Just when I thought I was out…
Why can’t life be straightforward? Why can’t it be what I perceive it to be – a gently upward sloping line?
I swear that this isn’t turning into a blog about my jobs. But I feel as if I’ve dragged a lot of you along with me on this melodramatic trip up and down my personal career ladder and if you’ve come along this far, you may as well stay to the end. If your tired of it, then go with god. Have a good weekend.
I’m tired of it. I thought it was over. Bad job quit. Done. Move onwards and upwards. But there is that niggling detail of the four weeks notice period (turns out it’s actually two weeks).
I walked into work today, for the first time since my resignation, just cold dreading the day. That dread got worse when I found out that I had a meeting with the CEO. I assumed that he was angry about the things I said in my resignation letter and wanted to give me an earful.
It started out that way and I stood up to him because I just don’t care. I tried to explain exactly what my problems were with the company, with management, why I had felt that I had no choice but to quit. I got to say my piece. I let him say his. Somewhere along the line, however, the tone conversation changed.
I realized that he wanted me to stay. I don’t really know why. The meeting ended with him suggesting that maybe I could stay on with hours of my choosing and some of my concerns sorted. He suggested that maybe I could stay on as a type of independent contractor. But above all, he made it clear that he values me as an employee and wants me to stay with the company.
Damn it.
I left him with the assurance that I would think about it over the weekend. And I will. I don’t really want to work for them in the way that I was. I don’t really want to work for them at all. I had come to terms with leaving that job behind and, as you may have read in my last post, was feeling good.
But stay on in a freelance capacity? As an independent contractor? I don’t know.
Why can’t life be easy?
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All of these things kind of cease to matter when I get home and it’s time to dance with Boy Z. You really can dance your cares away – a good song for doing so is this one by Page & Plant. The cover of “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It” comes from “Good Rockin’ Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records” the 2001 tribute to Sam Phillips’s legendary Memphis label featuring all manner of rock and roll greats. Buy the album from Amazon
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by Monty
15 May 2009 at 22:00
At last count, approximately 3 million people in the UK will give their respective arms and legs to be in your place.
Do it. Just to see if they really mean it. What greater job satisfaction can you have than in knowing you were the catalyst for improvement?
by Will
15 May 2009 at 22:14
Independent contractor, work the hours you wish, and with your concerns worked out (or at least on the table) – not bad at all.
You now have “hand” – a valuable commodity. You have shown them that you can take the job or leave it, and that you won’t tolerate their bullshit, lack of professionalism, etc. The fact that they have asked you to stay on, and more or less according to the terms that suit you best, indicates that they took your resignation seriously. They do not see it as an idle threat or something that was done just for show.
So, in my opinion (for what its worth) you should give it a shot, but let them know that if they are full of it, you will happily walk away like you had intended to do in the first place.
Best of luck and enjoy the weekend.
by headbang8
15 May 2009 at 22:39
I can’t wait to hear Dr. O’C on all this.
Doesn’t this sound more like a dysfunctional family every minute? He really wants you to stay, so he starts out by giving you “an earful”. I hate you, I love you, go away, don’t leave me, we can make it work…it’s a bad romance novel.
What do kids do if they want to sane in a dysfunctional family?
Detatch with love–not hate. Resolve that the job ain’t going to be emotionally fulfilling, and lower your expectations of it.
Do what you must, in order to get your needs met.
Avoid becoming the parent, or remaining the child.
Quietly look around for something else.
Just my two cents.
headbang8s last blog post..They couldn’t see it coming
by JChevais
15 May 2009 at 22:40
I think the first thing I would do, would be finding out about income tax implications as a freelancer.
Money-wise, is it worth it or would you be finding yourself facing a hell of a lot more problems because you would be doing your own billing, working out your own social contributions and your old company would be paying your bills, rather than paying you a salary and dealing with the tax stuff they would have to deal with in terms of their salaried employees. Try and track down your current employer’s freelance guidelines to see what they pay and what they don’t and what they hassle their freelancers with and whether or not they pay on time.
Sorry to be a gloomy guss, but you may be playing right into their hands…
by The Unbearable Banishment
15 May 2009 at 22:45
I don’t want to be a gloomy gus but my experience is that the atmosphere in places like that rarely change. Once poisoned, always poisoned. By all means, go back if you want, but you should expect more of the same. Sorry.
