I work for a franchised restoration company, and have been here for almost four years. I joined the company as its first lasting employee and have helped build it from the ground up.
My boss is a rear guys, very family oriented, and wry flexible. We've had our challenges, but he's supported me through tough times. I run half the company (the rebuild, not the emergency services) and in the last year have built an awesome team. We've doubled our volume every year so far. Overall I'm blessed and have no big reason to complain.
I've always worn many hats, but it's been getting ridiculous. I'm compensated pretty well (70k totaled), but work my ass off to earn it. Hourly, this equates to ~23/hr with OT after 40.
Recently, I've been dealing with other peoples mistakes. It's been a struggle to deliver a quality experience to our customers, and get our subcontractors paid on time. I've been thrown into uncomfortable situations and had to right them.
The owner has a 'golden handcuffs' philosophy; he wants to make sure all of his employees are so well-compensated they have no desire to look elsewhere.
But I have the desire.
Part of my compensation is a housing allowance that goes towards my rent – a property that he owns. I'm essentially paying his mortgage pre-tax, a win-win.
The problem is I'm not happy. I struggle to get my tasks done on time, and am responsible for making sure everyone else does the same. Customers are always frustrated, subcontractors always frustrated, I'm always frustrated. It's come to a head when 5-figure accounting error that took me all day to figure out. It was due to the owners mistake. I was left to clean up the mess and make it right.
If I quit, I must move my family – wife, 2 kids, 3 dogs, MIL. I'm working my ass off at a job I used to love, with a superior (owner) who is never around but will dictate on a whim,, in a situation I can't help but feel locked into.
I don't know what the point of me posting is, other than to vent. I don't have health insurance or a retirement plan, and am essentially surviving month-to-month outside of savings which is dwindling quickly. My wife doesn't work due to kids and health issues, and I refuse to jeopardize my family's sustenance.
Again, I know I'm blessed. I just wish there weren't so many curses that came along with it.