I work in building automated controls (think pharmacy, hospitals, labs, schools) and decided today its time to leave and join the competition. I've been with my curreny employer for a few years, and they've done a great job encouraging me to leave. Typically, most of my income comes from state and government contracts, which have dried up because the company is reallllly shitty with retaining customers. I've made it clear during my entire employment that the math on my base, non-govt work isn't going to work out- I lose money each week I don't put in at least a day of prevailing wage work.
The company like to use code words like 'family' and 'wear many hats', and I'm pretty well over it. Despite doing programming and engineering when asked, I'm still listed as an entry level technician. When I traveled for work I wound up teaching my peers, thier superiors, and cherry picked by the head engineer to tackle problems his engineers couldn't. My boss pulled lines from the big book o' bullshit during my last review to give me a 0% raise last year during, what, 9% inflation? There isn't any room to move up in my current branch, either- I have tried. Listed positions are reserved for the buddy system only. I've invested too much into my education to continue to be railroaded and fist fucked where I am. I have a child. I have bills. I already knew more programming languages than the rest of my region combined when I started. Now I know the BAS industry, too. I also know my worth. I don't waste money, but I can't offord FOOD? Yeah, at my base rate- losing money each week, food isn't included in the budget.
Nope. They lost my effort a while ago, and they've succeded in losing me. Fuck you to my employer, and have a nice weekend to everyone else.