The Unbearable Banishments last blog post..a horrible decision to make
by admin
15 May 2009 at 23:09
I don’t actually expect much in the way of change from them, but if working as a freelancer or independent contractor means extra money with minimal headache, I’m down with that. But as some of you gloomy gusses point out there may be a different set of headaches!
by Jacob
15 May 2009 at 23:42
Haven’t you stood up to these guys before and they actually folded? Apparently, they want you the most when you act like you’re too good for them.
If you keep the job, or some version of it, you should probably be more proactive about sticking up for yourself. It seems like maybe they respect that and will take advantage of you if you let them.
I would suck at that job because I just want to do my piece and go home, but I don’t know you well enough to know if you’d be better than me at sticking up for myself until I’ve built up so much bile that it spills out at a slightly less than intelligent manner.
Jacobs last blog post..What you did? What you said?
by Jud
16 May 2009 at 00:05
The atmosphere may not change, but if you can work remotely with minimal distractions and frustrations from them, then bank the money while you can.
Nappies are expensive. Beer gets more expensive every year as well, and Dr O’C will need a vacation soon.
Save your pennies. Itunes needs them, too.
Juds last blog post..Day Dreams and the Late Afternoon
by admin
16 May 2009 at 00:12
Oh, and Headbang her response is basically do what you think is best.
by tysdaddy
16 May 2009 at 00:28
I wonder . . . most of your problems, if I’ve been reading correctly, have been with the one particular manager, the one who you mentioned in your last post. And I’m assuming this guy you talked to about your job is NOT the same person. Is there a way to make sure that you report to the ones who understand you and your position with the most professionalism? I’d make it clear that you will continue to work for them only if you answer to the people in management who respect you and your contributions.
Does that make sense? Or am I way off track . . .
tysdaddys last blog post..Golly
by courtney
16 May 2009 at 00:31
I agree with your other commenters — this could be a good thing. Try it out, bank some cash from them, and if things don’t change for the better, quit for good. They know you’re not going to take their bullshit now, so maybe it will be better. Good luck.
courtneys last blog post..Bullet Points are Lazy
by we_be_toys
16 May 2009 at 00:56
I had a feeling that once you told them to shove it, they were going to want to re-negotiate. See, they’re squeaky wheel kind of people – they think you’re playing hardball, trying to jockey for power, not actually wanting to perform a job exorcism.
So what do you do? What you feel you must, obviously, but if you feel torn about leaving what could be a springboard job to other, better jobs in the field, then you put them on probabtion. Tell them what you want, how you want it, and if they can’t toe your line, hasta la vista, baby.
Or just give them the finger on the last day of your two weeks notice – your call.
(And who doesn’t love read about a job drama? I think it’s television persona is called “The Office”, and just like cowbell, I can’t get enough of it!)
we_be_toyss last blog post..Emo Ranting (And now I’m going to go sulk in my room)
by we_be_toys
16 May 2009 at 00:59
Oh yeah, and in a serendipitous aside, I’ve been planning a Civil War battlefield trip for in the fall, so it’s funny you would say “Gettysburg” to me. Cyclical brains on hamster wheels think alike, I guess!
we_be_toyss last blog post..Emo Ranting (And now I’m going to go sulk in my room)
by Southern (in)Sanity
16 May 2009 at 01:59
Being an “independent contractor” doesn’t sound bad. I would make sure that the details were in writing – hours, working from home, etc.
And I would like the right for me to terminate it on my terms – without two or four weeks’ notice.
by Jamie
16 May 2009 at 02:24
Ha-ha. I should have posted this to a comment earlier, but I did actually think to myself that this scenario was likely. Ask for the moon, of course.
by Gwen Jackson
16 May 2009 at 02:27
I know everybody is saying “go for it.” And maybe they’re right. I’m just feeling like why did you have to quit in order to get shown a little respect? Why do you need to make an ultimatum for them to tell you that you’re valuable?
