You know what really burns my ass?

[Tobin S.]

A flame about three feet high. That was my grandpa's favorite joke. I think he first heard it when he was about 20 years old and then told it to everyone he met until he died at 80.

Seriously, something has happened to me the last few days that does piss me off. Since I was thinking about starting a new job, I've had three people take issue with me over money, and they all make a lot more money than I do.

I was going to start a new job next week, but I decided against it last Friday. However, the new place verified my employment at my current company and that made the general manager and the owner want to have a word with me.

They told me, in a meeting with both of them, that when they learn that an employee is looking elsewhere for work they usually let them go. I'm a good employee. I've driven a truck for them for the past 4.5 years and I haven't fucked up at all. I don't miss work and I'm always on time. I haven't even taken a vacation in the last three years even though I get two weeks a year.

They knew all that and the owner asked the general manager what kind of money I make. He said that I am paid very well. I make 15 fuckin' 30 an hour. I'm sitting with a multi-millionaire and a guy who makes 150k a year and they think my measly 40k a year is damn good money. Then the owner went on to explain how wonderful our insurance is.

"Do you know how good our insurance is?"

"Yeah."

"I don't think you do! It's the same insurance I use."

The implication was that I was being ungrateful. If that insurance is good enough for a millionaire it should be good enough for me.

What pisses me off is people who are wealthy taking issue with me for trying to get ahead.

I called the guy at the new place today and told him I wasn't taking the job. The main reason I was looking for a new job is because business at my current employer is slow and they were talking lay-offs. One thing they did do that was right in that meeting was tell me that I wasn't going to get laid off. He was under the impression that I was just in it for the money and told me that he wanted more than somebody who was just looking for a good check. He wanted someone who was dedicated. I'm a fucking truck driver not an astronaut. Again, this guy probably makes a whole lot more money than they were going to pay me and he was taking jabs at me because he thought it was all about money.

What if it was all about money? How can they blame me for that? This is goddamn capitalism. Everybody has to make enough money or you end up homeless.

But it wasn't all about money. That's a consideration, but I was also thinking about my quality of life. I have more leisure time at my current job. I live a mile away. I have time in there. I'm about half way up the seniority list. The insurance is good as far as insurance goes. I have to give them that. It appears to be secure, despite what I had been thinking. You probably shouldn't go telling your employees that the owner is considering lay-offs unless you really do want them to go looking for work elsewhere. That might have just been a mistake on my boss's part.

[jonno99]

1. "He was under the impression that I was just in it for the money..." - Sheesh! The alternative

being what? that you were just looking for a warm place to donate your time?

Well, hopefully your current employer can keep the work coming.

Good luck!

[edgineered]

2. As an employee you owe them nothing. No loyalty.

They have agreed to compensate you at an agreed upon amount. You have agreed to work. There is nothing more.

[magical thyme]

3. they're playing you, Tobin.

I'm sorry you decided against the other job. I thought you were going there in part because the people seemed nice, unlike the assholes where you work. It's unfortunate that you took it to the point where they confirmed your employment and then changed your mind.

I hope this works out for you.

[Tobin S.]

4. I changed my mind before the meeting. Nothing they said played into my decision.

I have decided that another truck driving job just isn't going to cut it. I went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree to get out of the truck. I'm going to keep looking, but not for truck driver jobs.

[magical thyme]

5. I realize that. it doesn't change the fact that they're playing with your mind.

I understand how hard it is to go to school while working, to work your ass off for years to get that degree, to improve your job prospects. I went through it myself, and I read your posts while you were still in school.

Again, I hope staying in this job works out for you until you find what you want.

[Tobin S.]

7. I know what they were doing. They just want me to stay.

Which is good.

[Tipperary]

13. That was my thought too. I really know nothing about the whole situation, but I would be wary

of these bosses.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Green serranos roasted on an open flame. nt

[alarimer]

8. What is it with employers thinking they own your soul?

The worst I ever saw were for jobs that paid really crap wages.

They'd get a lot more loyalty if they paid better. Why do they not get this?

Sorry your bosses are clueless.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. They'd also get more loyalty if they treated their employees better

and quit dangling the Damocles sword of imminent lay-offs over their head.

[magical thyme]

14. my guess: there will be layoffs. They floated the rumor intentionally

to 1. get people to leave on their own (avoid unemployment compensation), and 2. see how the employees respond.

For those that stick around, they subsequently deny the rumors to keep employees quiet until they are ready to dump them at their convenience.

Those that do what Tobin did get "extra special" treatment to beat them into feeling like worthless losers so they'll stick around until they're ready to dump them at their convenience.

In the meantime, they'll keep tightening the screws on raises, extra demands, etc.

They are bullies. They deliberate provoke in order to get a reaction in order to beat you into submission. It's the only thing they know how to do.

The problem is that if you don't react, they'll just beat you harder. If you do react, you feel like a schmo. If there is a way of beating them at their game, I have no idea what it is.

Used to be, bullies were the ones that would be dumped for destroying the company from the inside out. Then they were tolerated. Now they are made management. We are a nation of bullies and bullied.

[aidbo]

9. When you mix up your Preparation-H and Liquid Heat?

Seriously though, that's BS.

[HeiressofBickworth]

11. Tobin, Tobin, Tobin, I hate to have to tell you

but I fear your employer is just shinning you on. When lay-offs come, you likely will be very near the top of the list, regardless of the quality of your work or dedication.

I've seen this so many times before (corporate paralegal - handled many mergers/acquisitions). Employers know that secure employment is at the top of any employee's list of concerns. Denying that there will be lay-offs is part of the plan to keep employees placated, avoiding paying raises, downgrading benefits, etc. It all hinges on employees being concerned about the status of their employment.

Hell, even I got caught in that trap. I was working for an engineering firm. The bosses announced that the company was being sold to a mega-sized firm and there would DEFINITELY not be any lay-offs. Within a few years, the number of employees in the local office went from 175 to 25. No lay-offs my shinny broad ass.

In my case, I knew from experience what was coming so after the announcement, I did a few calculations, gave 2 weeks notice and retired from the working world entirely. Oh, and by the way, six years later, the company I worked for is gone -- merged into the borg, as I put it.

Perhaps your employers may be different -------- time will tell. Meanwhile, keep looking; you will find the right job. Good luck.

[CBGLuthier]

12. I have not worked for someone I respected since the 70s.

They act like they own you and some days I think they do.

[mnhtnbb]

15. Oh, Tobin, I fear--along with others who've responded--that you're being played.

My son went through something just like this. Rumors of lay-offs. Denials by top management.
Then whammo-- a month later his entire work group was escorted out the door with no notice.
He got two weeks severance pay.

You can still keep looking for a management job with the new company. Didn't you say there might
even be an opportunity to move up with them since they had more locations?

Is it too late to reconsider? I'm sure the new job would understand how tough it is to jump
into something new.