Yesterday I gave my employer a two week notice of resignation. I have worked there 2 months shy of 15yrs.

__________________
AKA- Da Plummah
CANCER SUCKS!

I always hoped if I won the lottery I would send my boss an email with a link to Johnny Paycheck's "Take this job and shove it" but most of the people running the place are too young to know anything about that song.

__________________
Vaya con Dios

I took the high road in resignation letter and thanked them for my tenure.
My boss appeared to be genuinely happy for me, as I accepted a job working for the state.

__________________
AKA- Da Plummah
CANCER SUCKS!

I think it was in Ma a guy checked his lottery # in the morning paper and he won, he went into work and told them to shove it, then he went to the lottery headquaters to cash in his ticket, guess what, it wasnt a winner, it was a miss print in the paper.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

__________________
Don

Congrats gasaman
I'm glad you have enough control over your career to make that choice. I hope the new job turns out spectacularly. I'm glad you took the high road.

Morgan88

Sounds like he did it backwards!

__________________
You're shy a few manners.

Thank you Morgan88.
I have 35 years experience in my trade.
The job I left was literally at the end of my street, 1.6 miles from driveway to parking lot. It also had a good benefit package but new State job has great benefits.

__________________
AKA- Da Plummah
CANCER SUCKS!

Congratulations gasaman! I have worked for the same fool for almost 25 years. He gets meaner, uglier and more foolish every year. And what’s worse is I have to look at him in the bathroom mirror every morning!

__________________
Possum—The other white meat!

"It also had a good benefit package but new State job has great benefits."

Generally, state or federal jobs have very attractive benefits packages. I left the private sector and entered federal employment almost 18 years ago. Great move for me...

Bayou52

__________________
Bayou52
NRA Life Member

Back in the late 1970s I worked at a place where the unofficial motto seemed to be "Screw all the employees in every possible way every day." That song went through my mind constantly. I didn't stay there long.

It's a scary thing to do if not prepared. I walked out of an over $100K a year job where I had been working for 22 years. No notice or nothing - just couldn't take the bull **** anymore. Chop off my nose to spite my face. It all worked out in the end and found another (better) but less paying job within in a month. It always has a way of working out in the end. Good luck!

Congratulations on your "retirement"?

When I resigned my last real job everyone acted surprised which kinda shocked me. I guess acting surprised it easier than hiding jubilation.

__________________
Isaiah 41:10

So my state taxes now get to pay your salary and benefits?

That's a disturbing thought!

Just kidding! Good luck with your new job!

I work for the same guy-he AIN'T nice at all, don't even think about asking for more money-his wife and kids take it all.

__________________
Forum consigliere

Not to change the topic, but this is why the states are in such trouble, trying to fund all those now coming due pensions. Don't get me wrong, I would loved to have gotten on the train, but didn't. But my wife did Lot to be said about working a lower paid government job for 25 years, vest in a nice pension in your late 40's and then move into the private sector

__________________
Forum consigliere

It's certainly what I should have done. Working in the private sector these days is for fools. All those folks I know who went into the public sector are sitting damn pretty right now while I am struggling to survive on social security and little else. Why didn't someone teach me that when I was younger?

I know a couple in Illinois who both have jobs with the state. For all practical purposes, Illinois is bankrupt. They are in their late forties and somewhat concerned whether or not they will receive their full pensions down the road.

Not to worry, Govt. employees will get bailed out by taxpayers.
Always first in line for the rainbow stew. They aren't the only
state to be in the red on retirement benifits. I don't know about
state level but at county level it is amazing how many people are
double dipping and a few triple dipping on retirements.

That's my goal. My dad did it as well. I don't see anything wrong with getting three pensions after 40 something years of 80 hour weeks. Lots of ways to do it. Local, state or federal government for your main career, retire as soon as possible, be lucky enough to draw right away and still have the same health insurance as when you were working, then maybe to state or county long enough to be vested in second pension (five to seven years for most),and able to draw a little bit more right away, then sell your government skills in the private sector until you get tired of working, throw in a little military retirement at 60, start drawing Social Security at 62, save the private sector 401K for gun and beer money, happy life.

