I hope to be self employed by the end of this year. (rant)

[Wcross]

Can't take it at my job of 16yrs despite the good benefits. They have shifted attitude from the role of employer to "owner of employees". They told me I HAD to do a "community service" project without pay at their discretion. Anything I did on my own did not qualify. (I called the labor department and they have since dropped this requirement) They are demanding I give up an off day every quarter for "training" classes of dubious value. They have told me I have to submit to yearly "Hair" drug tests despite the fact I operate no equipment or handle any money. They have developed the habit of firing people who are injured on the job regardless of the circumstances. They have started making decisions without considering the impact it has on an employees personal life. My hours were changed, my seniority for vacations has vanished. They have developed a habit of firing staff people (I am staff) on accusations of safety violations. I don't feel like putting up with them anymore.

I think I have found the perfect opportunity for my skills. I won't go into details until I can prove it works. Life is too short to live like I am living now. There is no way I can continue on with this company.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Good luck to you.

There are few more satisfying feelings in life than those you experience upon ditching a sucky job.

[Wcross]

4. Thanks...

It really didn't start to get weird until about two years ago. They just started piling the crap on TOP of the work they wanted us to do. We have already started losing staff people and it seems like the only ones not planning on leaving are the ones close to retirement or unmotivated.

[idgiehkt]

2. Congratulations!!

I admire you for doing that. I think I am heading that way very soon. I am trying to piece together a few businesses, enough to make a living wage (which is low for me because I'm extremely frugal) and not have to deal with coworkers. All the things you have listed are very much a trend for these businesses, they owe nothing to the worker any more thanks to competition from China. We are screwn. I'll tell you what I do, I clean buildings, and to tell you the truth it's one of the most favorite jobs I've ever had. Right now I am working for someone else but I hope to have my own business someday, I'll probably have employment at home in another field before the end of the year too. I work by myself, it's physical labor, and I am up moving around the whole time. I can come and go as I please, I don't even have to report to my employer but everyonce in a while. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. The 'hair' testing for drugs is just really, really strange, i think. One of my last factory jobs, the two best employees they had there were pumped up on speed all the time. :rofl:. And if meth disappeared tomorrow probably half the factories in America would be shut down. I do believe it is getting closer to ownership than anything else, and it's really sad. My problem is I have always worked my ass off at every job, because my work ethic is really strong, but I can't navigate the politics...and that is what it is all about, it has nothing to do with performance or how hard you work.
Best of luck to you.

[Wcross]

6. I am pretty frugal myself.

A lot of my co-workers piled on the debt and are now stuck. When I bought my home I paid less than one years salary for it and had a 50% down-payment. It needed a lot of work and although its small it does sit on 15 acres. I should have it paid for by the end of the year. I did buy a new vehicle 4 years ago but I bought the "base" model, only option was air conditioning.
Like you, I hate the politics of the workplace. I am a very easy going guy, as a matter of fact one woman said I was "mild mannered" whatever that means. I do work with people that have "issues" though. I don't like that kind of environment.

I encourage you to give it a shot idgiehkt, if I can replace 2/3rds of my current income working on my own I will consider it feasible to leave.

[idgiehkt]

8. man you are so right about "issues"

That is such a problem. We are taught the golden rule growing up, but we are not taught how to deal with people with diseased, pathological personalities, which is about 85% of the workplace I think. That includes people who are 'nice', yet cunning and manipulative and engineering things behind the scenes. If you are a relatively decent moral person in the workplace most of the time you will be eaten alive by the pirahna/barracuda/candiru that lurk around you. At almost 40, I'm really tired of it. My brain is just not sophisticated enough to handle it, I'm outclassed and I know it. Kudos to you for your very wise choices. The car thing; you have to have a good one or you are stuck. I've been lucky enough to have bought two good ones that have lasted 9 and 8 years (so far) so I've been lucky. You did great with your house. I am waiting on the house thing because I have some stuff on my credit through little fault of my own that I am waiting to age off. I have a decent FICO score but I want that crap off before I even think about buying, which I probably won't be ready to do for four or five years, anyway. As long as I don't acrue any more debt through some unforseen event (knock on wood) I will be okay.

