I want to state up front that I am not trolling, I genuinely want to hear opinions from members of this community.
I own and/or operate three separate businesses.
~50 total employees across the 3, so all small businesses.
Everyone (full time and seasonal) starts a bit north of 2x minimum wage for our state.
10 days PTO once you start your first full calendar year. Tiered PTO based on your time at the company, up to 20 days max.
Health, dental and 401k with company match available to all full time employees.
8 weeks paid parental leave for having a child. We also regularly give people paid absences for personal/family emergencies and it does not deduct from their PTO.
In the last five years my income has fluctuated from $200k – $650k per year. I am nearing 40, have saved aggressively since my 20s and right now have a net worth around $1.5 million. I have a car that cost me 57k and a truck that cost me 28k, both paid. Wife and I bought a house several years ago in the 190s that we have been renovating, estimate it's worth around $400k now.
We are not having kids. My general plan is to hopefully work until somewhere in the 45 to 50 range and then retire from the day to day, retaining some stake in the companies but handing over most of the pay and responsibilities to the people who we've put in managerial roles currently and have a real drive to learn and grow.
I realize that not everyone here shares the same opinion, but I have browsed enough here to know that at least some of the members here will consider me a member of the rich that needs to be eaten.
So, some specific questions, and some general questions:
– What, if anything, do you disapprove of in my specific situation? What do you think could or should be done better? Do you view “the rich” on a sort of evil vs good spectrum? Or is it all cut and dry, black and white, rich and poor, evil and good?
– What is your worldview regarding capitalism, work and life? I know of course millions of people are treated like shit by companies and corporations, and no question there are things that need to be improved. But some of the stuff I read on here really makes me wonder what some of you think a Utopian anti work world would look like.
Thanks for reading.