I am really loving this Ask a Mustachian category - I've gotten such a wider variety of responses than I have from friends, family, and the one co-worker I have spoken to about it.
I'm feeling rather ~Zen~ about it all right now. I finally called the temp agency. I gave her the details "most likely leaving, they posted it (internally) is that cool with you guys, do you have anything else, should I stay or should I go now, can I contract through you for 7 more weeks".
My temp agency lady is super nice, she's gotten my Mom a ton of work including some long term jobs. She br-br-broke it down:
1) Because my job is a union job, they either have to hire me or get rid of me within 6 months
2) So posting internally is normal (also - other co-worker leaving, I could apply for her caseload if I wanted to, based on seniority someone could take mine)
3) She said it's easiest all around for me to apply for my job here. She picked out the key words "most likely leaving" - on the small chance we stay, it's better to have employment. Also she said no one is going to fault me for putting in notice to leave because Daniel got a better job somewhere else.
4) Plus the temp jobs they have right now run through Xmas.
If your employer would have to pay off your temp agency to employ you permanently, and you took the job only to leave a couple of months later, it would be a waste of taxpayers' money. So if you are thinking of going this route, please check out whether you are incurring that additional cost to your employer before doing so.
So I didn't all out ask her about this because it's not really my business. Often the employer has a window where they can get partial or a full refund if a temp hire does not stay. But to zero in on "waste of taxpayers money" OMG ROFL I should start another thread on the myriad of ways we hemorrhage money daily. (Not intented to be snarky to the quotee, I think that way too) It's one of the reasons I'm unhappy here. But if you want a bit of the lowdown on how a public housing agency works, we get paid a set amount based on occupancy levels. I don't get the true math, but I've certainly raised occupancy in the time I've been here. There have been at least 3 people who have left the agency and not been replaced, so I'm pulling more than my weight, and I no longer think I should feel guilty about the
regular costs every employer incurs based on turnover. You know the places that don't have high turnover? I'd bet they spend that money in ways that entice people to stay.
Whooosa, need to get back to Zen. While I hate my job, I can do anything, I'll do it well, and leave a caseload that is well organized. There are moments of brightness as well, and I'm focusing on that. Not to mention if I leave right when Daniel graduates then I only have 41 working days left...
If you will need to move when your S.O. gets his new job in a couple of months, that is expensive - moving more belongings than can fit in a car is expensive, rent and rental deposits are expensive, buying furniture is expensive, not having an income for the days when you move is expensive. So for the time being your best bet is to carry on earning whatever you can and stashing it away so that you and your S.O. can move for that new job without having debt worries. If you can get something else on a temp basis, then that sounds as though it might be psychologically better for you than carrying on where you are.
This is true. I'm a cheap mover though, one of my most mustachian qualities. I read this and thought "what? buying furniture, I've never done that" :) We do have moving money saved already, and we are either going someplace with a (what the heck to you call that...) moving stipend (?) Or doing a travelling job where we will stay in hotels at first before pulling the trigger on a travel trailer and tow rig combo (Furniture included!)
Life's too short to stick in a soul-sucking job if you have another way (via savings) to keep the lights on and food in the fridge. I wouldn't even go through the motions of pretending you want to be permanent.
See if you can find something better to do until your partner gets a job and you move. And then look for a job that feeds instead of sucks your soul.
I'm so with you there!! What I'm going to try to do here is feed my soul any way I can, remember to laugh at what is ridiculous, help my clients while I'm here, read MMM on every break, and help my co-workers laugh too.
I really appreciate every response! It's funny how just making a decision can help bring zen.
P.S. Example of how we waste money: The 3 page application I have to fill out was created by a law firm in FL (wth? we are in IL) that does online pay per copy applications by state.