edit: you are so right about people piling on debt. I saw it over and over and over at the places I worked. Buy the most expensive vehicle they can afford, and the most expensive house, and the biggest television, and all that crap. It's tragic, really. I think the 'being trapped' feeling is why so many of them are such nasty, vicious people sometimes. (probably why they 'go postal' with regular frequency too).

[Wcross]

13. LOL- Pile on the debt!

A guy I work with just bought a Bass boat that cost as much as my house! He also lives in a 300k house. All on a 50k/yr +\- yearly income. There is NO WAY he is going anywhere.
I have a way to deal with the games people play. 1) I never say anything negative about anyone at work. (I may think it, I never verbalize it) 2) When a co-worker starts putting someone down, I turn and walk away without a word. 3) I have made it known I have no desire to go any higher in the company. 4) I have identified the really sick people and avoid any contact with them.

[idgiehkt]

19. that is really good policy, I'm pasting it into a folder

sometimes, though, with women (I've haven't experienced this with men but never say never), if you don't participate in the gossip they don't trust you, think you are a mole, and seek to root you out and make your life miserable. The games women play can sometimes be like the eighteenth level of hell as far as politics goes; you have to pretend to be loyal and on their side without appearing to be on the opposing side or 'against' anyone that might have actual power to do you harm. I'm whupped, I'm outclassed, I'm beat...I just can't do it. I don't have the skills and if I don't have them now I never will. Plus, if you are attractive as a female (I'm not saying it's not true for men, just saying I've only experienced it as a female) sometimes they are out to get you for that reason and no other. Hell, I've even seen that kind of catty behavior here at DU, of all places. It's just too damn stressful for me. My last boss that I worked for had major issues with my tendency to be a self-starter, she wanted me to sit around and wait for her exact instructions and not take initiative. If I did anything on my own, I got on her bad side, yet whenI sat around and waited for her permission and explicit instructions on what to do, she badmouthed me to the entire office and talked about how 'lazy' I was, to the point where people who didn't even work in the office would make smart remarks about it when they were around. It was maddening. I was her assistant, but when I work I really like to stay as busy as possible. But with her I couldn't win for losing.

[Wcross]

27. I forgot #5- I am not at work to make friends, just money.

I can't imagine how hard/different it is for a woman in the workplace. With a boss, I always confront them if they have issues with anything I have done. I had one who always seemed to misunderstand the situation. It took a couple of times but he knew to ask me before he started accusing me of wrong doing.

[idgiehkt]

30. good rule there too

I just have given up. If I confront or stand up for myself I'm a bitch and if I don't I get taken advantage of. It's just better for me to work alone. Good for you for standing up for yourself. Life is too short, and these kinds of struggles with co-workers tend to pretty much depress my whole life.

[Wcross]

32. Whats wrong with being a bitch?

This is my "bitch" Angel. She is the sweetest girl unless one of her pups pisses her off, then it becomes apparent where the term "bitch" comes from. If I were a woman and someone called me a bitch I would take it as a compliment.

idgiehkt, you sound like a real nice person. I will give you one last piece of advice. "It" REALLY is about you. I know that sounds selfish but if you think about it, is there anyone else MORE important to you than YOU? (in a work environment) Just get in the habit of saying, "why yes, as a matter of fact it IS all about me".

[Gormy Cuss]

10. You sound like you are in a good position to strike out on your own.

I did it without any guarantee of developing my own clients. First year was a little rocky but because I had no debt and savings it was only a rough ride, not a potential disaster. Ended up working on my own for six years. Years 3-6 I netted twice the income of my previous job. The next job I had was for a client. I knew them, I knew the work environment, and it was the easy to accept their job offer.

