OT - I Need Advice

Some of you may remember that I am being laid-off at the end of May. Well I now have a dilema and I need your advice. They have offered to let me stay one more year until May 2008. There is only ONE reason that I would stay and that is to keep my Kaiser insurance for another year. Let me give you some details below. If I stay I will not only be doing my job but will be doing 2 possibly 3 other peoples jobs too. One of the new jobs would be that persons whole job. The other 2 would only be parts. I have not been offered any incentive to stay. No bonus, no extra pay etc. Just more work at the same pay. I really feel ready to leave and want to just move on. I feel like it might be torture to stay and do all that work for no extra benefit to me. Here is what is holding up my decision. I have Kaiser insurance. They are pretty good about paying for the panni removal when the time is right. If I stop working in May I will have to switch to my DH insurance of Cigna HMO. They might turn me down as I did not have my surgery with them. I called Kaiser and asked about skin removal and was told you need to be at least 1.5 years from surgery, at goal and maintained your weight for a few months. Then they decide if it is medically necessary. 1.5 years will be in December. I would then have until May to get it done. So do I put myself through a year of torture hoping I will get my panni surgery? What if they then say they won't do it and I stayed for no reason? My DH works in a hospital but they do not offer Kaiser. He can look around for one that does offer Kaiser and switch jobs. He would probably be able to accomplish this before the end of the year. I was really looking forward to taking the summer off with my 11yo DS. He is looking forward to it too. If I wait a year he will be going into the 8th grade and maybe not think it is so cool to hang with Mom for the summer. I have always worked and have never been able to be home with my children. I also have a 21yo who will be doing a Summer internship with UCLA which is lots closer than his regular College o****anta Cruz. So I could see him more often for the summer too. Who knows where he will be next summer. After the summer I will either be trying to get into the new career I want of being a Sheriff or getting another office job. I could possibly look for a job that carries Kaiser if DH has not done it for me. I just feel so torn. I have been here 20 years. I am 43 so that is most of my adult life. DH has told me to do what I feel best but is worried about 11yo DS. He takes a very expensive medication that Kaiser gives us at a discount. Cigna would most likely not do that. Thanks in advance for your advice, Michelle

Oh, wow, I can't really give you advice on that one but am sending you a cyber hug! That's a hard decision to make. Your "potential" panni and your son's expensive medicine vs. time with your son(s). Are you getting a severance package if you take the layout? Would that at least cover the income and medicine differential? Does the work place have other options for this hybrid position - in other words, if there isn't anyone who could do the job(s) but you, does that give you some bargaining power for more money or a package later. I know you don't think so, but there might be. After all, they do need someone to do the work and they have asked you first.

Thanks for the hug. I can sure use it. I forgot to mention that I will be getting a great severance package. Since I have been working there for so long I will get over six months of pay when I leave. So That is why I will be able to take the summer off. I am not guaranteed the same package next year. They say it should be the same but there is no guarantee. I probably could go back later as a temp but I really only want the insurance and a temp would not get insurance. I would rather work somewhere else and try to find a place that has Kaiser insurance. I asked the bariatric clinic at Kaiser about leaving and coming back and they said that would be no problem. I am leaning towards putting the burden on DH and telling him it is his responsiblity to find a job that carries Kaiser. He takes x-rays so can look at many different places. I also would not be adverse to getting a job at Kaiser for a period of time when I am ready to get my ps. Michelle

Oh, well, personally (and I can't tell you what to do), I would take the package then. My experience with corporate america is after they used you up (ie. working an extra year), they don't feel they owe you anything. They want you to turn down a great severance package, work 3-4 people's jobs for the same pay you are getting now? I wouldn't think so! If you can get a great severance package now and it's relatively easy for your husband to get the insurance you need for you and your son, I would spend the time with your son now. As you said, you can always work as a temp if you need the money. Sounds like you are leaning this way -- I would do it. They aren't doing you any favors by offering you a overworked underpaid job.

Hi Of course nobody can tell you what to do, but we can suggest or offer our opinion. Truthfully, I think deep down, you have made your decision from everything you mention in your post, but in my opinion, I think you should spend the summer with your sons. They are only young once, and that is the most precious time for us as parents to see them develop into men or women. Since your husband has a job which he can go elsewhere or look elsewhere and not have difficulty finding work, and he is willing to look for another place that offers Kaiser, why not. You are going to have to leave anyway from that job. Enjoy it while you can and then really enjoy your summer. Good luck on your decision.

Thanks Olga. I think you are right, my mind is made up. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing an angle that might make a difference. I know my DH would prefer I stay and so would my parents. So it is hard to go against advice from those important people in your life. But they do not have to go to that job for 40+ hours a week like I would. Michelle

Hi Michelle, I agree with the others. You have already answered your question in your post. Your inner self already knows the path you will take (doesn't that sound profound )Anyways, your pros list for leaving is a lot longer than your pros list for staying. Who knows, your next insurance provider might cover your panni, and then you would feel like you wasted a lot of time, worked very hard, and had very little to show for it in the end. Good luck with your decision and the next step in your life. Lori

Thanks Lori. Everyone really sheds some light in a different way. It is so scary to think I will not be going to that job anymore. I have done it for 20 years. YIKES! Scary but exciting too. I have an appointment on April 16th to go to the Sheriffs recruitment seminar. If I do go that route I would not start until after the summer. Michelle

Isn't it awesome that you are within the weight ratio to be able to go to the Sherriffs department? Im sure at one time you would have been considered out of shape. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!