Job security

[sweeps]

I'm in Law Enforcement, which you would assume is a secure job in all times, but recently with city budgets stretched thin they are talking about laying off police. This makes absolutely no sense, because that just puts citizens (tax-payers) in more danger. Unsafe city = a city tax-payers don't want to live in = less money for the city....

I hear what you're saying but the taxpayers have a limit. We could go over the same exercise with a lot of things:
-- "clean water"
-- "pothole-free streets"
-- "good public education for our kids"
-- "beautiful parks"
-- "a responsive, well-trained fire department"
Sounds great. But at some point, the taxpayers get stretched so thin, they snap -- despite the implied threat that these things will go away if they don't keep sending more money.

[PrincessPerky]

Back to job security My husband is the fellow who does all the work and is paid the least..that is sort of job security (not being a union the fellow there for 20 years who does no work is not guaranteed t to stay on longer)

Actually being a blue company, those with blue blood do stay longer, but the middle folk (paid more than husband but not Blue blooded) are let go before my husband, though in all honesty they are hiring. so yeah, I am not to worried.

Not that I am spending every cent willy nilly in the assumption that he will be forever employed. Just that I see no immediate need to go about day to day thinking "the sky is falling.". (and I do know folk in jobs who prolly aught to be thinking the sky is falling)

[Cylenchar]

Prepare for the worst; Hope for the best. That's my motto.

As an experienced CPA I am in a field where 75% of CPAs are retiring in 10 years and I have never worked a job where we could find ONE CPA with mid-range experience. Not one. I was offered a bonus of 50% of my salary if I could recruit someone who would stick around one year, with any experience really (at my last job). Would be nice if it wasn't an impossible feat. (I work for a CPA firm; not where the money is in accounting, which is the problem).
.

MonkeyMama, in my area, I have notice that accountants are in HIGH demand, haven't looked at salaries, but as an accountant you would not have any problems right now finding work.

[Scanner]

My field is well. . .uh. . .for lack of a better word - weird.

It's no wonder I am a contrarian in investing because my field tends to move in contrary to economic growth. I am a chiropractor and I am up about 25% since the crisis, maybe even 35-40%. Most people say stress. . .yeah. . .that may be some of it. . .I really haven't figured it out.

I think a lot of people put off taking care of health conditions until they get time on their hands and then maybe they're using the benefits "on the way out?" I don't know.

I also started doing some internal procedures to crack down on collections and scheduling so I am probably partially reaping that.

When everyone was doing great. . .I had construction people in my practice pulling in 100K/year and I wasn't making nearly that, I'll admit I was jealous (at times. . .I try not to let envy consume me). I am trying not to be petty but I'll admit I am feeling a little "smugness" the last 6 months. The thing is, I can't get too smug, as I if everyone starts to do bad, then as a small business owner, I will inevitably suffer.

I guess it's that study they did on envy - they asked people if you would rather make 200K/year and your neighbors make 300K/year or would you rather make 100k/year and your neighbors make 50? People more often chose making more. . .indicating that envy is some kind of base emotion we all deal with.

There are some things that I can do also from a business persepctive to react to the crisis. People will naturally put off their maintenance care. . .so I have to charge them more the front end when something happens. The best analogy is an auto mechanic. . .if people put off the $30 oil changes, then it's going to cost more for an engine overhaul to keep the shop open. It's kind of been that way with me.

Doing more "back overhauls" lately vs. "oil changes."

Keep up with your maintenance people.