[EnviroBat]

3. Good for you. I would never work for such oppressive ass-hats.

Good luck in your endeavors, I've been considering a similar change of life myself.

[Wcross]

7. I got the little "push" I needed.

That's all I can say nice about my employer. It wasn't like this until recently, I suspect it has something to do with the decline of manufacturing in America. It seems to give employers who are still here an attitude. It seems like they feel I am "lucky" to have a job and they can do whatever they want because I wouldn't want to lose the job.

[InvisibleTouch]

5. I wholeheartedly recommend self-employment.

I've done the retail thing, I've done the office worker thing, I've done the teacher thing, and numerous other things - but eventually I found that I just can't live in other people's worlds, according to other people's constraints and expectations. I have to create my own world and live therein. Been doing it for several years now. Like any occupation, it has its ups and downs, its good and bad points - but I wouldn't trade it for the world. For instance, I was making online sales last night (warm-mist humidifiers) an hour before midnight on New Year's Eve, and again this morning, New Year's Day, when all the shops are closed - from the comfort of my own home, in my frumpy clothes. Can't beat that!

Make the break, take the leap, and good luck to you.

[Wcross]

11. Thanks.

I would hate to have never tried and resign myself to a life of miserable employment. I'm in a position now that if I fail life will go on without THAT job. I would hate to have that question unanswered on my death bed- could I have done better in life?

[itsmesgd]

9. self employment is great, but if the boss is an ass, you can only blame yourself

Seriously, the only negative is that business is always on your mind. You cannot get away from your boss, and if the biz is having problems, guess what you are having problems.
Other Pros: no drug testing, no dress code...

[Wcross]

14. We have to wear "safety glasses".

I can't count how many times I have been banged up because of the lack of peripheral vision.

[auntAgonist]

12. Best wishes Wcross

I wish you much success and satisfaction as you pursue self employment!
You deserve the best.

aA
:hi:

[Wcross]

15. Thanks auntAgonist! n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. Good luck!

:hi:

[Kat45]

17. what will you do about health insurance?

It definitely sounds like you need to leave that job, and if you can do it, that's great. I've always found health insurance to be the sticking point when I've thought about making a move. Another reason we need universal health care.

[Wcross]

18. I am planning on a policy with a very high deductible.

I have gotten quotes of between 103.00 a month to 250.00 for insurance with a 5,000 deductible.
I do not have any dependents to insure and plan on using a MSA (medical savings account) for covering the deductible. I am in good shape physically with no chronic conditions.
I spend more on gas getting back and forth to work now per month than I would on health insurance. On top of that, the premium would be deductible on my tax return.

[pitohui]

21. health insurance goes month to month

what do you do the second or the sixth month after a serious injury or diagnosis?

you'll be screwed

i have 2 friends diagnosed with cancer in their 30s

after 45 as a healthy thin fit non-smoker i was not able to get any health insurance at all at a price i could pay

i'm telling you what i wish i knew then

[Wcross]

28. What happens when they close my plant?

I'll be screwed in a different type of way, right?

I found from shopping around that if I choose a plan with a high deductible the monthly cost goes from 500 a month down to 103.00 per. Also,affordability is a relative term. It all depends on what kind of income I can achieve.
I know you mean well and are trying to save me from making a mistake, for that I thank you. I just have to try and see if it is possible for myself. I just don't know what I don't know!

[idgiehkt]

23. yes that is really the sticking point

but you know what...every time I hear my relatives talk about insurance it is covering less and less and costing more and more. Their paycheck deduction doubled in one month last year. I am without it right now but I sometimes just go from one 6 month catastrophic policy to the next, I get them online and it is work it in case of a car accident or something; they usually only cost about 50-60 bucks. You are right about gas, clothes, lunches out...all those work-related expenses people don't factor in. I hope I can work it out for myself. I am kind of doctor phobic anyway.