Not everybody is willing or able to do that. If you can, more power to you . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

So how long did you stay with the USPS?

I always said that if I won the lottery the last thing I would do is quit my job. But, I would have gotten fired in a spectacular fashion.

heck ... your probably pushing it with a link to Nine Inch Nails "Head Like A Hole"

__________________
it just needs more voltage

Congratulations gasaman! I tried to "take the high road" once by putting in a two week notice at a company I worked at for 12+ years (1980-1993). So, I walked into the President's office (owners oldest son) and told him. He said, "If you don't want to work here, leave now". I knew that was coming (he was an a-hole and was known for doing that). I already had my toolbox packed so I walked downstairs, grabbed my toolbox, walked out and started my new job the next day. Best career move I ever made.

__________________
'Merica!

I get a 2nd pension, but it's what I saved into my own IRA over and above what my employer set aside for my defined benefit pension. Never rely on only what the employer may give you, it might not be there. I only take out of the IRA what I have t by Fed Law, (after 70.5 age), and the earnings every year make up for the withdrawal so actually the fund continues t grow. If nursing homes don't eat it all up some day there might be somethings left for the kids.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Almost 10 years ago I moved from NJ to Georgia. I have cop and teacher friends in both states. Speaking with each I know why NJ is drowning in debt. The difference in benefits and retirements is as stark as the differences in gun laws. Win-Win on the move to Georgia.

Best wishes in your new job. ��

__________________
Just hanging with my dogs

I had 37 years in with the company I worked for since I graduated from high school. However, my wife had had a serious medical problem and needed full time care. I had no idea what I was going to do. I prayed, and prayed about it.

Then one day at work my supervisor came to me and asked me about a job he'd told me to. I told him I had done it. He snapped back, "It doesn't look like it."

Well, fire flew through me, and I stomped out and did it again. Then I came in, sat down and thought to myself, "They'll pay me half this to stay home."

I called the main office and told them I wanted to retire. The nice man asked when I wanted to start. I replied, "This afternoon at 4:30. I'm never coming back." He laughed and said we could do that. He took some information, and told me to call back the next day to finish it. I asked if I needed to tell anyone. He replied that I didn't have to tell a soul if I didn't want to.

I wrote a note in the log book. "I retired today!", signed it and left with the shift going off. I threw my leg over my motorcycle and hung my head. "Lord. It's in Your hands now. You promised to take care of my needs. I know You didn't say anything about wants."

He's taken care of us everyday since then. I still work a little, but it's a job my wife can be with me. No more worries about caring for her.

I guess I quit with a safety net.

__________________
John 3:16 .

As a former Human Resources Director and later, president of an executive search firm, I would never recommend that someone quit without having already secured a new and better job.

Saying that, I have to admit I did it twice - it felt good, and trusting in the guy upstairs, it all worked out well. Still, it's risky.

And yes, I once worked for real taskmaster - me - and then had to meet a payroll every week. Nothing will give you a greater understanding of the need for doing a great job than that. There was no safety net other than faith at the time.

I'm now happy to be retired and earning a comfortable living using what writing and photographic skills I have developed over the years - on my own terms and on my own time.

I will have to say I never in my life have collected unemployment insurance, nor have I worked for any government entity other than the U.S. Army!

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I do hope your early out was your choice and not for medical reasons. I hope you enjoy a long and healthy time off.

__________________
50 Years of DSOTM

I tried that once and my boss responded "you will loose all your vacation"....

__________________
I am the Majority
How about u

I left a gig paying that kind of scratch too.
I stuck it out until I qualified for a pension check (about 1/3 of my pay) and my medical fully paid, and I gave notice.

I got a new job that only pays half of what I was making, but I like the work environment so much better that it is worth it - especially with the pension check making up for a good part of the reduction in income.

You got me there. That's funny.

