Life/career change

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Is your schedule at Walmart also a negative for you ?

I think you've given a lot of reasons to try to make a move. Your reasons for staying seem to be basically 1.) loyalty to Walmart, and 2.) the security of having health insurance. (Walmart's benefits do not seem to be especially great, though, in comparison to a lot of other employers.)

Your reasons for leaving seem to be 1.) get something with less stress and 2.) better hours. Lots of companies will offer you that, at comparable or better pay than what you're making now.

How do you receive the stock - do you buy it (at an employee discount,) or do they contribute to your 401K in the form of stock ? It's part of the compensation equation - as well as the personal time/sick leave/flex time comparisons.

But overall, it seems like there are more good reasons to move on than to stay. Also, look down the line to when you do become a mother - you want to position yourself now to the best advantage for the future of your family in terms of your paycheck, your hours, flexibility to take care of all those emergencies that happen when you're a mom, and most of all, your general happiness at work.

WOM you are pretty much right on for reasons to stay and leave.

And as far as the schedule: yah kinda 12 yrs of no set schedule. One week Im around 6 or 630am with or without split days off, then maybe next week 2p-11p then 10-7p one week or maybe different schedules all together. At least in Georgia I had off every Sunday & Wednesday but they won't do anything like that here bcz they say there managers here all have to have complete open availability 6am -11pm

For receiving stock, I select each week what I want to come out of my paycheck. Same as the 401k I select what % I want to come out of my paycheck and Walmart matches what I select up to 6%.

I did apply for HR last year but I was the 2nd person nominated for it which was fine for me bcz I absolutely love the person to pieces that got the assistant position. I go to her when I need advice within the company or to talk about things. She's a great listener. Im going to have see what else is available bcz Im tired of this stress and things going on. Its simply not worth staying a manager for my healths sake. And Im off on Monday & Tuesday so I might pop over at the bank and introduce myself and let them know I put my application in.

Edited May 20, 2012 by ~PalmTreeGurl~

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

also to add w/Adam getting up for work around 230-330am to start getting ready for work on Fri-Sunday its hard for me to get any kind of rest through out the night with no set schedules. If some week I get off at 11p+ and I don't fall asleep til 1am then I just get woken up at 230-430am bcz Im such a light sleeper. My schedule the way it is wears me out for real. If on the weeks I go in at 6am and he has to get up at 230a-330a I have to get up my self around 430a but Im woken up by 230-330am anyhow by the alarms and him.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

WOM you are pretty much right on for reasons to stay and leave.

And as far as the schedule: yah kinda 12 yrs of no set schedule. One week Im around 6 or 630am with or without split days off, then maybe next week 2p-11p then 10-7p one week or maybe different schedules all together. At least in Georgia I had off every Sunday & Wednesday but they won't do anything like that here bcz they say there managers here all have to have complete open availability 6am -11pm

For receiving stock, I select each week what I want to come out of my paycheck. Same as the 401k I select what % I want to come out of my paycheck and Walmart matches what I select up to 6%.

I did apply for HR last year but I was the 2nd person nominated for it which was fine for me bcz I absolutely love the person to pieces that got the assistant position. I go to her when I need advice within the company or to talk about things. She's a great listener. Im going to have see what else is available bcz Im tired of this stress and things going on. Its simply not worth staying a manager for my healths sake. And Im off on Monday & Tuesday so I might pop over at the bank and introduce myself and let them know I put my application in.

That schedule is horrific ! I could only see switching you around like that as a temporary measure to cover temporary emergency situations - not as a regular weekly shift change for 12 years !

A 6% match on what you contribute to your 401K plan is ridiculously cheap. I can get a 76% match on my contributions to my 401K (on my contributions up to 6% of my salary.)

Even if you get a 6% match on what you spend on stock, it's still really really miserly - most companies will offer employees at least a 15% discount on company stock. But hang on to that stock that you already have - it's good stuff.

It seems you have been a very loyal employee to Walmart. But they haven't returned that loyalty. They don't even treat you as well as most other places would in your first 6 months.

Do get out there and have a look at what else is available - I bet you can easily find something much better, and probably much less stressful. The bank is just one option - there are many others. You have good solid work experience, including management. Sell it, girl !

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Thank you for your advice WOM for the stock we get .15 to the $1 we put in. So yes, Im 30 and I think its time for a life change!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Thank you for your advice WOM for the stock we get .15 to the $1 we put in. So yes, Im 30 and I think its time for a life change!

Good for you !

Also - consider buying more of that stock on your last few paychecks :wink: That's a 15% gain right off the bat, and Walmart stock is expected to be very strong through the next 5 years or so.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

In fact I would stop the 401K contributions, as they only match 6%, and put that money toward the stock.

Also, that stock can be liquidated much more easily and with less financial penalty than a 401K if you needed emergency cash.

Your next job will probably have a much better 401K plan anyway, and you can transfer the plan you already have and continue contributing to it there (where hopefully, they would match more.)

Edited May 20, 2012 by wife_of_mahmoud

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

I never had my blood pressure as high as it was today from the stress of that place. 151/95 and I have relatively normal blood pressure. I actually felt dizzy & a huge headache today from the stress there. I've already applied to 4 places and Im going to have to continue. I do not want to fall out dead in that store Im in.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I never had my blood pressure as high as it was today from the stress of that place. 151/95 and I have relatively normal blood pressure. I actually felt dizzy & a huge headache today from the stress there. I've already applied to 4 places and Im going to have to continue. I do not want to fall out dead in that store Im in.

Good luck with the job hunt !

Sometimes when I get stressed out at work, I just remind myself of how much I'll miss certain people or certain aspects of the job when I've moved on... it takes the edge off.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

I pm'd you Tamara but you have been given alot of good advice.

I am a manager of a bank. I have a full benefits package and have close to 30 paid days off annually (that includes holidays and sick days) I make twice the average income in my area. I work whenever I want, as long as I work close to 40 hours. It only took me 3 years to go from bank teller to bank manager. I know this is not the norm but it shows anything is possible. I do work in a highly retail bank. Chase, BofA, and my bank, in my area are the retail banks. They thrive by growing their customer base and charging customers fees. It does make work very stressful. When a customer has 200$ in overdraft fees and is telling you they dont have money to feed their kids, all you can do is empathize and tell them how and why they were charged the fees. It sucks. You have goals to meet and when you dont, its likely you wont have a job. Some months are good, and some arent. I am obviously paid commission so that can add around 20k to my income annually, which is awesome. It really depends on the bank. I disagree with Staashis comment about no job security. I dont see tellers being laid off unless the bank went under. Just make sure the bank you apply to is a reputable bank. This will give you security and also make your job easier. (It could be hard representing a bank that has a bad reputation) The last thing I will say is working in a bank, regardless of the position, is a nice thing to add to a resume. It can open alot of doors for you that walmart may have not.

Good luck

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Thank you for the reply & PM Kelly, I appreciate all the advice from you ladies!