changing jobs maybeOK, I really need some advice. I am in an unusual situation. My husband and I both live and work at the same hotel which just opened recently. I do Front Desk and he does Maintenance. Neither one of us is very happy with our jobs or the pay (around minimum wage) (or the location of the hotel) however, the room we currently stay in is free because we work here (needless to say we are both on call 24 hrs a day and never really get any time off even when we have "off days"). The owners of the hotel are VERY cheap and will not allow us to have raises -- even for those employees who do not live here the pay is about what my husband and I make now. We both have extensive experience in our fields of work and could be making much more money and have much more job satisfaction. Our manager is a nice person but is very unfair in how he treats his employees. For example, I have given him several ideas to make the company better which he presented to the owners as his own. The ideas were implemented and are currently being used to save the company money. When I confronted the manager he said that he already had the ideas first - which I know is not true. He takes over at the front desk when I have a customer and corrects me in front of guests when I didn' t make a mistake (he really likes showing how "in control" he is). He constantly calls my husband when he is off work just to ask him really stupid questions like where did you put the hammer (right there at the front desk where he was calling from) -- it' s like he can' t stand when someone else is not working even if it' s their off time. I have been applying on-line to various jobs and have gotten several responses. I just don' t know how to tell my manager without it affecting my husband' s job or our living arrangements. If we have to move we can do that but we will need some time. PLEASE HELP!! Hmm. Interesting situation. First thought is this: Initiative, energy and going the extra mile are fantastic traits. They build careers. They build the economy. That behavior can open doors for you. Unfortunately, some managers are Users. They take but they won' t give. Sometimes, you can work your way toward respect and credibility and appropriate pay. But, often not. You' ve tried in this case. And I think need to accept that this individual isn' t going to change. So, what can you do? Finding a new place to work seems like a smart step. But one, where you walk in with something more. Better pay. An established program for developing people. More structure perhaps, where there is less chance of one individual making things bad. So, I encourage you to step up your search. You will have to deal with the accommodation issue. And that means, I assume, starting a process of figuring out where you could live within your budget. And, I think your husband needs to get his resume in order and starting doing the same. He is better off starting that process rather than waiting to see what happens. (If the current boss is very reliant on his maintenance knowledge and skills, maybe he is secure for the moment.) What are the scenarios? Worst Case: You find a job, and the day you announce it, your current boss terminates your husband (not sure of legality of that), and evicts you. It does sound like a sensitive situation. But if it is bad, then working your way out of it is going to take some planning and guts, and the acceptance of a bit of risk. Tell us what your action steps are and perhaps you will get some more replies. Good for you for sending out resumes and searching for a new position. Our lives are stressful enough without having to deal with people who make it tougher. Even though we meet and have to deal with people we dislike or would rather not associate with everyday, the fact of the matter is that it happens. Until the day comes when we have removed ourselves from that situation or the situation improves on it's own (doubtful) we have to deal with it. But, at least you have been dealing with it and are in the process of removing yourself from it. Now, as far as your living situation. You state that your room is free and so I am going to take that to mean (because this is a hotel) that utilities (water, heat, air, electricity, cable, etc.) are also paid for. Hopefully, that means that the money that you and your husband would have used to pay those essentials was saved and put into the bank or a shoebox. If your next position does not come with a room, you may need some of that savings to pay first and last months rent on an apartment in the event that you are "evicted" from the room that you now have. There are hotels and apartment complexes that have positions of maintenance and front office workers where a rent free apartment is provided. Usually without amenities paid for, but the base pay is more than minimum wage. And, if you don't receive a small one bedroom or studio rent free, you may be able to make an arrangement for a subsidized apartment. What may even be better for you, is if you try for a job that has more responsibility than front desk. Go for a similar position like your manager's position. If possible, your husband may consider the possibility of getting a certification in HVAC repair. Unfortunately, I recognize some things from your post that your manager could use as termination points if either you or your husband get a new position before the other. I am thinking firstly that he could say that your husband consistently misplaces items which makes it difficult for the next shift to do there job without calling him. Also, he could say that he has to keep correcting your errors made in front of customers. Legally, since your employment is "at will", he doesn't even have to give you a reason at all. He could come in one day, be in a particularly bad mood and say to get out. I think it is simple. You have to find another job and another place to live FIRST, then tell your manager that you' re leaving and your last day is 2 weeks from then. You have to expect that your husband may also be laid off unless you' re able to move as a package deal so be prepared that he may end up job hunting as well. OK, the first thing I am doing is sending out resumes and applications on-line. I have received numerous responses - I have replied to the ones I might actually want and I am awaiting phone calls or follow up e-mails (unfortunately I cannot call or send a follow up letter because most of these companies don' t list their contact information). I am also looking in our local newspaper. Unfortunately, my husband and I have not been able to save any money to help us find another place to live because we have had numerous car problems since we have lived here that have taken all our income. The cost of living here is astronomical after Katrina and although we have been looking there aren' t many apartments, etc., that are going to be in our price range until I get at least 2-3 paychecks saved from a higher paying job. A loan is not an option because we wouldn' t be able to guarantee when we could pay it back (not knowing for sure about a job). My manager' s wife is always saying how great my husband is and how they (her and the manager) couldn' t live without him. However, the manager seems to be an emotional person and tends to react quickly to a situation without really thinking about it. I am worried that if he found out (or if I was to tell him) that I am looking for (or have gotten) another job he would react emotionally and immediately say we both have to leave. Also, there are always people coming by the hotel looking for a Maintenance position. Basically, if I don' t do anything to change my situation for the better we will still be here a year from now making the same income, still living in a motel room, and not using all the skills we have to make a better life for ourselves. It is scary for us to make a change but the alternative is worse. | |
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