[sonygal57]

My history: I began working for my employer January of 2010…b4 that I worked countless dead end-jobs: CNA since 16, Assistant manager at Fast Food restaurant at 19, Assistant manager at oil changing place at @ 24, another year as direct support staff of mentally handicap, and at 25 I discovered taxes! I began working at a McTax place in 2010 (for 2009 tax returns) and fell in love with job. I used my days off during the off season to study for school. I have been teaching our tax classes for 2.5 years and enjoyed it. I finally got my four year degree after 3 years in 2012. My raise was to become salary. Prior to my degree I worked a max of 31 hrs a week during off season and while I normally worked ridiculous hours during tax season I ended up working far more once becoming salary this past tax season. Now I am salary and I can def say I made less this year than last year….the saving grace is that I have no idea what my bonus for 2013 will be. In the past I rec’d my bonus in April based on the returns I prepared…this year I will receive based on all returns prepared….however I have worked much more this year and based on my salary I have made much less….will the bonus make up for this??? I am doubting my raise much more each day that passes….and now that I see how much more health care insurance is going to cost me next year…what ever the bosses could pay will not be enough!!!

Where I fear it becomes worse is that I passed two CPA exams this year and expect to pass the other two b4 Jan 30 2014….Yes I will finish tax season with them but My God am I not underselling myself if stay with them past that?

Good old Gandalf, "All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is give to us."
"Not all those who wander are lost."

FAR: I slayed the Dragon!
BEC: I defeated the Siren!
AUD: I eliminated Medusa!
REG: ?????

[Anonymous]

Being salary has it's good points and it's bad points. On the one hand you don't have to account for every minute of every day, you don't typically have to turn in time cards, and depending on the employer you have the flexibility to leave for appointments without it going against your PTO because they know you work for than 40 on a regular basis. On the other hand you don't get paid for every minute you work. It's a toss up at some companies and just not worth it at other companies. Companies make the most use out of their money by having salaried employees they can work more than 40 hours and not pay overtime to. If you love your job and your coworkers I would suggest you not focusing on your rate per hour now that you are salary. It will never compare to being hourly. However, if your company is very strict about your time off as a salaried employee then you should probably look elsewhere. Having a flexible employer is key to being salaried. I haven't seen a bonus in years because our bonus is based on EBIT and the economy sucks, but my employer lets me come and go as needed because they know I'll make up any time during each month's closeout. It affords me the opportunity to volunteer at my daughter's school or take time off for anything that may come up with the family or with school without taking it against my PTO. That's a huge deal at this point in my life. It's all about what you value in an employer.

[Anonymous]

Being salary has it's good points and it's bad points. On the one hand you don't have to account for every minute of every day, you don't typically have to turn in time cards, and depending on the employer you have the flexibility to leave for appointments without it going against your PTO because they know you work for than 40 on a regular basis. On the other hand you don't get paid for every minute you work. It's a toss up at some companies and just not worth it at other companies. Companies make the most use out of their money by having salaried employees they can work more than 40 hours and not pay overtime to. If you love your job and your coworkers I would suggest you not focusing on your rate per hour now that you are salary. It will never compare to being hourly. However, if your company is very strict about your time off as a salaried employee then you should probably look elsewhere. Having a flexible employer is key to being salaried. I haven't seen a bonus in years because our bonus is based on EBIT and the economy sucks, but my employer lets me come and go as needed because they know I'll make up any time during each month's closeout. It affords me the opportunity to volunteer at my daughter's school or take time off for anything that may come up with the family or with school without taking it against my PTO. That's a huge deal at this point in my life. It's all about what you value in an employer.

[Anonymous]

My advice would be, if this is the best job you've ever had, don't look just at the money. From the start of your post, it sounds like you really like(d) your job and that is worth a lot. I'm not saying it's worth working for minimum wage when you're worth 5x that much and the bills are piling up, but it is worth considering when thinking about other options. Say you could make 25% more somewhere else, but you would feel like you were at the fast food restaurant again. Do you think you'd be happier with more cash on the weekends but more frustration at work?

So, if I was you, I'd hang tight, but at the same time I'd keep my eyes open…and if something came along that seemed like it would be superior as far as your enjoyment out of the job as well as the pay, then give it a shot. But don't get desperate from looking at the money and end up in a bad job. I've been in a bad environment within accounting and it really sucks.

[Anonymous]

My advice would be, if this is the best job you've ever had, don't look just at the money. From the start of your post, it sounds like you really like(d) your job and that is worth a lot. I'm not saying it's worth working for minimum wage when you're worth 5x that much and the bills are piling up, but it is worth considering when thinking about other options. Say you could make 25% more somewhere else, but you would feel like you were at the fast food restaurant again. Do you think you'd be happier with more cash on the weekends but more frustration at work?

So, if I was you, I'd hang tight, but at the same time I'd keep my eyes open…and if something came along that seemed like it would be superior as far as your enjoyment out of the job as well as the pay, then give it a shot. But don't get desperate from looking at the money and end up in a bad job. I've been in a bad environment within accounting and it really sucks.

[Author]

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