when they’re moving me (I have not heard squat and neither has he). Higher up supervisor keeps assuring us I’ll be moved “soon” but no one will say when. Meanwhile, I’ve become a standout in my location with regular praise from my coworkers and supervisors. Direct supervisor asks higher up supervisor if I can stay because they need me here and I’m doing a great job, higher up supervisor says no and I’ll be moved “soon.” My lease ends and I ask higher up supervisor what to do about signing a new one (obviously if they’re planning on moving me next week I don’t want to get another long lease). Higher up gives a wishy washy “can’t make any promises blah blah trying to get new location ready blah blah.” I sign a 8 month lease because that’s was the shortest lease option I could afford (couldn’t afford to go month to month).
A few months ago I get an email: “StacheyStache’s start date at New Location is next Monday.” WTF??? This comes at one of our busiest times when I’m knee deep in work. Direct supervisor was never consulted, he found out from me running into his office in a panic. Direct supervisor protests, higher up supervisor doesn’t respond. I scramble to get all my projects reassigned and my coworkers all tell me they wish I could stay (they threw me a really nice party and a few actually cried).
I ask higher up supervisor how long I’m going to be at this new location because an hour commute each way is too expensive and too long for me (I also have vision issues that make driving at night very difficult and unsafe, luckily this happened when the days are longer so I'm not driving at night, but it’ll get harder and harder during the winter) and I will need to move and need to know how long of a lease to sign. No response. I ask for compensation for mileage or moving costs one more time. No response. So while I wait for my lease to end at my current place, my commute has gone from 20 mins round trip to 2 hours round trip each day and I’m now shelling out tons of my own money for a move.
The way to get out of this transferring whenever they want to wherever they want situation is to get promoted to the next level (only entry level employees are required to transfer each year). This should have happened about 6 months ago according to my job description and everyone has told me I'm more than ready to be promoted. However, I’ve already been given the work of not only the next level up but the level after that and I’ve been successfully completing it for a year. My direct supervisors who know me and like me have no control over whether I’m promoted, it’s all up to higher up supervisor who is never around to see what I can do and quite frankly, doesn't give a crap. I expressed the concern to direct supervisor that I will never be promoted since I’m already doing the same work of the level higher for a cheaper price, they have no reason to promote me. To direct supervisor’s credit, he didn’t bs me and actually agreed with me and told me if he were me he would start looking for other jobs and that he will give me a stellar reference.
I’ve been looking for another job for months now with no luck, the market is still just as bleak as ever and I'm still just short of 2 years exp. My low salary makes it hard to save, but by being incredibly frugal I manage a 42% savings rate and have accumulated a stache of a year’s expenses. My biggest expense after rent is actually gas for this damn commute. I’m tired of being lied to though, the way I’ve been treated has led to a struggle with depression for the first time in my life, the 2 hour commute is taking a huge toll on me and I can’t afford another move, which could happen “whenever the agency feels it’s necessary” according to my higher up supervisor. I’ve been thinking about quitting with nothing lined up but I have no idea when or if I could get another job (my profession considers 2-3 years an acceptable level of experience and I’m not at that range yet).
What would the mustacians do? Quit or suck it up until I have another job in hand?
