Should I Stay, or Should I Go?

Since FIREing at the end of 2021, it’s thankfully been a pretty good run financially speaking. . . . except for one big, longish hiccup, which basically started as soon as I FIREd. The hiccup being the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad investing year of 2022. Zero stars. Do not recommend.

As I’ve noted in past posts, my freshly minted FIREy brain went kinda squirrelly as markets slid and slid . . . and slid. Not so squirrelly that I seriously considered going back to work. Heaven forbid! But enough where I felt an increasing need to make a move to mitigate the financial damage. Specifically, by means of a part-time job (on top of the gig work I already was doing and all along intended to keep doing).

In short order, I found myself a reluctantly proudly minted part-time employee. The job ended up suiting me nicely, thank you very much. Work shift: good. Days that I work: good. Coworkers: good. Job responsibilities: good. Workplace location: good. 

All proceeded smoothly until 2024. My employer’s budgetary issues then forced what amounted to layoffs. I was one of the layoffees (it is, too, a word!). Unfortunate, but my reaction: oh well.

But the budgetary issues ultimately were addressed, and I was brought back into the fold. Then it was back to laissez les bons temps rouler!

Until recently.

Meet the new boss. Not the same as the old bosses.

One thing I’ve discovered about the branch of my employer’s operation where I work is that the head of it leaves or is replaced every year or two. Since starting in mid-2022, no fewer than four people have held the role. The most recent one started recently and came from elsewhere in the employer’s system. I’ll call this person El Jefe Quatro (EJQ).

EJQ is unlike their predecessors under whom I’ve worked in almost all respects. That ain’t a good thing. Since starting, EJQ has made many changes, the majority of which make my nose crinkle and, in some cases, I think are ill advised. EJQ hasn’t asked for material input before implementing most changes.

Now, I’ve been around the block many, many . . . many a few times. I’ve worked under people like EJQ. Sometimes I liked the new boss’ changes. Sometimes not so much. 

Regardless, I always respected the new boss’ right to make the changes. I feel no differently as to EJQ. However, my current financial situation couldn’t be more different than that of my past. 

In my full-time career, even if I didn’t like the new boss’ regime, I’d grin and bear it. I probly ought to have at least considered leaving the particular organization in some instances. But things rarely got to the point where doing so became a no-brainer. 

Now, with flute-you money and no financial need for this job to begin with, leaving would have no material financial or professional consequences for me/The Family whatsoever. And leaving is just what I’m thinking of doing for the first time since taking the job. Seriously thinking of doing. 

It’s a complicated thing

The following complicating factors, however, have given me pause and may result in me staying put.

First, EJQ has only been on the job for a short time. Maybe things will get better or EJQ will reverse course on some changes. That’d likely make things more pleasant. 

Second, given that the heads of the place I work historically haven’t been in the role that long, EJQ might be out in a year or two and be replaced by someone more like El Jefes Uno, Dos, and Tres, all of whom I liked. That’s not that long. Even if EJQ is in the role longer than that, it’ll probly not be much longer. 

Third, Thing Two (The Younger) and I are taking a big, long trip this summer. I did something similar with Thing One (The Elder) in 2023. My then boss didn’t bat an eyelash when I told him I’d be taking several weeks off. I can’t be sure, but I think EJQ would have no issue with my 2026 time off request. I should remind my 1s of faithful Dear Readers that Thing Two also works for this employer. If EJQ doesn’t care about me taking time off, I think that’d apply equally to Thing Two. I’m not sure how many employers would be as blase about an employee taking this much time off. Plus, every week I’m on that trip is one week I don’t have to deal with EJQ.

Hmming? and hawing

Fourth, as mentioned, I like many things about the job that have nothing to do with who my boss is. The biggest are my shift and days that I work. They’re sweet. Really sweet. I hit what turned out to be my sweet spot as to them. Adding in the other things I like about the job that EJQ can’t change makes the gig all the sweeter.

But here are the counterarguments. 

First, while EJQ may turn out to be better than (or at least not as bad as) I fear, my spidey sense—which is pretty good as to things like this—is telling me that that’s unlikely at best. 

Second, while the prior bosses haven’t stayed in the role long since I’ve been there, there’s a first time for everything. Plus, while I might be able to deal with EJQ for a few months or even a year, I have doubts that I could tolerate this situation for two years. Much less more. 

Third, while I think that EJQ won’t have any issue with me and Thing Two taking off many weeks this summer, I can’t be sure. I should add that EJQ denying the request for time off (and this was the case for me for the 2023 trip, too) would be a dealbreaker for me, and I’d absolutely leave the job. The time off is nonnegotiable. But I’d just as soon it not become an issue.

Fourth, it’s possible that EFQ will decide to change my work schedule. After all, I’m not just a part-time employee, I’m not even one who works many hours. I’ve been with the employer for almost four years (a long time for my role), but there’s little reason for EJQ to defer to my preferences if push comes to shove.

What ever is your humble blogger to do?! Here’s my current thinking.

If EJQ materially changes my work schedule, I’m outie. Like ASAP outie. 

If EJQ denies my (and/or Thing Two’s) request for time off this summer, we’re going to point out to EJQ that these are nonnegotiable requests. If she relents, we’re good to go. If not, it’s adios.

If EJQ doesn’t change things for the better, I’m gonna have to see how much I can stand the unpalatable new regime. I suspect I’ll be able to ride it out for a year. But who knows?

If EJQ sticks around for longer than the typical number of years for those in her position, I’ll have to take my temperature regularly to see if I can continue to ride things out. I dunno how that’ll go.

And in the end . . . 

Funny thing about all this is that the stakes are so low. Pay isn’t laughable, but not even on the radar of life changing. Coworkers are good, but I’d likely not keep in touch with more than one or two if I leave. Employer is good, but not amazeballs.

So, Dear Reader, you’ll be excused for thinking to yourself, “what in the world is this bonehead so exercised about?!” It’s a fair question. My guess is that it’s cuz I got complacent and in a groove with the job. So, the fact that there’s now a complication has . . . well . . . introduced a complication. In the meantime, I’ll wrestle with the question of what to do.