Tough job choice: Walk or stay?

[Viper GTS]

So my g/f has been put in a bit of an awkward situation. She's currently the HR manager of a very small, struggling company that is about to get even smaller (more layoffs).

She's been given the choice of:

Walking with severance thus saving her one direct report's job + one person in another department

OR

Staying and taking over the roles currently done by her one direct report. She would effectively be an admin, since there won't be anyone left around to need HR related stuff done.

By my math she would breakeven financially in about 10 weeks (severance cash divided by difference in income on unemployment vs current salary), not counting for elimination/reduction of commute related expenses (to allow for job hunting). After that she would be at a slight financial disadvantage vs maintaining her current salary, but unemployment would still cover about 150% of her bills so she wouldn't have to touch her savings at all.

She's been relatively unhappy at her job for some time, and has already been job hunting. It is quite stressful for her to stay there, but being unemployed would also be stressful for her (she thinks it would hurt her job hunting chances). In addition she is feeling guilty about having to make the choice between her job and two other jobs so that has some value too.

To further complicate matters I am expecting an offer from a company across the country so I'll probably be leaving the area in the near future. The plan has been for her to follow at some point, probably 6 months at least.

Suggestions from the old and wise? She has to make a decision ASAP because it's either she walks today or they're gone today.

Viper GTS

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

1) company is very unstable
2) she is unhappy there

why is this even a question? I guarantee the next round of layoffs will be her and I bet she won't get any severance at that point.

 

[LikeLinus]

1. Take the job with both roles
2. RUN - find another job as quickly as possible.

I'd rather be "currently" employeed while looking for another job.

 

[jammur21]

Seems easy from my perspective - struggling company, unhappy, increased workload, you're moving away

Walk today, take the severance cash, make the move with you

Usually these things go the other way, where the one who will make the move later on is offered a promotion/raise/better offer and the couple breaks up.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
1. Take the job with both roles
2. RUN - find another job as quickly as possible.

I'd rather be "currently" employeed while looking for another job.

that is a valid point...but if she leaves on her own, no $$$

 

[Viper GTS]

She's a girl, stability is key for her & the possibility of being unemployed scares her.

Viper GTS

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
1. Take the job with both roles
2. RUN - find another job as quickly as possible.

I'd rather be "currently" employeed while looking for another job.

that is a valid point...but if she leaves on her own, no $$$

Exactly, she'd be leaving nearly a month's pay on the table if she found a job next week.

Viper GTS

 

[BigJ]

Is she going to burn bridges if she takes the job and leaves down the road?

If so, I'd take the severance (since you said she's going to break even, right?) and look for a position, hopefully starting after the 10 weeks are up.

A very good reference can be worth a lot more money than what she'd be losing even if she found a job before the break-even point.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
1. Take the job with both roles
2. RUN - find another job as quickly as possible.

I'd rather be "currently" employeed while looking for another job.

that is a valid point...but if she leaves on her own, no $$$

Exactly, she'd be leaving nearly a month's pay on the table if she found a job next week.

Viper GTS

II understand, but lets be honest here, how many people hire in one week? first you have to go through a Background check, interviews, follow up interviews in most cases and then they give you an offer letter and then you start!

It generally takes several weeks. They also interview other candidates.

Would she have the opportunity to have a severance through the next round of layoffs? Or would that be "close shop" time.

Either way, she ends up getting unemployment in the end.

If she's so unhappy that it makes her miserable, walk away. I just think it's better for companies to see you as a current employee than someone who was laid off from a still open company. It could mean you were not a valuable asset? I could be wrong though.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Is she going to burn bridges if she takes the job and leaves down the road?

If so, I'd take the severance (since you said she's going to break even, right?) and look for a position, hopefully starting after the 10 weeks are up.

A very good reference can be worth a lot more money than what she'd be losing even if she found a job before the break-even point.

No it shouldn't burn any bridges to leave. They basically offered her the chance to save two jobs by leaving. A good reference shouldn't be a problem.

As long as she finds a job paying equal or better within 10 weeks she would end up profiting, after that she would be at a slight loss.

Viper GTS

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: BigJ
Is she going to burn bridges if she takes the job and leaves down the road?

If so, I'd take the severance (since you said she's going to break even, right?) and look for a position, hopefully starting after the 10 weeks are up.

A very good reference can be worth a lot more money than what she'd be losing even if she found a job before the break-even point.

No it shouldn't burn any bridges to leave. They basically offered her the chance to save two jobs by leaving. A good reference shouldn't be a problem.

As long as she finds a job paying equal or better within 10 weeks she would end up profiting, after that she would be at a slight loss.

Viper GTS

Then the key is the job market in your area for her position. Has she been looking at what is available and how often there are positions posted? I'd research that first....but of course she doesn't have that sort of time at this point!

 

[EagleKeeper]

The key is, what is the job market for her skills where she presently is and where you possibly wish to go.

Remember Unemployment comp is no more than usually 50% of the salary, and gets less as you make more $$. If she takes the severance; the unemployment will not kick in until the severance payoff time frame is exhausted.

Unemployment is also taxable in the end.