Gwen Jacksons last blog post..A Twig for Tears
by rassles
16 May 2009 at 02:44
Don’t fall for it. It’s a management-power tactic, I guaranfuckingtee it.
rassless last blog post..The Heart Wants What It Wants
by chris
16 May 2009 at 05:38
Do what you want but whatever you do, I would take it as a giant compliment, dysfuctional management or not. Clearly, you do good work and are valuable. Yes, it would have been nice if they could have ponied up the normal job satisfaction stuff before you quit but a lot of people or organizations will only do as much as you require of them. I like webetoys idea of putting them on probation. If they make good or you at least minimize you exposure to the craptastic stuff great, if they don’t you move on. Oh, and tell them you’ll do it, but you want a pony. A pony has to be part of the deal.
chriss last blog post..Daddy Done Good
by NATUI
16 May 2009 at 10:56
Do what you feel for, and whether it rains shit or sunshine we’ll be along for the read.
NATUIs last blog post..They Call Me the Working Man
by heather
16 May 2009 at 12:36
Ouch. Be careful. Dr. Faustus and all. Will it harm you to stay? I was burned out by making a similar choice.
heathers last blog post..The Post in which I Write the Words that have been Waiting
by arizaphale
16 May 2009 at 13:26
Good to see they’re keeping you on your toes AFM. Like others, I think I could have predicted this scenario. Sucks to be popular eh?
arizaphales last blog post..SOOC Saturday: The Kiss
by maggie, dammit
17 May 2009 at 00:48
I knew what I was gonna say until I read the comments before mine, then I changed my mind (again and again abd again.)
I don’t know.
I guess… think of every possible scenario, especially the worst-case ones, and then decide if it’s worth it.
by Prefers Her Fantasy Life
17 May 2009 at 05:59
As a freelancer or independent contractor, you can write off you home office and even travel. It’s something to think about.
Prefers Her Fantasy Lifes last blog post..Why Pens, Prom Dresses and San Francisco
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by Gypsy
17 May 2009 at 12:01
Hmm… Something to think about, at least. It’s kind of nice he still wants you to hang around and values you.
by Jill/Twipply Skwood
17 May 2009 at 13:03
Yeah I don’t envy you that decision. I hope you’re managing a nice weekend anyway.
Jill/Twipply Skwoods last blog post..My Lips Are Sunburned
by The Right Blue
17 May 2009 at 13:38
Having spent most of my working life as an independent contractor/freelancer, I can tell you that it does give you a certain amount of independence and flexibility — but usually in exchange for a certain lack of security. If you decide to go ahead, you will need to nail down the terms. Will you have a real contract/work agreement? And if so, will it be per project, or for a certain period of time, or..?
Mostly, I’d say to follow your heart – your gut feeling about the situation. And as one of my old mentors used to chant whenever I was tussling with some decision, “If you hesitate, the answer is ‘no’.”
Good luck to you. I can hardly wait to read about the resolution to this cliff-hanger!
The Right Blues last blog post..Big News: The Right Blue Joins FBI Bloggers (no, really!)
by Xbox4NappyRash
18 May 2009 at 06:17
It’s almost amusing.
Why not give it a shot? if it sucks again, (I feel like a fraud using the word sucks, I’d never uttered it before I’d read a blog), anyway, if it sucks again, you can quit , again.
That’s what I’d do.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Achtung no baby
by admin
18 May 2009 at 13:18
Monty – I know, I shouldn’t be complaining about a wealth of choice.
Will – After a weekend thinking about it, that’s what I’ve come up with – if they’re willing to make me a decent offer as an independent contractor, then we’ve got a deal. Otherwise, I’m standing by the choice I made.
Headbang – I know you’re fond of the analogy and you’re probably right. But ultimately, if I can continue to get the extra money with a minimum of contact and supervision, then I’ll take it.
JChev – I know, we’ll have to work all that out. I don’t know how it would change my tax status.
TUB – I don’t think it will change either. That’s why I won’t come back as a regular employee.
Jacob – That’s exactly what I want out of a job – do my piece, clock out and forget about it.
Jud – Exactly.
by Joe
20 May 2009 at 07:32
Oh… this is interesting… (by the way, I’m loving your blog more and more every time I read a new post)…. I can’t wait to read the next chapter.
Joes last blog post..Wordless Wednesday v. Bubbles
by admin
22 May 2009 at 16:30
Joe – hopefully there are no more chapters. We’re in the final stages of working out ‘casual’ employment. I work from home, they pay me for the work done.