New job with weekends off

[Farmdog267]

Howdy All,

I'm looking for some advice or insight... I've been working for a John Deere Dealer which is a M-F position 7:30-5:30 and Saturday from 7:30-2pm. Our hours do go longer on Monday and Wednesday in the spring time.

Anyhow, I found a job doing similar work with a local freightliner dealership. Its a Monday - Friday job as the service department is not open on Saturday..

I'm trying to figure out how much of a pay cut it would be worth to have Saturdays off. I've been with Deere for 3 years and been in the same industry for about 15 years. This new position would be new in some ways but similar in some ways. I love the equipment industry as much as the trucking industry and anything diesel so I am excited for the new position and the additional freedoms it includes.

That being said.. I Don't have an offer yet but I'm anticipating I'll be starting lower than what I currently make which is about $80-$85k with bonuses. Loosely speaking, if you were considering a new job which gave the bonus of a 5 day work week compared to a current 6 day week, how much would it be worth to you? I'm married, no kids yet but hopefully within a year or so...

Thanks for any input or advice.

 

[props2you]

I can't speak to the day-to-day workday, I'm a serial entrepreneur, but I do have some insight into time value. With that said, yes there is tremendous value in your down time, the caveat being affording the opportunity to arrange or rearrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate your play time. Work/Life balance is important for your health and sanity. Sounds like you have fewer family obligations (kids etc.), but need to consider the future.

Jobs come and go, your time with friends and family will be the things you remember, not jobs or deals! Saturday's off are appealing if you think you can swing it, DO IT!! You only live once, make the most of it!

 

[Beachbummer]

Here is a crude mathematical model..... assuming you value your Saturday hours slightly higher than your other hours.... (maybe 25% more)

You current income = 9.5 hours per weekday at normal value 47.5 +(7.5 *1.25 Saturday hours = about 9.5, rounding out) about 57 "Value hours"

Will the New job have 9 hour days? or 10 hour days? we'll hit at 9.5 about 47.5 (Same as your current weekday hours) Which is about 82% of your current hours.

So in theory, if you value you Saturday hours this way, and all else was equal and you were willing to take the cut, you are looking at $64K comparable to your $80K low number.

There are so many other variables, such as growth opportunities, benefits and work environment that this information alone does not cut it, at all. I would recommend you do your best to remain as close as possible to your current salary. Also, what are the bonus chances, and how have they been paid in prior years?

Do they provide regular increases? do you have to switch jobs again if you want to improve your earning?

Lots of questions, best of luck! My humble suggestion is to interact with current employees doing what you do and gauge their experience. Take one or two to a cheap lunch and get them talking about the job so they spill the beans. It's hard to fake enthusiasm for a position, and you can ask what you like, what you dislike, etc, and get a real feel for the job and employer that way.

From the hiring side I can tell you as a manager that hiring is the hardest thing I do. When hiring you may be able to do everything right, and still get it wrong, so it's a bit nerve wrecking to get a surprise in spite of your due diligence. If you are a good fit, and you are interested (as it seems you are) this is the time to ask for additional pay or benefits. Once you are on it's generally not as easy to modify those. More Vacation is sometimes flexible depending on the place. Pay is definitely flexible. If the offer comes lower, bring up that your current income is higher and that you want to come over, but you need some help filling the gap so the impact is not as big.

Again, Best of Luck!

 

[2kwik4u]

Negotiate EVERYTHING. Vacation, Bonuses, Sick Leave, Benefits, and of course, Salary. Know your worth and ask for it. You won't get what you don't ask for.

I've always looked at "total compensation package" to determine if I'm getting a good deal or a bad deal. This bit me in the arse on my last job move. The company is phenomenal from a culture and work place perspective, but the pay is 80/20 salary and bonus. I have the potential to make exactly the same as I was before, or up to plus/minus 20% depending on how the bonuses/company does. Adjusting to the lower monthly paycheck and then "buffering" the bonus has been SIGNIFICANTLY harder than I anticipated......to the point, I'm considering a move again after only 15mo here. Great company, but I need that compensation package to not only be higher overall, but to be well timed for the family.

Another thing to consider is career development. Is this a sideways move, upwards, downwards? Don't chase a schedule or paycheck only. Finding something that is interesting to you, as well as advances your career (more knowledge, skills, etc) is worthwhile. I'm debating that now. I have an opportunity to possibly double my income, and work from home for an amazing company.......but it's not in my field, and would be a COMPLETE departure from the career I've built. Not sure I want to push that "reset" button just for a giant payday.

Consider your family/living situation as well. Is $80k just keeping the lights on, or is $80k living the life of luxury? If you can spare $1k/mo ($700/mo bring home), then maybe that $68k job with Saturdays off is worthwhile. If you're already rubbing nickels togethor, then take a paycut, you aren't going to be doing anything on your Saturday except sitting at home anyway right? My suspicion is it's somewhere in between, otherwise it's an easy choice

I have two little boys, so if I could swing the lower rate, I would take the time and never look back.