[pitohui]

20. simply a terrible idea if you ever get sick or ill

don't do it, i wish someone had physically restrained me from becoming self-employed

you will be forever dependent on your spouse for health insurance because you ain't going to be able to get it on your own


get another job, i destroyed my life by entering the self-employed ghetto and i know many who did the same, don't emulate our mistakes

in the end it don't matter how much you make if the first time you get ill the hospital gets your lifetime of earnings and savings

[Wcross]

25. I am willing to take that chance.

There are many self employed people that seem to be comfortable in making the leap. I feel I could do better on my own, health insurance or not.

[speedoo]

22. I wish you the very best. Some advice here...

As others have said, self-employment can be very rewarding, and it certainly sounds like your current situation has become very un-rewarding for you.

However, I'd like to offer you the benefit of my self-employment lessons learned.

1. No matter how bad your current situation, resist the temptation to burn bridges. Self-employed people can't afford to have any enemies. You want as many people in your corner as possible.

2. Carefully consider how you can extract the maximum from your current employer when you cut the cord. For example, if you can gain any kind of retirement benefits, especially health insurance by waiting a while, you really should evaluate that as a possibility. Providing for your own health insurance is very, very expensive. You might be better off actually getting laid off or volunteering for a company "reduction in force" program.

3. Take as much time as you need to develop a comprehensive business plan. Do this before you cut the cord. If you don't have a very clear idea about what a business plan should be and why it's necessary, STOP EVERYTHING and do the research now. If your business plan is inadequate, I can almost guarantee that you won't be nearly as successful with your own business as you could be.

Your plan should include detailed financial projections, resources required (financial and otherwise), and milestone checkpoints. These will be your most important self-evaluation tools.

3a. Find someone who can serve as a mentor or adviser. They should know you well, and they should not be afraid to tell you you're screwing up. Of course they should also be knowledgeable about business in general and hopefully the business area you are entering. This is crucial. Lots of companies offer counseling by professional employment counselors when they let employees go. This can be a very valuable asset for you. (see #2)

4. Be prepared to work your ass off. No matter how great your business idea is, there will be surprises that throw you off track. Working to overcome those surprises will occupy much of your effort, even long after you establish your business.

5. Resist the temptation to depart from your business plan. You might experience some success in an area tangential to, or outside your business plan. By all means, make the most of that success, but don't scrap your plan because of it. Instead, revisit your plan and see whether this new area of success can be included. If it can't be then just stick to your plan.

That's it, at least for now.

[Wcross]

24. I am hoping for a RIF at my plant.

I have been planning for the past six months, I will be able to work my plan over the next year without quitting my current employer. I will know by the end of the year.

[speedoo]

26. Excellent.

It's a big, big step. Sounds like you are going at it the right way.

[hedgehog]

29. I hope it all comes together for you.

With luck, the RIF would mean a cushion of unemployment benefits until you get on your feet. Be sure to look into any Federal money for education or extended benefits if you are RIFed due to foreign imports. i don't know the status of the programs now, but they helped me a few years back.


I heartily agree with you in your opposition to any corporation that volunteers YOUR time for community projects. If it's that important, let the company pay for your time during working hours.

The comments about health insurance show once again how much we need Universal Health Insurance. There are so many small businesses and shops that would be opened except for the fear of disastrous medical costs that would bankrupt the family.

[Wcross]

31. It isn't that I don't do volunteer work already.....

Their idea of "good volunteer work" really wasn't. If it had been a habitat home or something for the animal shelters in the area I would have been all over it. I even suggested those options and was told no.
I am planning to be on my feet when and if I do turn in the notice. I work shifts so have some workdays off each week to do business. As time goes on I will be able to swap out my weekends off for days off during the week.
We do need Universal health care, the problem is paying for it. I haven't studied the issue enough to make an informed decision. I do know that if we stopped invading other countries we just might be able to swing it. You are right about the lack of health insurance slowing down business creation.