If she feels that she can find a position locally within a month, then she should take it.

However, once she does; she may not be so willing to follow her main squeeze to another locationi.

And it will be stressful for her being unemployede when you are not around for moral support.

 

[crystal]

Unemploy insurance is what? 6 months
Since she will be moving in 6 months anyway, she should walk and start looking for jobs where she plans to move to.

 

[vi edit]

Take the severance and a reference(if offered) and run. 10 weeks is a pretty decent padding to gain employment again.

The next time the offer comes around, it may not be as generous.

 

[kranky]

I would say stay, since you said she is not comfortable with being unemployed. The peace of mind is well worth the iffy extra money.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Take the severance and a reference(if offered) and run. 10 weeks is a pretty decent padding to gain employment again.

The next time the offer comes around, it may not be as generous.

 

[Fern]

Hmmm.... The decision time frame is extremely short. I think she should choose the option that first occurred to her upon hearing the news. Sorta like when taking a test and your unsure of the answer, stick with your first impression.

There's too little time to mull this over properly.

As far as getting a job being easier if you have one - she won't Have an HR job, rather an admin position. Is this a "demotion" of sorts? If so, I'd split now for sure.

Hope it all works out for you guys,

Fern

 

[Viper GTS]

Timeframe was extremely short, she's almost certainly had to make the call by now.

I don't know yet what her choice is/was.

My gut says she'll probably stay even though my vote is firmly in the "walk" column. She's not much for risk taking.

Viper GTS

 

[Slew Foot]

Take the severance. Shell probably get laid off in the near future anyway, and if she has to move soon, why is there a question?

 

[ITJunkie]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The key is, what is the job market for her skills where she presently is and where you possibly wish to go.

Remember Unemployment comp is no more than usually 50% of the salary, and gets less as you make more $$. If she takes the severance; the unemployment will not kick in until the severance payoff time frame is exhausted.

Unemployment is also taxable in the end.

If she feels that she can find a position locally within a month, then she should take it.

However, once she does; she may not be so willing to follow her main squeeze to another locationi.

And it will be stressful for her being unemployede when you are not around for moral support.

Unless the unemployment rules have changed since 01-02, the above (bolded text) is false. Or at least it is in my state (WA). I was given six months severence from my last job and was able to collect unemployment too, without penalty. I specifically asked my case worker about this prior to filing and was told that my severence package would have no bearing on my benefits.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: ITJunkie

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The key is, what is the job market for her skills where she presently is and where you possibly wish to go.

Remember Unemployment comp is no more than usually 50% of the salary, and gets less as you make more $$. If she takes the severance; the unemployment will not kick in until the severance payoff time frame is exhausted.

Unemployment is also taxable in the end.

If she feels that she can find a position locally within a month, then she should take it.

However, once she does; she may not be so willing to follow her main squeeze to another locationi.

And it will be stressful for her being unemployede when you are not around for moral support.

Unless the unemployment rules have changed since 01-02, the above (bolded text) is false. Or at least it is in my state (WA). I was given six months severence from my last job and was able to collect unemployment too, without penalty. I specifically asked my case worker about this prior to filing and was told that my severence package would have no bearing on my benefits.

This would depend on how the severance is worded and the state.

 

[ITJunkie]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: ITJunkie

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The key is, what is the job market for her skills where she presently is and where you possibly wish to go.

Remember Unemployment comp is no more than usually 50% of the salary, and gets less as you make more $$. If she takes the severance; the unemployment will not kick in until the severance payoff time frame is exhausted.

Unemployment is also taxable in the end.

If she feels that she can find a position locally within a month, then she should take it.

However, once she does; she may not be so willing to follow her main squeeze to another locationi.

And it will be stressful for her being unemployede when you are not around for moral support.

Unless the unemployment rules have changed since 01-02, the above (bolded text) is false. Or at least it is in my state (WA). I was given six months severence from my last job and was able to collect unemployment too, without penalty. I specifically asked my case worker about this prior to filing and was told that my severence package would have no bearing on my benefits.

This would depend on how the severance is worded and the state.

Agreed. As I said, this is in Wa state.

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd stay until she (or you) have something 10)% for sure lined up and ready to go. Nothing worse than losing a job because something is around the corner only to find out that it falls through.

 

[rgwalt]

I would take the severence and unemployment (if available). If she stays on she will increase her current workload by taking over someone else's job. Also, there is no guarantee that the company won't lay her off within 10 weeks, and thus offer her no severence. Plus, once she is unemployed she can devote 100% of her time to searching for jobs, and she can focus on the area of the country that you are moving to.

Looking for a job is a full time job. You've got to get up in the morning and set daily goals for searching websites like Monster and HotJobs, sending e-mails, sending postal letters, etc. It is hard to do in the evenings after you've been at work all day, and it will only get worse if she stays and takes on more responsibilities.

As far as her collegues, I admire her concern for them, but ultimately she should look after herself first and them second. However, I think she would be better served devoting the next 10 weeks to hunting for jobs, and possibly making the move cross country with you when that happens. It is easier to search for jobs locally.

R