 

[Farmdog267]

Negotiate EVERYTHING. Vacation, Bonuses, Sick Leave, Benefits, and of course, Salary. Know your worth and ask for it. You won't get what you don't ask for.

I've always looked at "total compensation package" to determine if I'm getting a good deal or a bad deal. This bit me in the arse on my last job move. The company is phenomenal from a culture and work place perspective, but the pay is 80/20 salary and bonus. I have the potential to make exactly the same as I was before, or up to plus/minus 20% depending on how the bonuses/company does. Adjusting to the lower monthly paycheck and then "buffering" the bonus has been SIGNIFICANTLY harder than I anticipated......to the point, I'm considering a move again after only 15mo here. Great company, but I need that compensation package to not only be higher overall, but to be well timed for the family.

Another thing to consider is career development. Is this a sideways move, upwards, downwards? Don't chase a schedule or paycheck only. Finding something that is interesting to you, as well as advances your career (more knowledge, skills, etc) is worthwhile. I'm debating that now. I have an opportunity to possibly double my income, and work from home for an amazing company.......but it's not in my field, and would be a COMPLETE departure from the career I've built. Not sure I want to push that "reset" button just for a giant payday.

Consider your family/living situation as well. Is $80k just keeping the lights on, or is $80k living the life of luxury? If you can spare $1k/mo ($700/mo bring home), then maybe that $68k job with Saturdays off is worthwhile. If you're already rubbing nickels togethor, then take a paycut, you aren't going to be doing anything on your Saturday except sitting at home anyway right? My suspicion is it's somewhere in between, otherwise it's an easy choice

I have two little boys, so if I could swing the lower rate, I would take the time and never look back.

The job move would be leaving the Green Industry (Power Equipment and Landscape equipment) and going into Transportation industry. With all the new regulations, and how much crap going on with these diesel engines, it's certainly a secure job that isn't going away unless we get into the Jetson mobiles soon. It would be growing on skills I already have while also acquiring new skills and broadening my technical knowledge base in an area I'm interested in. The $80k or so does well; I'm not driving a different corvette each day of the week but I'm not eating ramen noodles either. (No judgement to anyone who does; lol) My current job is a sales manager for the store so its salary + commission + bonus. I'm certain the potential is there to see 6 figures in another year two to 3 years. That is all well and fine but as my family grows and children come into the mix, I am nearly certain that additional weekly time off or even every other week time off is not in the cards. We are blacked out the whole spring season company wide. Further more, that is generally the busy time of the year and I don't enjoy a job that is slow or dragging so the opportunity to have a steady job that is busy more of the year is also a plus to me. (Both mentally as well as monetarily.)

Thanks for the insight.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

IMHO you need to have a 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, & 30 year plan. Thatconcept got laid on me when I was 25 or so, never thought about it that much at the time, all I cared about was racing dirt bikes and girls, and I needed money for both of those things so I was working 50-60 hours a week which included weekend work. But it got me thinking and within a year an opportunity came up where I took a $7 dollar an hour cut in pay and turned the lights down low for a year, but my total compensation package was higher than before due to the benefit package. Within three years I was up $13 a hour +$6 over the previous job, but I was subject to call outs and weekend work. 29 years later I was able to retire, one year ahead of the 30 year plan. So sacrificing some regular days off early in your career would be worth it in the long run, better $$ more vacation days etc.

@Farmdog267 what did you end up doing?

 

[Bottom Bracket]

Work all the overtime they offer, sat, sun, holidays. Save and invest at least 15% of your wages.
Live within your means, debt free. Retire early, go to the Lake in the middle of the week.
(Messicks is awesome from a customers view point).

 

[drewkaree]

As has been stated, you need to figure out the value of your time, and apply that to whatever equation you're going to draw up.

I now work 3 days a week. My 3 days suck ass, not because the job sucks, but that it's a 3rd shift position, and the hours are what many would consider brutal, but I used to work 2 different jobs totaling 16 hours per day, 4 days a week, so I'm used to working crap hours for a purpose. I took an initial pay cut in overall compensation with the current job, in that I lost 2 weeks of vacation pay, and I lost "anything over 8 hours is paid at time and a half". All told, it cost me somewhere in the neighborhood of $12k in financial compensation.

My old job had the ability to mandatory me one day per week, and would do so on holiday weeks, so I'd be working 6 days at a time when it sucked to work, I lost time (or the option of time) with family & friends, and I would not gain an additional week of vacation for another 10 years, at which point I'd be maxed out for vacation time. I'd also never know if I would be able to make my tee time for the golf league I played in with my FIL and a bunch of friends due to the potential for unassigned daily work being given to the first person back, to be delivered ASAP.

