You are working for a pretty decent company doing what you like and are having fun doing it. You have become their Top Salesman and have been treated by them to TWO All Expenses Paid Guided Fishing Trips to Alaska.
They have been effected by the Poor Economy to the point that they have laid off almost all of their sales staff. To the point that when you go to work in the morning the staff consists of One Cashier, One Manager and One Sales Person. This is not a small store, it is a 200' X 400' size building housing an:
1. Automotive department
2. Camping and Water Sports department
3. Clothing Department
4. Sporting Goods Department
5. Shoe Department
6. Hunting and Fishing Department
7. Ski Rental Department
Your job now is to walk the whole store and help as many customers as you can, plus you are required to go into the warehouse and bring out cartloads of freight to stock the shelves, answer phone calls, do price changes on the merchandise pegs. Straighten merchandise on the shelves, do the dusting, sweep the floors, etc.
Your job has grown immensely, along with the stress factor, but your pay rate has not grown in almost a year. Add to this information that you learned about over the weekend form an employee in another state that this company is laying off 190 people in their warehouse and corporate offices due to the loss of financing, so the company is in a bit of financial problems.
Now:
Your Son-in-law just so happens to be a department manager for a National Hardware chain in your town. That company has slightly been effected by the down turned economy, but is doing just fine. His Boss asked him the other day if he knew of anyone that was willing to work hard and that knew how to sell merchandise. That store has some people in it that do not want to work, they just want to draw wages and skate by, so a major house cleaning is going to happen.
You Son-in-law tells the Boss all about Your Sales Qualifications, that you have been Employee of the Month Several Times and that you were Top Salesman in your department two years running (out of 31 stores) and were rewarded with All Expenses Paid Fishing Trips to Alaska (a $5,000 Bonus each time).
At that time he told his boss to walk into my store and check out the way I take care of my customers without letting me know who he was. That way he could see that I am a salesperson that is customer oriented. He also told his boss that I am always willing to work Weekends and that I do not want 40 hours per week due to the fact that I am retired. His boss told him to get a hold of me and have me apply for work.
Now for the kicker, After the first year I would get 2 weeks paid vacation, I would also have Sick Pay, I would have Holiday pay and a bunch of other benefits. Plus, to start with my starting pay rate would be $2 per hour more than what I am making in the current store. I would also be working for my Son-in-law in the Tool section of the store. (I am no stranger to power tools, in Construction I used them, repaired them and in my last few years in the trade I ran the tool room for a company).
Now the question:
Do I remain working for the company that I am currently employed by, or do I quit and go to work for the big chain store?
I really enjoy Most of my current job, the employees that I work with, I highly respect and like my department manager, plus I have built a huge client base of customers that will only buy from me. Plus, I do make a few extra bucks from little bonuses paid by this company for sales of $500 or more; and I would really like to go to Alaska again this year!
But, I have always enjoyed a challenge and proving myself to new Employers; as well as improving my financial situation.
The new company has way more to offer me, I will have the chance to expand my knowledge, I will definitely have a bit more job security and I will make more money.
It saddens me to think of leaving the current store, but all good things must end some time.
What do you think?
Dick
