Please help me take my dream job without going broke!

June 30, 2008 3:56 PM

Today I was offered my dream job. But it's only 20 hrs., no benefits. I told my boss at my current, full-time job (which has great benefits) and asked if I could stay on and reduce my hours to part time. He considered it and asked me to write a proposal. How can I convince him?

Additional details: I can't live on a part-time salary, I've only been working there since February, my current job was originally planned to be part-time (before they changed their minds and advertised it), my boss has been very flexible about certain employees' schedules during & after their pregnancies, and my current job could probably be done in half the time or so.

posted by trillian to Work & Money (8 answers total)

you know, i bet he won't need much convincing. i doubt he will put you or himself through this exercise if he doesn't think it's possible. i think the reason he wants the proposal is just to make sure you both know what needs to get done and how you plan to make sure it gets done in the amount of time allotted.

as for the benefits...i'm really not sure if that will fly. those are really expensive.

do you think you could stand a 50-hour week? at my workplace, any employee working 30 hours get benefits, so you could conceivably do that and then take the other job, too.
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:05 PM on June 30, 2008

Draft a list of your duties and include a time budget proving that you can do the job in X number of hours.

(The downside of this is that if you're doing that amount of work now in 40 hours, it's clear that you're overpaid.)
posted by mudpuppie at 4:49 PM on June 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

If you reduce your hours to part time, your boss will want to reduce your pay and depending on your company's policy, your benefits. It is very possible that your part-time colleagues' benefits are covered under someone else's plan. I would read up on the company manual ASAP to make sure you'll still have your benefits or find out the minimum hours needed to retain them. Other than that, what thinkingwoman said.
posted by ml98tu at 4:52 PM on June 30, 2008

Your boss' primary concern will be making sure your job can still get done without it costing him any extra. Considering that you going part time may well mean that an extra employee on part time wages will also be needed could mean more money will need to be expended (since your job provides you with benefits, it is likely that the new part time employee will want similar benefits).

Perhaps you should frame your proposal around a job share arrangement? So basically there is still only one job but you work 2 days a week while someone else steps in and does your job for the other 3. Benefits would be divided along that ratio as well.
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:57 PM on June 30, 2008

FYI, in my state (Nevada) employees are legally required to work a minimum of 30 hours per week for an employer to be on that employer's group health plan.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:24 PM on June 30, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far!

I just checked my current employer's website, and it looks like if you work 17.5 hours or more, you're eligible for similar benefits to FT people. (Like I said, my employer has a great benefit plan!) The health care premiums are higher for PT people, of course.
posted by trillian at 6:14 PM on June 30, 2008

Someone mentioned earlier in the thread that, by arguing you could do the same amount of work at your current job in less time (in order to accommodate moving to a part-time job and picking up the dream gig), you'll be arguing that you are currently overpaid.

So, it may be worth noting what task/outcomes at your current job you *won't* be able to do. Obviously, your current employer values you a great deal - they gave you more work and responsibility - so the list of tasks you won't be able to do might only have to be symbolic. Make a list of all of your current tasks and expected outcomes. Figure out how much time it takes to do each, and also prioritize the more important tasks that truly add value for your employer, and which ones provide less value.

Remember that employers don't often realize the true extent of everything their employees do. These sorts of activities not mentioned in your formal job description could be the ones you will need to jettison, and you can then keep on doing the things you already do (and also demonstrate that you really can't do the same tasks in a shorter amount of time).

Anyway, it does seem like your supervisor is on your side. By asking for a proposal, he's really asking for a commitment that your will do the work, and he's asking for a demonstation that you have planned and thought out in advance how you will balance the two jobs.

Your current boss is also looking for ammunition he can use with *his* boss, in order to support the argument that you should be given a lighter workload so you can pursue a different opportunity.

PS - Have you thought about contracting with your current employer? You'll have to give up benefits, but you will earn more per hour
posted by KokuRyu at 4:34 AM on July 1, 2008

Response by poster: Update: Oh well, it didn't work out... He seemed somewhat receptive, but then after I submitted a proposal and met with him this afternoon, he basically said, "Sorry, no." I accepted the PT job anyway and I'm submitting my resignation tomorrow. In the remaining month (I have to give that much notice, I'm told!), I'll be looking like crazy for something to supplement my dream job! I think something will work out.
posted by trillian at 6:39 PM on July 2, 2008