The new job has recently had mandatory overtime for the first time ever, it's 14-hour days, and by the 2nd year, I was back at the same rate of vacation time as the old job, with the benefit of being able to use it without having to plan my entire vacation schedule in November of the previous year that my old job required. Next year, I will be at the same level of vacation time as the previous job would have been, at the 20-year mark of service. I now run the golf league I was in, and never have to worry about missing it, even if overtime would be required with the new job. There are more than a few other differences, and although none of them will make up for the financial loss, I am at a point in life, and in the position to not have money be the deciding factor for a job. The time I am able to spend with family and friends at many different points during the week is ridiculously valuable to me, far more than extra money can ever make up for. I don't foresee another job being able to offer the same time benefits, unless I worked for myself, similar to the gamble on himself that @Neutron has recently made. If this current job were to change with the time requirements, I'd definitely chase more money so that I could cash out in 5-7 years, vs the 10-ish I'm currently considering.

My perspective changed with my wife and I losing all 4 of our parents in a 5-year span. That changed my entire outlook on money vs time. You have your own reasons for wanting to stay, or leave, the situation you're in, and the person who will be the one you have to answer to is the guy in your mirror every morning. If that smile is missing more often than not from that guy, you'll know it before anyone else, no matter how well it's hidden. Make choices that will cause that guy to smile. If that means taking a gamble on yourself, there's no way to find out if it's worth it, if you don't even place your wager down.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Negotiate EVERYTHING. Vacation, Bonuses, Sick Leave, Benefits, and of course, Salary. Know your worth and ask for it. You won't get what you don't ask for.

I've always looked at "total compensation package" to determine if I'm getting a good deal or a bad deal. This bit me in the arse on my last job move. The company is phenomenal from a culture and work place perspective, but the pay is 80/20 salary and bonus. I have the potential to make exactly the same as I was before, or up to plus/minus 20% depending on how the bonuses/company does. Adjusting to the lower monthly paycheck and then "buffering" the bonus has been SIGNIFICANTLY harder than I anticipated......to the point, I'm considering a move again after only 15mo here. Great company, but I need that compensation package to not only be higher overall, but to be well timed for the family.

Another thing to consider is career development. Is this a sideways move, upwards, downwards? Don't chase a schedule or paycheck only. Finding something that is interesting to you, as well as advances your career (more knowledge, skills, etc) is worthwhile. I'm debating that now. I have an opportunity to possibly double my income, and work from home for an amazing company.......but it's not in my field, and would be a COMPLETE departure from the career I've built. Not sure I want to push that "reset" button just for a giant payday.

Consider your family/living situation as well. Is $80k just keeping the lights on, or is $80k living the life of luxury? If you can spare $1k/mo ($700/mo bring home), then maybe that $68k job with Saturdays off is worthwhile. If you're already rubbing nickels togethor, then take a paycut, you aren't going to be doing anything on your Saturday except sitting at home anyway right? My suspicion is it's somewhere in between, otherwise it's an easy choice

I have two little boys, so if I could swing the lower rate, I would take the time and never look back.

Being that it has a been a couple of years, how did things turn out for you? What did you do?

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

As the great Bob Hannah once said, you can work now and play later, or you can play now and work the rest of your life.

 

[2kwik4u]

Being that it has a been a couple of years, how did things turn out for you? What did you do?

Boy, that post was a blast from the past. Dug out the wayback machine for that one. Gee.......A LOT has happened since then!

I wrote that post in June of 2019. In early '20 I signed a deal with another company, after a brief search. More money, stable income, and back to an industry I knew I liked (Aerospace R&D). I put in my two weeks with the current company on premise of leaving the company the first Friday in May. Upon entering my 2wks notice, my immediate manager referred the issue up to our CEO of our parent company, and the President of the immediate company. He asked for a conversation before he accepted my resignation, and I obliged, meeting them both in the office the next day.

We talked for about 3hrs in the conference room. It was a VERY frank and open conversation. I voiced my displeasure with current career trajectory, and pay scheme, as well as job tasks, and basically everything I was and wasn't happy with about the job. They corrected some misunderstandings I had, and expressed a desire to keep me as a key employee. Within 24hrs I had a revised offer letter to remain with the company. Pay was significantly increased (48% raise, effective immediately, as well as increased bonus opportunity), revised job position, and company sponsored MBA. It was a better offer than the move to the other company, and they genuinely tried to address every issue I had. There was still some risk because a lot of it was built on a handshake deal, and wasn't in writing. I had to trust they would do what they said, and they had to trust they weren't wasting their time/money on developing me as an employee.

