potential job change needs some opinions

[barracuda7199]

i work at a local i guess u could call it a manufacturing plant we make absorbent cores think puppy pads and maxi pads and the pad under a steak u buy at the grocery store. neways i make decent money being i only have a high school diploma and i will b 30yrs old in june. i make 21 an hour pay 200  biweekly on insurance put 6% in 401k i work 12hr shifts 48 hours one week 36 the next which gives me 8 hrs time and a half. lookin at changing jobs to a local pulp mill for the first 90 days i would make 16.50 an hour could b longer but i work hard and don't ever ever call out or miss work so i'm pretty sure i dont have to worry bout being run off in the 90 days. what would u do? i have been where i work now for 7 years just got a raise for the first time in 5 years. i am scared it will b another 5 years before i get another one. the pulp mill is owned by the same company that started where i work which is rayonier. they sold us in 2006 a year and a half after i started there. i am saving all 120 hours of my vacation in case i do go and i would have the option of cashing my 401k out if i leave which would prolly give me about 10 or 11 grand to have to get by the months with the pay cut. i could also use that money to  pay the wifes charger off and save 300 a month. sorry if i confused yall!!! soooooooooo what would u do? should i stay or should i go???

[GranCuda1970]

In this economy making moves can have rough outcomes, but you have to move with your gut and heart!

[barracuda7199]

i hear ya! i have a good friend who has been at the pulp mill less time than i have been where i am and he makes over 26 an hour and made 80000 last year where i made 58500. thats my kind of math right there!! where i am now there is no moving up at the pulp mill there is all kind of advancement opportunity and there it is a union job.

[mcgheejt]

Looks like a risky move but one that could pay off in the end.  Unless you are really happy working were you are I would say take the opportunity.  I would do everything I could not to touch my 401K.  Best of luck with this potentially life changing decision. 

[72cudamaan]

Where is the benefit. You didn't say anything about o.t at the pulp mill. And you should try to manage your money without
assuming any O.T. pay as you never now when it may disappear. Other than the original company being slow to give raises
( in this economy any raise is luck) is there a good reason to leave? Final thought...DO NOT touch that 401k. Period.
It would take way too long to get that money back. You have a long time to let that money work for you. Not to
mention how much you would lose in taxes on it. Good Luck whichever way you go.

[challengermaniac]

I would stay where you are and at least double my contribution to my 401k as well as setting aside additional funds for the day you don't have a job or decide you want to do something different.  Most importantly, don't think of your 401k fund as a rainy day fund or something you can tap into------- you are going to need all of it and a whole bunch more for retirement, especially considering social security won't likely pay much.

[Katfish]

I would think you should change jobs.  But, as others have said, do not touch the 401k.

Another thing I would look at too, has the new place had any lay-offs in the last few years.  Which place has a better future/stability?
I wouldn't jump ship for extra money, if it's only short term.

[ChallengerHK]

I have a very good friend who used to tell me all the time "My father told me that if I work hard and do a good job, the company will take care of me." Shortly after the second time he told me that his company was purchased and he was laid off.

I would talk to the paper mill people and get more info, specifics. Make sure you understand the level of performance they're looking for, and some kind of schedule for moving up, like "If I do great for 6 months I'll be making X per hour, and if I do great for two years I'll be next in line for promotion to Y." If they're note willing to put these things in writing I'd be a little concerned, and if they're not willing to talk about them at all I'd be very scared.

[barracuda7199]

i dont bank on o.t. just work it when it is available. the pulp mill has overtime almost everyday! when u are hired u work 8 hr shifts but u are committed to 16 hrs if ur relief calls out or there is a problem in ur area. there have been no lay offs at either place in a long time! there is some structure to the pulp mills raises and all the pay is in writing i have seen the pay scales and read there handbook i guess u call it. i think the pulp mill has better stability at my current places all they keep hiring is temps through a staffing service pay them 9 an hour and no benefits which is something i don't agree with at all! pay the man what he is worth!!! i worked 344 hrs overtime last year and plan on more this year! i am scared they are going to just keep replacing full time good help with more temps here. i dont think i would ever be on the chopping block but who does? i am waiting on an ad in the newspaper before i can apply with the pulp mill but i am going to atleast hear what they have to say when i get an interview. i have some inside help gettin on out there too. i understand what u all are saying bout my 401k but i got to feed my kids now too!!

