A foreboding sense of relief / BWE *

In which our Hero learns he has a job offer impending, to his great disappointment

I’m just not quite sure how my client can say with a straight face that I’m all that important to them when it’s taken them five months to actually get around to making their offer. I certainly cannot find anything like appreciation or respect in the fact that they’ve communicated only once in that intervening time, to tell me that it’d be “next week” two months ago.

But finally there is a meeting on my calendar for tomorrow, to discuss the job “opportunity” where I can join the dynamic team that makes me wish i had more hair so I could rip it out.

As fat as I can tell, the net of the offer is:

• Less Pay
• Increased Taxes
• Expensive mandatory benefits that don’t much help me
• A different coloured ID badge
• Job security. Well, job security in that I’d automatically know I had a job in January. But now they could fire me with two weeks notice instead of the four in my contract. Woo security. Although in fairness, they’re not really good at firing anybody, not even when they should.
• Membership in a team of indecisive, incommunicative, sullen children who have variously demonstrated to me that I have been incredibly lucky in my employers and teams in the past.

Every job has warts. Every team has a second string. I know that anywhere I go, my own work ethic and skill will likely make me frustrated with some and frustration for others. The point I make with Hollywood when we chew this over is that at least somewhere new we get a honeymoon period. Here, there are no illusions. No mystery.

Nothing to make me want it. Lots of reasons to stand by my pride and say no. And I know that it’s not wrong to say no, that there are lots of jobs out there for someone like me. But a job in the hand is worth two in the field. Risking a sure thing for a (3-year-long-so-far) temp job is madness. How would I take care of my family making decisions like this?

The low risk choice is to negotiate for the best I can, and then take the job. Before going job hunting, with my paycheck assured. Even though, right now, I don’t have a family to let down. The right answer, emotionally, is to say Fuck no, right from the outset. The right answer, intellectually? It seems like Fuck no, also. Neither answer feels right, but is that just that I’ve not had to reject an offer or some is there other reason?

For now, I guess I just wait, to see what they think I’m worth. Hopefully the lack of respect will extend to the offer.

Wish me luck.

*Edit*

The they in this entry is a former client of my former employer, MorlockCo. When this client stopped doing business with MorlockCo, they asked me to stay as an independent contractor. And now to save some money, they want me to become an employee.

I don’t mind them saving money on my time, as long as they aren’t making the savings by squeezing me. I don’t fault them for asking but exactly what is my motivation to do the same job for less money?