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HotPotato2009 · Sep 1, 2010, 05:30 AM

I have been offered a job. Its not a temp job like I work for now with the state. Its not a state job at all. Now I'm reading the paperwork that they have and on one section it says that I'm not under a contract and that my employment is at will. Meaning they can fire me at any time for any reason. I don't think that's cool lol.

Has anyone ever worked for something similar to this? Please help!

smoothy · Sep 1, 2010, 05:34 AM

Unless you are part of a union... then you are an "at will" employee. It's that way for everyone.

HotPotato2009 · Sep 1, 2010, 05:41 AM

Oh OK, thanks smoothy. That gives me some relief now. I was starting to feel sick to my stomach

smoothy · Sep 1, 2010, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by HotPotato2009

Oh ok, thanks smoothy. That gives me some relief now. I was starting to feel sick to my stomach

Trust me... I know exactly what you were feeling. Its part of what is called "Right to work". Which has its good points and bad points.

But basically, any good employer will want to keep its good workers and get rid of the bad ones. And it allows them to get rid of the slackers that try to do as little as they can get away with. Anyone who has worked longer than a month has known people like I just described.

Yeah it can be abused... but typically the places that do aren't the nicest places to work anyway.

HotPotato2009 · Sep 1, 2010, 08:19 AM

What do you mean by that? Not the nicest place to work? Are you saying that I shouldn't take this job because of that??

Do you work with a union?

smoothy · Sep 1, 2010, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by HotPotato2009

What do you mean by that? Not the nicest place to work? Are you saying that I shouldn't take this job because of that???

Do you work with a union??

Oh... you misunderstood what I was trying to say. What I meant was there are a few places that abuse the "At Will" thing. But those places really aren't nice to work for anyway. Most employers value their better employee's. The "at will" lets them get rid of the people that don't want to pull their own weight. Most places of employment are "At Will".

I've worked both Union and non-union "at will" jobs. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

HotPotato2009 · Sep 1, 2010, 11:20 AM

Oh OK, now that makes more sense to me! And that makes me feel much better knowing that.

I'm just SO nervous about switching jobs lol. I've been with the state in the temp clerical pool for 2 years. I have been looking for something permanent with benefits for SO long and don't seem to qualify for anything with the state. Its really hard. And with the economy, its not any better.

smoothy · Sep 1, 2010, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by HotPotato2009

Oh ok, now that makes more sense to me!! And that makes me feel much better knowing that.

I'm just SO nervous about switching jobs lol. I've been with the state in the temp clerical pool for 2 years. I have been looking for something permanent with benefits for SO long and dont seem to qualify for anything with the state. Its really hard. And with the economy, its not any better.

Being nervous when you change jobs... in a good or bad econy, is normal. Trust me there... I've had my gut in a knot every time I changed and did it like 6 times since college.

HotPotato2009 · Sep 1, 2010, 11:30 AM

LOL... yeah well that is def how I am feeling right now. It's almost like I'm doing a bad thing.

smoothy · Sep 1, 2010, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by HotPotato2009

LOL... yeah well that is def how I am feeling right now. It's almost like I'm doing a bad thing.

That's the fear of the unknown compared to the familiarity of the known.

At some point you have to look forward, but only remember the lessons learned from the past. Once you put in your notice... nothig would ever be the same even if you did back out. Because they will remember you did try to leave. Maybe less so since you were a temp... thats more true for full time permanent employees.

HotPotato2009 · Sep 1, 2010, 12:04 PM

Yeah my supervisor here knows that eventually I'm going to go permanent somewhere else so they don't feel bad about it. I mean, my assignment here where I am now is over in November anyway. The temp agency would have sent me to another office in at the end of Novemeber anyway

And yes you are right about looking forward. That's the only way to get ahead.

Check this out, I applied for 2 state permanent jobs and don't you know that I got a email from both places saying that I don't qualify for the position I applied for or Im not in the next level classification? Been this way ever since.