About a year ago, my IT career ended. I didn't really realize that until the last month or so.
A horrible manager I had treated me so badly it pushed me into depression. When I had a going away party, I wound up on the phone helping an end user while the manager's buddies were able to have fun…. At my going away party.
One year and 3 roles later, I've discovered his actions also caused my resume to get turned into swiss cheese. The current gig I'm on only cares about their contract with the client and couldn't give two shits about how they operate, or the stress level their actions are causing on the ground 2000 miles away.
I'm also done with the public and all generations of folks refusing to learn even the basics of the technology they use. I should not be receiving calls or emails about devices needing basic updates. Somewhere in the lexicon of society, these folks have decided that running Windows and iOS updates requires a college degree. No more. No more abuse from end users that send a screen shot or one sentence info with zero context of the issue, no more fear of saying the wrong thing because I might piss off someone I only interact with once a month, no more.
Monday I have an interview to be a general factory worker at a union plant. Sadly, because of their benefits, the net take home pay is the same as I'm making now.
Companies need to figure this shit out, and quick. Here's the financial breakdown of my last two gigs and the (honestly slam dunk) one I'm interviewing for on Monday.
(I assume taxes based off the last 3 years of returns)
IT straight W2, no benefits: 34/hr, removing unpaid PTO, needed benefits and taxes = 724 / week (No chance of OT or bonus.) *High stress, 3rd shift*
IT MSP Contract, TL/Management Level: 27.88/hr, removing the same, plus 401k = 710.19 / week (No bonus and shit medical) *Extreme high stress*
Factory wage laborer: 22.15/hr, removing taxes and union dues….. = 643.73 / week (Plus OT, plus performance bonus, and plus company bonus) *Virtually zero stress* (If 3rd, an extra buck an hour)
Plus pension which is included, plus Medicare part C super discounted at retirement, plus retirement bonus, plus advancement, plus stable working environment, plus medical is 100% included, plus cola, plus guaranteed raise, and plus training.
White collar America needs to wake the fuck up. My college degree (which I'm still paying for) DID NOT allow for a better life. An extra, static, 50 bucks a week that I can knock out with 3 hours of OT is not what I spent 4 years in college for. Neither the stress.
I'm accepting the factory worker job if I get it and the numbers come out. The cost of healthcare makes taking a traditional grey or white collar job impossible unless it pays in the 75+.
This is stupid. You wonder why no one wants to work for you, well this is a big fucking part of it. Figure it out ass holes.