Depends on where one works for government. As much I enjoy what I do and the people with whom I work, the benefit packages are so bad that almost anyone with kids who has to get their insurance through work ends up with virtually no take home pay, and some qualify for food stamps, etc. The turnover is staggering, and readily apparent, but the few who perceive it and think it is a problem don't have the pull to overcome the sources of the problem.

__________________
NHI, 10-8.

I've been studying electronics at home. So long to you and your crummy job!

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I had a job that I quit back in 2002 because I felt I was not being adequately compensated but I kept my mouth shut until I had a much better job sewed up. Fast forward to last January. The fellow who took over most of my duties died suddenly, and my old employer didn't provide for cross-training or succession. So after all these years, my old employer calls me to see if I would want to come back to work for them. It was nice to know that I didn't have to come out of retirement after 2 1/2 years and that I could think about taking care of my health instead of going back into the rat race. I guess I remember too many times needing a job so my first inclination is not to burn any bridges.

Congratulations and best wishes to you on your new job.

My goal was to retire on my terms. It was difficult, dealt with a lot of ****, management changes, and ever increasing PC nonsense. After 23 years I did it. The lifetime medical benefits I earned are great.

To paraphrase Davy Crockett, I wanted to (but didn't) say "y'all can go to hell, I'm going to retire.

It's interesting to see how many government pension plans in the US pay out almost immediately on retirement rather than at a set age like 60. I suspect this has much to do with the huge commitments now coming through.

My dad was a civil servant in the UK. You got your pension at 60 whenever you quit unless your were prepared to take it in the shorts once the actuaries were down by taking it early. At least if you waited until 60, the benefit from your leaving date was index linked.

The local media are always riding the state here because of the PERS benefits and how generous they appear to be. I would bet that one of the things that drove that set up was attracting workers to the state. Now, 30-40 years on it is biting us in the butt. Well, tough. The state signed contracts with the beneficiaries, and they must be followed through despite the apparent lack of forethought by former legislators and the state apparatus.

__________________
Release the Kraken

I do mobile service, I'm a field tech.

Had a job in S. F. where I built a service dept. for a distributor. Brought them much good will and they eventually opened two more locations, one in Sacramento and one in Fresno.

I was the only one in the service dept. and handled all emergencies, walk-in's, service contract maintenance and phone in questions for all three locations.

I was paid a low starting wage with promises of bonuses, increased pay and eventually several colleagues to fill the department under me.

Goal posts moved constantly, bickering and in-fighting among the sales staff that I unfortunately had to work with, minimal pay raises, constantly increasing work loads.

I quit and took their customer base with me - the one I developed.

Quadrupled my income the first year, never looked back.

Some folks can work with others daily and digest the politics and personalities, I can not.

Money isn't the only part of a job, satisfying your soul and thereby leading a good life is equally important. Hostile work environments aren't healthy literally.

When I was younger and working on oil drilling rigs I quit several times. Once I was working for a jerk driller, lined up a job on a much better rig, then quit the jerk in the middle of the next shift when he made one of his comments that I knew he would. Next time it was because tool pusher wouldn't promote me to driller. He could get all the bronc (new) drillers he wanted, good Derrick hands were hard to find. Quit went to work on a junk pile rig. Was a driller in 3 weeks. Year later, tired of junk equipment, quit went to work as a derrick hand in a Cadillac rig with camp. Month latter I was drilling in a nice new rig and got fed good and had a nice room in a camp. Then OPEC fell apart and I had to find another career. When I worked my way in at refineries I quit several jobs before I made it to a great position at a plant that treated me great VC Even after retirement I go back there every year or so and work a short term job. Last time they had me hang out doing basically nothing for 2 weeks after I accomplished my task. Told to take it easy you have earned it.

Sometimes quitting us a good plan. But, depends on the job market

I think I was working as a roughneck in the Evanston Overthrust during that same boom you're talking about (winding down in 1981-1982). I got into it at the very tail end so it didn't last long enough for me to move up above chain hand. When they started stacking 'em out I got out of Dodge and changed industries.

