I Need Advice Please - To Switch Or Not To Switch

eastbest

Hi Guys,

First post and I face a real dilemma.

Being worried about the financial climate this year, I applied for a job with the London Ambulance Service. Starting pay just over £17000 for 10 weeks, rising to just over £20000 and then £21000 after the first year. Benefits include (for this discussion) a final salary pension.

At the moment, I work for a private hire firm on a salary of £18,000 with no additional benefits. It is a small, well run company and the people are A JOY to work with.

I've been successful with the LAS and they want me to start in January 09. With the intention of submitting my resignation, I had a long chat with my boss. He's now made me a counter offer to retain me: £21,500(!) and £50 a month towards a pension which they will be launching.

Obviously the money is tempting but the reason I looked elsewhere in the first place was because of job security. I've been assured by my boss that the company will still be fine even if business HALVES from present levels. It seems to be well run by sensible people and there is no "fat" to speak off in our current operations.

So...sorry for the long post, but what would *you* do in this case?

kellyw8800

sounds like your current employer thinks your an asset he wishes to keep, this could work to your advantage in the future as well as now.
1. Current employer offering more in the way of wages.
2. £50 into a pension a month is a brilliant benefit.
3. You CAN talk to your current employer and get the result you wish for.
4. You like the people you work with.

Seems you have it good where you. I think I would stay just for having a nice employer who you can approach.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Have to agree with Kelly. It sounds like you are valued where you are and have a nice bunch of people to work with. I know nothing about the LAS, but would suspect it's the sort of place you might get lost, small fish in a big sea type of thing. If you get a manager you don't get along with it could turn into a nightmare. I guess that might happen where you are now, but personally I think I'd be inclined to stay.

Mind you, I'm talking with experience of working in a large organisation where targets were more important than doing the job right, and we were regularly moved into different teams and some of the managers I had to work for were awful. So, I probably have a twisted perception, but to me, the quality of the working environment is more important than just money.

cally6008

I'd be tempted to stay in your current job for now, better the devil you know and all that.