I took the counter offer to stay, and I stuck with the company, moving positions every 12-18 months or so learning how the business worked, as I worked through my MBA online. I was also immediately included in strategic planning, sales, and management reviews and meetings. Once I finished my MBA I was almost immediately promoted to a Vice President role and moved to Buffalo. I did that for a year, and was given the President role for this company in November of this year. We've recently acquired (5) additional companies here in the Buffalo area, and while it hasn't been promised, I'm in line to run those as well within a year or two.

SO, I think it's safe to say I've been very fortunate to establish a working relationship with top management at this company, and from that have chosen the path that advanced my career, while reasonably protecting my free time. The pay has been great, and reflects the higher amount of responsibility I've taken on.

To follow up on the advice on the original post. I still have looked at total compensation, and total impact to the family. That ethos has continued through all of the decisions to accept new opportunities and challenges. That includes moving the family to Buffalo and significantly change our living circumstances.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Boy, that post was a blast from the past. Dug out the wayback machine for that one. Gee.......A LOT has happened since then!

I wrote that post in June of 2019. In early '20 I signed a deal with another company, after a brief search. More money, stable income, and back to an industry I knew I liked (Aerospace R&D). I put in my two weeks with the current company on premise of leaving the company the first Friday in May. Upon entering my 2wks notice, my immediate manager referred the issue up to our CEO of our parent company, and the President of the immediate company. He asked for a conversation before he accepted my resignation, and I obliged, meeting them both in the office the next day.

We talked for about 3hrs in the conference room. It was a VERY frank and open conversation. I voiced my displeasure with current career trajectory, and pay scheme, as well as job tasks, and basically everything I was and wasn't happy with about the job. They corrected some misunderstandings I had, and expressed a desire to keep me as a key employee. Within 24hrs I had a revised offer letter to remain with the company. Pay was significantly increased (48% raise, effective immediately, as well as increased bonus opportunity), revised job position, and company sponsored MBA. It was a better offer than the move to the other company, and they genuinely tried to address every issue I had. There was still some risk because a lot of it was built on a handshake deal, and wasn't in writing. I had to trust they would do what they said, and they had to trust they weren't wasting their time/money on developing me as an employee.

I took the counter offer to stay, and I stuck with the company, moving positions every 12-18 months or so learning how the business worked, as I worked through my MBA online. I was also immediately included in strategic planning, sales, and management reviews and meetings. Once I finished my MBA I was almost immediately promoted to a Vice President role and moved to Buffalo. I did that for a year, and was given the President role for this company in November of this year. We've recently acquired (5) additional companies here in the Buffalo area, and while it hasn't been promised, I'm in line to run those as well within a year or two.

SO, I think it's safe to say I've been very fortunate to establish a working relationship with top management at this company, and from that have chosen the path that advanced my career, while reasonably protecting my free time. The pay has been great, and reflects the higher amount of responsibility I've taken on.

To follow up on the advice on the original post. I still have looked at total compensation, and total impact to the family. That ethos has continued through all of the decisions to accept new opportunities and challenges. That includes moving the family to Buffalo and significantly change our living circumstances.

What an awesome reply to my question! Thanks!

The one thing that I see missing is the amount of dedication and hard work you put in to your job which made you the valuable asset that the company did not want to part with, and the company put their money where their mouth was and rewarded your hard work, dedication and aptitude in your job.

You also made some sacrifices to move forward in your company by taking the relocation for an even better position within the company.

Fortune favors the bold!

Well done!

 

[2kwik4u]

What an awesome reply to my question! Thanks!

The one thing that I see missing is the amount of dedication and hard work you put in to your job which made you the valuable asset that the company did not want to part with, and the company put their money where their mouth was and rewarded your hard work, dedication and aptitude in your job.

You also made some sacrifices to move forward in your company by taking the relocation for an even better position within the company.

Fortune favors the bold!

Well done!

Appreciate the kind words. I'll admit to the effort expended on my side. I also have to acknowledge that it's not work alone, but a sizeable amount of "right place, right time" that got me here. I know a good number of people that are just as capable and work just as hard as I do, but haven't had the opportunities I have. SO, as much as "Fortune favors the bold", I think I live closer to the "Luck favors the prepared." side of life.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Acknowledged…. And agree that Luck Favors the Prepared, or Luck favors those that have made the effort to learn and work hard. My career is testament to that, I worked very hard and put in way more, I mean wayyyy more, time and effort than my colleagues did which then made me the most prepared candidate for the supervisors job.

I’ll draw an analogy to boating, a successful day on the water starts by not only being prepared for the days activities and being prepared for unplanned things, like having spare sun screen on the boat, you know the stuff that works but isn’t the new boogie stuff, or some basic tools to effect repair of small issues that couldn’t be prepared for, things happen and if we have the tools, knowledge and physical tools, we can salvage a day on the water, and some of those days are the best. Dirt biking is the same way.