[HemiOrange70]

Look at the history of each place. Who has laid off any employees in the last ten years? Pulp mills have a tendency to have lay offs in bad times. Job security is the main issue as is job satisfaction
Last hired-first fired

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Dont touch your 401!!!!  You will shoot yourself in the foot for sure!

There are a few pulp mills up by a buddy's yard up north of here. They were bought out by foriegn corps ,None of them were around a few years down the road......   

[Skunkworks Challenger]

You did not mention job skills.  Would you be taking a "production "job or a skilled job as in a trade or crafts job.  If you could work your way into a craft position like electrician, pipe fitter, carpenter, sheet metal, welder etc. then that changes the whole picture.  Craft jobs are always in easier to transfer than production jobs.  I once worked in a paper mill and they immediately put me in-training as an electrician.  I didn't stay with it because I wanted to go to college.  Don't know if the mill is still running or not but it was, at that time the International Paper Company in (Moss Point) , near Pascagoula, Mississippi.  Actually a good place to work.  It was a Sulphite plant so everybody drove beaters to work.  Good luck whichever way you go!  PK

[t1971Chally]

barracuda7199,

I will say this to you....
FIRST ----- DONT EVER TOUCH YOUR 401K!  YOU WILL NEVER MAKE UP WHAT YOU WILL LOSE IN TIME AND TAXES (the only exception would be an ABSOLUTE family emergency...and I mean emergency).  REMEMBER 401K is suppose to be an investment tool you use to finance your retirement...not a savings account you use for everyday crap...thats what bank loans are for.

SECOND - I work for one of the Big 3 Automotive companies.  Over the past 4 years I have seen an enormouse amount of people (hourly and management) leave for so called better jobs and because of the buyouts being offered at the time.  I still speak to all of the supervisors who worked for me and several of the hourly personnel.  EVERYONE OF THEM wishes they would have never left.  EVERYONE OF THEM says I really did not know how good I had it.

THIRD - You need to just sit down and take a piece of paper and write down the following:  Positives and Negatives.  Under each heading write down the positives and negatives for each company......MOST IMPORTANTLY be honest with yourself.   Do not sugarcoat the new job just because you want it. Your goal here is to truly figure out which one is better.  You need to make sure you have ALL the information about both companies......hours worked, shift, pay, benefits, benefits, benefits, did I say benefits!  Look at the insurance your current company offers versus the new one.  What are the co-pays for prescriptions?  What is the out of pocket expenses for doctor visits?  Look at the 401K plan....do they match your contributions?   DONT JUST LOOK AT PAY!!!  WHAT YOU GAIN IN PAY MAY BE LOST IN BENEFITS!!!

FOURTH - I cannot tell you what to do.  Your brief description of your current job versus the new SCREAMS that you have not done your homework and are about to make a decision without the information you need to make an INFORMED decision.  I can only tell you what I told you in number one --------
I work for one of the Big 3 Automotive companies.  Over the past 4 years I have seen and enormouse amount of people (hourly and management) leave for so called better jobs and because of the buyouts being offered at the time.  I still speak to all of the supervisors who worked for me and several of the hourly personnel.  EVERYONE OF THEM wishes they would have never left.  EVERYONE OF THEM says I really did not know how good I had it.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT BEING ARMED WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION. 

Do yourself a favor and investigate your current job and its benefits vs the new job and its benefits.  Arm yourself with accurate information so that you can make an informed decision.  Also, did I tell you not to touch your 401K?

Good luck with your decision,

T1971Chally

[AARuFAST]

Lot of good advice.
Do your best to keep the 401K You will be penalized and lose most of it.  if you switch jobs roll it over to the other company if they have a 401K.
If the company u are with now matchs your 401K input you may lose there matching fund if you need
to be vested.  Some companys have a 5 or more year vesting to keep their matching fund. That is a great salary $21 hr.
Nice vacation benefits.
Health insurance is a must and job security. Are u union?

[Moparal]

What's the name of the pulp mill and where is it?   Do not use the 401k as others have stated.  Pulp mills and paper mills have been being bought out hand over fist by bigger companies then being shut down. Only the higher up have an idea if this is going to happen where you are intending to work.  I kinda know this from working in pulp and paper mills all around the USA. Seen a bunch get bought and shut down when everyone thought all was good for them.  Consider where you are at now and how long you have been there.  We are in scarey times in the economy.  A 10k cut in pay may not be a good ideal for you right now.