What would it take to make you stay with a company that doesn't pay as well as you would like?

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Answers

I don't think I've ever BEEN paid as well as I would like. (Sure, more is always better, but realistically I think I should be earning about $10-20,000 a year more than I am for the work that I do.)

But there are other considerations besides the money.

A sense that I'm respected by both peers and superiors.

The ability to trust my leaders to have my best interests in mind.

Managers who will stand behind their people when there are conflicts.

Satisfying work that counts for something beyond a paycheck.

Enough work but not too much.

Intelligent people to interact with through the work day.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

What he ^ said, plus:

* a company within walking distance of my home, so I don't have to fight the rush hour subway crowd.

* flex time, or the ability to telecommute.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

I think you two have it pegged. My short list (a subset of a much larger wishlist) is having work that I think is meaningful in a positive way, feeling like my coworkers are a team - ie, no 'my job, your job' BS, but everyone working for a common goal, and respecting my intelligence.

Respect is a damn big one with me lately.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Having painfully left a company last fall run by my two best friends simply because I wasn't making enough money to make ends meet & hubby had to leave his job to take his part-time business full-time before the stress gave him a stroke, I can truthfully say that even though a company can be great to work for, even if you're well-paid (which I wasn't), that's not always enough.

In the last job, I had a short commute, good hours, interesting work, was richly appreciated for my skills and effort, but it wasn't enough: too much stress, not quite enough pay, no benefits, and in the end, I bailed to take a job 160 miles away from home with twice the pay, good benefits and ten times the responsibility in an area that I have the training and the aptitude for. I love the people I work with now, love the town I live in (Bend, OR) even though I drive home every Friday night and back on Sunday afternoon so I can spend time with my husband. He's better (loving his work & less stress), I'm better (no money worries, not worried about my husband falling over dead from a heart attack), and our family is better - the boys are discovering that relationships can be held together with love and communication.

Would I have stayed with the other company if I made then what I make now? I'd like to think not: the stress was killing me. I love my friends dearly - even after me bailing on them, we are quite close because they understand why I had to do it - but I've learned that I can't be fiscally irresponsible out of commitment to others. I have to take care of me and mine first.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000

A job that means something. A job that contributes to society. I have had good and bad jobs before, all of which paid poorly (Science Research is not known for paying well). Now I am a High School Science teacher, love what I do, still grossly underpaid.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000