Should I Stay Employed as a Temp or go Full Time?

Question

I work for the County, Department of Human Services. I do not like this job and would prefer not to stay any longer than necessary. I left this job a year ago after being employed here for 5 years. I returned to this job in July of this year after not being sucessful in another venture.

I took the test to become a permanent employee with benefits, (medical, dental, vision, retirement, etc.) that I have to pay OUT OF MY POCKET to have.

As an temp...I do not have ANY benefits but can get my kids on another Medical/dental/vision plan that will save me about $250/mo. My total savings will be about $400 per pay period if I DO NOT become a permanent employee. That's $900 per month!

The ONLY benefit for becoming a permanent employee is that I too, would have medical, dental, vision.

I am tempted to hold out on making a decision until after the first of the year.

The actual job is not so bad...working with kids and families and trying to get them back together or offer some permanency plan for the kids.

I dislike KNOWING I will never be able to support myself and kids on the salary and deductions.

Answer 1

Let me tell you a little true story, then you decide. I was a nurse for 35 years. Most nursing jobs don't offer retirement and medical after you quit working at that job. Some, like state schools and hospitals do offer retirement and medical, but they are hard, stressful, depressing, drudgery jobs that are pure hell to go to. So I didn't work there. Now, I am retired. Couldn't work anymore if I wanted to. Back, hips, and knees shot, and can't see well enough to read med labels. I live on social security only. Now I have Medicare, but that is ALL the insurance I have or can get. Now, here's the biggie. One month (count 'em...four weeks) before my medicare became effective, I had to have emergency surgery. No insurance, remember? I now owe the hospital $35,000.00. That does not include the lab, radiology, surgeon, his assistant, doctors who read xrays, doctors who read EKG, ER visit, and anesthesiologist. Get the picture? And, btw, I knocked down a hell of a salary as a traveling nurse, but that doesn't count for diddly now. Stay where you are, go fulltime, and get that pension and insurance. You are going to need it someday.

Answer 2

Here's the thing: how much do you hate your job?

I think it's very important for you to have health insurance. You never know when a major injury or illness will pop up; I started having symptoms of a major chronic illness when I was only 27. If I didn't have insurance through my employer at that point, I probably would have ended up filing bankruptcy due to all the tests, office visits, and drugs I needed at that point.

If you can handle being at the government job without completely losing your mind, I think it would be worthwhile. You can always keep your eyes open for a job somewhere else that would provide health benefits for you and your kids.

Answer 3

It depends on how much risk you are willing to accept in your life. You don't know when you'll need serious medical coverage (emergency visits to the hospital or surgery) so based on my risk factors I would say go for permanent status.

If you knew for sure you wouldn't need that kind of coverage then of course I would say, stay temp. Best wishes to you in your decision making process.

Answer 4

For a lot less than $900 you could get a private medical plan for yourself.