Well, they do have a set age, it’s just lower, and it’s not all. Federal LE is at age 50 with 20 years, or any age with 25. Teachers in Missouri can go at age 55. State and local LE in MO can go at 80 (years plus age). Best part about the Federal LE is that you can also immediately tap your TSP (think 401K) for equal monthly payments before 59 1/2. And you keep your health insurance at the employee rate . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I have been working for the USAF for 34 years now (5 active duty, the rest as a civilian). I like my job. I like my bosses. I like the people I work with. If I won the lottery, I would probably quit, but I would stay long enough to train my replacement and there would be no hard feelings when I left.

I guess things are different in the UK? I don't know about the individual states, but the federal government used to have a mandatory retirement age; that's gone now and you can work as long as you like. They do have a minimum retirement eligibility age (MRA). If you were born after 1970, it's 57.

However, you can take a deferred retirement. In other words, I can stop working whenever I want and they will hold my retirement benefits until my MRA or later if I want. I can also roll it over into another retirement package with another company if I want. Not many do this, but it does happen. At age 72 you have to take a distribution from your retirement.


I hope to retire at 58. It depends on how I feel at that time.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

State job is good. Life is to short to be unhappy at work 8 hours a day.

Is your new job in Ma. or NH, you have both states listed in your profile.

If you go in a nursing home they can and will take/attach anything you have going back 5 years. Smartly we moved all of Mom's estate to us children in 2000.(except her cash) With her still having a life estate to the property. When she went into the nursing home they charged me(her executor) almost $7000/month till it was down to under $2000.00. Then we could apply for Medicad. Something to think about when long range planning........Hell to get old!

__________________
S&W Accumulator

It is in Massachusetts, I've gotten offers to work in NH either the money was too low or benefits sucked or both.

__________________
AKA- Da Plummah
CANCER SUCKS!

I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 20+ years, living first in Manhattan then in NJ. I was initially hired as a drug rep where the company paid for me to pick up my MBA from Rutgers at night, then I moved first into finance and then into marketing. I was making a very good money. In 2010 my wife was offered a very good job in Atlanta. A chance to get our children out of the broken state of New Jersey. For a couple of years I was able to continue to work remotely for my company. Then slowly the work went away. At 50+ looking for an executive job in the pharmaceutical industry in Atlanta was fruitless. I sunk into a severe depression. I was one of those people who dropped out of the workforce. I couldn’t even get a job at the local doggie day care, and I have 3 dogs. No one would hire me. About 18 months ago I was hired at Lowes. It was an 80% paycut from NJ, but it got me off the life sucking couch of depression. I love it there. They love me. Even without adjusting for inflation I haven’t made this little since my last college Summer job, in 1984. I knew nothing about DIY, but have picked up a lot. I get far more satisfaction helping someone solve a problem with their home then I ever did creating promotional materials for pharmaceuticals.

My wife is very well compensated. It’s emasculating, but my wife is 100% supportive. I am back on my feet and with our daughter starting her Freshman Year at Auburn and I plan to find a job that pays better.
10 years ago if you told me that I would be working in the Tool Department at a Lowes in Atlanta and our Daughter would be going to college in Alabama I would have been dumbstruck.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

__________________
Just hanging with my dogs

^^^^ Good story. And your last line is spot on!

Bayou52

__________________
Bayou52
NRA Life Member

I actually worked in the 33 years in the paint manufacturing business for some pretty darn good folks. I started as a broom pusher, to a sales rep (#1 rep 8 out of 15 years) and made it to a district manager. It wasn't the owners that got to me it was the employees I was in charge of. It was like having 37 children, 2 of my own is hard enough. I retired a month after my 62th birthday, with a bunch of profit sharing money. What's funny is a month after retirement one of my old store managers asked me to work at her store part time for some pretty good money so I'm back pushing a broom 12 hours a week with no responsibilities. Makes for good gas money to feed my new truck.

The guy that got my job is going nuts, he calls me for advice at least once a week. The company's sales manager tells me, "you sure got out at the right time," every time he sees me.

__________________
LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE