I am torn and need advice

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I need advice and i know ill find it here. I just spent an hour typing out a huge post stating my dilemma and when i finished i hit spell check and it deleted my whole post, so u guys are getting the short version. I work at a machine shop and I get treated like crap 70% of the time. I get paid a decent wage but the shop is dirty and dangerous and full of broken equipment. we are not allowed to clean up or take the extra ten minutes of time of prep time when we are fabricating. I am miserable there. The hours are 8 to 5 Tuesday to Saturday.I went for an interview at a modern shop for a large company about 25 minutes from home. they got all their stuff together and they have no signs of slowing down. They will match my wage and with the possibility of a 3 dollar an hour increase. They have a strong interest in me. 4 tens and they work through the weekends.No brainier right? Well heres the kicker, I also am employed with company that does mill maintenance and construction. i work Sundays and long weekends I love every minute of it. I work along side my dad and uncle there. it pays me $400 a day and if I'm sent out of town i make more. Ive made $2600 in 4 days once.  It takes an hour and 15 minutes to get there when the highways good. So what do i do, give up the job i hate and the job i love for awesome working environment? give up the 6 to 7 day a week with awesome pay for 3 days a week off. 2800 a month or 4000 + a month? I'm about to break down and quit from the machine shop most days. I dunno I need help.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Thats a tuff one there.......All that I can say is I was partners with my Dad for about 22 yrs welding together, he retired and then started a dozer service and I stayed welding. We still worked together on weekends and things like that........then he died of cancer 5 yrs ago. I cannot think of anything that has ment more to me than those times we spent together working side by side. It is one of the things that I will never forget, so....this does not help you one way or another. Work is not worth your well being, ever. If you are in danger of being injured then move on....a lost arm or worse life is not worth it, for anybody. The newer safer location might build into something better down the road.......like I said tuff spot, good luck. A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:Originally Posted by AwelderiamWork is not worth your well being, ever:
Reply:It is easy to look at some ones life and figure out what to do and hard to figure out your own. I worked at 2 places that had sencer on thier brooms If you started to do something to help your sell do a job easyer they would come runing from office and stop you. Moneys not every thing. At this point in my life If I could flip burgures and be happy I will.
Reply:Work enviroment is everything. because it doesn't just effect how you work. it effects how you live. I don't care who your are. if you're being treated like crap at work, you take that home with you. and it effects your whole family. at the same time. If you're being treated well, and you like what you're doing, you take that home with you too. It's been said already. Money isn't everything. Nor is it worth your limbs or your life to work somewhere, even if you get a decent settlement and you're able to get on disability you're still out a limb for the rest of your life. making life harder not only for you but your family as well. you'll hear arguements "the grass always looks greener on the other side, but rarely is" well some times the grass is greener. If the new company is interested in you,  the pay is there, and work enviroment is better. I say do yourself, and your family a favor and take it. 4-10's is a great schedule to work. and some times (assuming it's a rotating schedule) you may still be able to work with your dad and uncle from time to time.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by Doug247I'm about to break down and quit from the machine shop most days.
Reply:Here is my advice working in the Oil and Gas industry for over thirty years. Life is too short working with assholes. Be happy and follow your gut intuition.Be safe,Yakdung
Reply:With work being scarce these days and you have a new job to go, I take that as a sign.
Reply:If you're not happy at work, you won't be truly happy at home (and vise-versa).  You deserve to work in a shop that cares about the well-being of its employees.Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:You talked/typed about hourly pay, what about benefits and stability? These can be very important in the decision making process. Maybe the second job will be able to offer something for you on your 3 off days? Just my 2 cents worth. Unhappy and UNSAFE can't be a good thing though.
Reply:hi,you have a job and great prospects. You did not say your age or if single. Sounds like your young and single which means you have many years ahead of you. Money is always good but you can't use it if your dead and it's hard to get it out of pocket with one arm. You have a unique situation, and a real tough decision ahead. I think you must like what you do and be happy at work and feel good when you get home. If big money is there too then that's a plus. I was a pipe fitter welder and loved every minute of it. Well almost every minute of it. You can get employers and bosses that treat you like s##t and others that real appreciate your talents. Evaluate your potential advancement where you are and where you may go in the future and go from there. GOOD LUCK and keep us informed. BOB
Reply:Thank you everyone for replying to soon. I am 25, and I live with my girlfriend in her parents basement suite, on a small hobby farm, I basically been here for a year and shes lived here for 3 with her six miniature horses and 2 full sized horses, chickens and 3 goats. Also she is a nurse and she loves her job so we are settled in quite nicely. If it weren't for her I wouldn't be doing as well as I am today.So I talked to my dad and told him about my interview, and how it sounded like i already had the job  he was so happy, cause he knows how Ive changed since id started at the shop. Then I told him about the sacrifice id be making to take the new job and he was sad about it. one of the points he had was if i get more hours at the mill id only have to work 2 days a week to make the same as the new job, plus when they do shutdowns id get to make more.  Ive worked many seasonal and jobs that went bankrupt and closed down. Now Ive found the cream of the crop job with long term employment with opportunity for advancement. Right now my confidence is shot to heck from the treatment Ive been receiving and i believe thats what making me so indecisive.  I still have time to think and thanks again for the input.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:"Now Ive found the cream of the crop job with long term employment with opportunity for advancement. " Hi again, boy those are some strong words! That sounds pretty convincing to me BUT I just retired and you and yours have many years ahead of you.   Yes, sometimes some of us males need the woman to guide us, that way you can blame her! No not really, but did you discuss the future with her ??  Might be a good idea plus you may even get lucky !! Bob
Reply:You got maybe 50 years to work and another 30 to grow and or die. Then its all over. Make the best of what little time you have. Great thing about the USA YOU get to decide what, who, where, when, how you will do any of it. Your first second and third loyalty is to YOU and nothing else. If you aint feeling it (the love) your family won't either. You know what the right answer is now just act on it.
