Dilemma--Please help me decide!

[sweetpeamom25]

I need help making a decision. The company I work for manages a couple other companies (to make a long story short) and I have the option to go work for one of those other companies. It would be a shorter commute and I’d be working with some fun people. The salary bump would hardly be noticeable and the work I’d be doing, well, I don’t love it. Also, it would include some on-call hours on the weekends. I’ve worked in this industry before and I always hated the on-call hours. BUT, there is the option that if the business grows, I could move into a different position which would be different work and no on-call hours, but that is only if the business grows the way they want it to, so it’s not a guarantee. The stuff that comes up when you’re on-call is time sensitive, could be a 10 minute conversation, could be an hour or more and require a computer. So if I’m on the way to a family function, etc., I could have to turn around and head home.

I’m really having a hard time deciding. I’ve had some frustrations where I’m at now, which I’ve come to terms with I guess, but let’s just say the source of those frustrations will never go away. I’m not in love with the work I’m doing now either, but when I leave here, I’m done. No on-call hours, etc. My current manager and I have been working on creating a path for me here that will be more satisfying, but it hasn’t quite materialized yet. Our DD is 2 ½ and we have another one on the way, so I’m going to be busy enough with that, do I want to put on-call crap into that? I know it works for some people and may not be a big deal, but to me it kind of is.

So basically I think it comes down to A. shorter commute, good people to work with, but not great work and on-call hours or B. Commute stays the same, ok work, decent people but no on-call hours.
What would you do? What am I not thinking about? I’m completely torn. 

[bunsy]

I would stay put. On call with two little ones would be rough.

[laurac]

You've got enough change coming in your life. I would stay where you are..

[momof3anddog]

Read this whole thing -- can't see what the benefit is for you to take the other job. Sounds like something "could" materialize by taking the other job -- but isn't anymore guaranteed than what you already are doing.

Doing on-call work with little kids. Nope. Doesn't work. I can work from home on Fridays if I want the hours. But if I need to call clients back and I have my little twin 3 1/2 year old munchkins with me, they cannot be quiet while I'm returning a phone call, want to sit on my lap while I'm at the computer trying to look something up for the client or get some paperwork done or doing whatever the whatever the person needs. So I'm lucky if I can do 2 hours during naptime that's it. I find it just "stresses me out" and I don't get half of what I need to get done at home done or anything at work done. So unless your kids sleep all the time, not going to work.

[dara1012]

I am on-call Mon 8am-Friday 5p and sometimes on weekends and holidays (though I currently have a co-worker that wants all the weekends on-call). My husband works from home and is super supportive about my job, but on-call is hard when you have to respond and are out somewhere with the kiddo. If I had a choice I would not have a job w/ on-call.

[healerarina]

DH used to have a job that required on call. He would bring a laptop with him and sometimes I would be stuck with DD1 all by myself (this was before we had DD2). It was inconvenient, and unfun. With a baby on the way the stress isn't worth it. Stick with less stress with kids.

[ReneeW]

This is tough. I recommend listening to your gut, because oftentimes it will give you a hint about what is the right move. That being said, it sounds like the new job would be great--except the on-call factor sounds like a deal breaker. In my mind it depends on your DH/SO's job and whether that offers flexibility to cover for you when you get called out. If not, the stress would likely not be worth it.