Pros and Cons

First, let me say up front that this is not a cry for help. It's not a blog on "poor Jim". It's what is on my mind as I face a change in my life. A new reality that I've been fortunate to have never faced in 73 years of life. It's kind of exciting and kind of terrifying....

My company has requested that all headquarter employees return to the office 4 days a week. That is a reasonable request and one that they have every right to demand. After all, the company pays a salary to each headquarters employee and expects productivity in return. And their expectation is that this productivity is only possible if all employees are physically in their offices 4 days a week. It really doesn't matter if I agree or disagree with that sentiment, it is a reality and it is within their right to demand that....

Now, my dilemma. We no longer live in the city where the headquarters is located. Because of certain family needs, we were given permission more than two years ago to move to another area 5 hours away from the headquarters. The area we relocated back to is our "home" area and we have friends and family here that we depend on for social, mental, and physical health. We lived in this area previously and that's why we consider it our "home".

But, I love my job and I love my company and I don't want to leave, so what to do, what to do.....

If I choose to move back to the city where the headquarters is located, I once again am moving my family to an area without family. We do have lots of friends there and a great church, so all of that "new" feeling and searching and making new friends won't be necessary, but the reason we moved back "home" was to have the help of family. That will be missing. We will be back where we started pre-Covid. We'll be taking a step backward in family support.

If I choose not to obey the demands of my company, my job will be terminated and rightfully so. I am being paid to be a loyal employee who delivers what is expected when it is expected and from where it is expected. It's like when you were a child. Your parents made certain things mandatory and you had to make the choice whether to agree and do them or disagree and face the consequences. We have all learned that lesson (some more than others), so this goes along with that concept.

And so, here we are. Decision time is almost upon me. I will be in the office on the designated start of the new reality. My wife and I are going there to see what we can do to ensure my continued employment, but we also have to think of the consequences and what that means to us as a family. Weigh the Pros and Cons as it were. I will be making a spreadsheet.....

This is my reality. I hope and pray that everyone who reads this is doing well and is able to discover their own Pros instead of their Cons. Have fun !!!!