Reply:I'm 36 now and have been at this for 20 years. I have worked in fab shops, construction, industrial shut downs and shipyards. The shut down work is nice and the money is good but it is a hit or miss job. The EPA is trying to make old polluting coal plants upgrade or they shut down. Upgrades will make lots of work for tradesman and the air cleaner in the long run. For some reason the republicans are dead set against that plan but I digress...... Machining is a great skill to master and will always be needed. It may not pay as much as shut down work but its clean, steady and safer in the long run. Good luck with whatever you choose and always learn from those around you. Peace.CERTIFICATIONS:7018M- H.V.O10718M- H.V.O11018M- H.V.O9N10- H.V.O71T-1-HYM- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0,035- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0.045- H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.035 H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.045 H.O.VER5554- H.O.V
Reply:I think first and foremost, and I'm sure all on here would agree, get out of the unsafe unsatisfying work environment. From there you've got two options. 1 try to get more hours at the mill, which with the way most American mills are going may or may not be a safe job to get into, or start at the machine shop that has potential for both growth and advancement.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by Doug247No brainier right? Well heres the kicker, I also am employed with company that does mill maintenance and construction. i work Sundays and long weekends I love every minute of it. I work along side my dad and uncle there..
Reply:Originally Posted by AquafireIf you're not happy at work, you won't be truly happy at home (and vise-versa).  You deserve to work in a shop that cares about the well-being of its employees.
Reply:I have had this discussion with many people over the years. It all boils down to your definition of a "good" job. For some its all about the money. For others its about enjoyment and fulfilment. I have always said that if you do a job only for the money you are nothing more than a whore. I have known guys that hated every minute of their job but kept it bacause of the pay. Me I would rather enjoy going to work enjoy the people I work with. You have laid out the choice pretty clearly a simple pros vs cons for each job would make it even clearer. A good job these days is hard to come by I would act fast cause I am sure if it gets out it will get filled pretty quick.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:I really have to thank you all for every piece of advice. I got a call back today and they had one applicant that had a few  years more experience and his A level, also he didn't have 2 jobs already lol, so they chose him, he said it was close though and he is keeping my resume for a while in case this guy doesn't work out. I am sort of glad, cause at the moment  I am making more money with the 2 jobs, and it gave me time to think. Ill try to keep a few things in mind, I am a good person and i always try to be sincere and respectful to the people surrounding me. I can weld way better than my boss or his son. I maybe slower but thats because i refuse to be a hack.  If things don't get better soon I will try to get more hours at the mill, and I will be sure to do so while my dad is still working.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Originally Posted by Doug247I really have to thank you all for every piece of advice. I got a call back today and they had one applicant that had a few  years more experience and his A level, also he didn't have 2 jobs already lol, so they chose him, he said it was close though and he is keeping my resume for a while in case this guy doesn't work out. I am sort of glad, cause at the moment  I am making more money with the 2 jobs, and it gave me time to think. Ill try to keep a few things in mind, I am a good person and i always try to be sincere and respectful to the people surrounding me. I can weld way better than my boss or his son. I maybe slower but thats because i refuse to be a hack.  If things don't get better soon I will try to get more hours at the mill, and I will be sure to do so while my dad is still working.
Reply:Go to the part time job that you love and explain the situation.  Maybe they can put you on for more hours.  If they can't, to bad.  Maybe you can still do some work on as needed basis.Sounds like your extremely unhappy with your current full time job.  Its just not worth it.Time to move on.  Next adventure...Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Hello again. I thought I would update the status of my situation. The company I applied at called me back and told me the other applicant ahead of me bailed out on them. They gave me a couple days to decide and I decided to take it. I get treated like garbage at the machine shop and the work that they do is inferior. There is 30 years of accumulated junk everywhere. The nine + stay cats that live there use the perimeter of the shop as a litter box, so when projects drive in it drags the cat waste in with it.  Most of the customers who actually bring in big jobs have been chased off and there is just poor management. The list goes on.I decided to take the new job because they impressed the hell out of me. The place is super clean. They actually have a clean up person or 2 on shift at all times. They got steady work and long time employees many from 10 years up to 30 years employment. They have everything in place so the guys just have to show up and do the job no wasting  time trying to figure out if there is enough supplies to work with. So that leave the question about my mill job. I called my boss and he told me to take the job i was offered. If he had a full time position for me he would give it to me in a heartbeat. I can come back anytime I want to and there is no hard feelings what so ever. I cant talk to my dad or ask him for advice about the situation because him and mom went to Cuba for his 50th bday. So he will have a surprise when he gets home.I think I made the best decision in the long run. Its a long term job that pays well. I have been working 6 to7 days a week most of this past year and for a few differnt employers and it will be nice to come to a new job that pays well and ill get 3 days off every weekend.Last edited by Doug247; 01-07-2012 at 12:15 AM.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Best of luck with the new job..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Good luck to you.Yakdung