Benefits at a smaller company

[Anonymous]

I feel like I took my previous benefits at my old companies for granted. I currently work a flex schedule, make about half 80% of what I used to, get no health insurance, no life insurance, no 401k match, only 10 days of vacation per year. The company is growing so there may be financial upside in the future. I keep staying because I get to work my 35-40 hours week with very flexible hours. DH does earn $$$ and holds all the health benefits.

Does this sound like a bad situation or would you keep it for the flex schedule?

[Anonymous]

Are you financially stretched or just offended that the benefits aren't great? If your DH earns $$$ and provides the benefits, be happy that you have a job you enjoy that allows you a schedule you enjoy. If you do really need the money, then yes, start looking for something else, understanding that you may have to give up flex.

[Anonymous]

If you don't need the benefits then who cares

[Anonymous]

You are luck to have a 401k, about 70% of business do not offer that.

[Anonymous]

I would only work for a smaller company if I received equity.

What's the point at working at a smaller place besides a higher chance of 'ownership'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would only work for a smaller company if I received equity.

What's the point at working at a smaller place besides a higher chance of 'ownership'?

+1,000

More risk less reward? Sign me up!

[Anonymous]

Small companies suck, if you're an employee. If you're not getting equity, what's the point? Usually the owners are miserly and view you as disposable. Good luck every getting a raise, extra vacation time, or benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small companies suck, if you're an employee. If you're not getting equity, what's the point? Usually the owners are miserly and view you as disposable. Good luck every getting a raise, extra vacation time, or benefits.

Yup, but the problem is, as you get deep into your career, big companies will not hire you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small companies suck, if you're an employee. If you're not getting equity, what's the point? Usually the owners are miserly and view you as disposable. Good luck every getting a raise, extra vacation time, or benefits.

What is your definition of a small company?

[Anonymous]

I loved working for small companies. We were like family with profit sharing and awesome holiday parties with good door prizes (at 2 different small companies). The benefits slowly disappeared as we got swallowed up by bigger and bigger companies.

[Anonymous]

small companies enable you to sharpen your skills and get a lot of experience very quickly. They also have potential to boom from startups. You can always get hired to work in a big company but not vice versa.

[Anonymous]

I used to work for a federal contractor with a couple thousand employees. They got crushed in the sequester and lost >1000 positions, including mine.

I was unemployed for a while and finally caught on with a small company with about 30 employees. I'm earning a lot less in salary and get no vacation, no sick leave, no retirement, no health coverage and no ownership stake. We can take off pretty much as much as we want to but we aren't going to get paid, either.

[Anonymous]

Over the years I've discovered I am a big company person. I like being a guppie in the ocean vs shark in the pond. Now when I apply for jobs (rarely as Im pretty happy) I only apply to other fortune 500 companies. The benefits are better and I hold healthcare for my children so thats a big one, plus I am a single parent so a 401k match is very helpful as I am solely responsible for my retirement. I also just like "room to move" and have found it easier to move up when their are lots of different relationships and departments to use.

[Anonymous]

I used to work for a federal contractor with a couple thousand employees. They got crushed in the sequester and lost >1000 positions, including mine.

I was unemployed for a while and finally caught on with a small company with about 30 employees. I'm earning a lot less in salary and get no vacation, no sick leave, no retirement, no health coverage and no ownership stake. We can take off pretty much as much as we want to but we aren't going to get paid, either.

Yep that is the way things are going. Bigger and bigger companies are dropping bennifits. They real should open the state retirement plans open to people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over the years I've discovered I am a big company person. I like being a guppie in the ocean vs shark in the pond. Now when I apply for jobs (rarely as Im pretty happy) I only apply to other fortune 500 companies. The benefits are better and I hold healthcare for my children so thats a big one, plus I am a single parent so a 401k match is very helpful as I am solely responsible for my retirement. I also just like "room to move" and have found it easier to move up when their are lots of different relationships and departments to use.

Over the years, I've discovered I'm a small company person. I like the job flexibility, the ability to take on new challenges without a lot of turf or politics, the personal attention and appreciation of bosses who notice and care about you.