Leap of faith or stupidity?

[RKS]

Let hear your anecdotes about leaving a shitty job without having a safety net.

I am an attorney at a small firm (between 10-15 attorneys depending on the boss's mood). I've been here about 3 years and have been kinda looking for a new job for about 3 months but it has been half-hearted. My goal has always been to open my own office. The current atmosphere here is abusive/criminal at best and but I have been able to gain great experience. Now I've been offered an office with minimal rent in a nice part of town. I'm not sure how many of my 125 or so clients will go with me but I can't stand working in my current job for much longer.

I do have 2 young kids but my wife makes decent money, we have some cushion but I will have to start making money within about 3 months. As a bonus my family is willing to 'invest' in my firm and help out as much as possible. I won't miss the commute, imbalanced clients, dealing with Medicare, and an cock-sucking boss but there is no longer a guaranteed paycheck every week.

I am planning to give a 45 day notice on 9/6/2011 but the last time someone gave a notice the were told to go home immediately but other times they ask attorneys to stay for the entire notice period. They even fired an attorney and re-hired him two weeks later and he never even missed a day.


TL;DR I hate my job and going to work for myself.

 

[Saint Nick]

I know nothing about your home and family life, so all I can wish you is the best of luck. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Do it. Live the dream man. If not now it will probably never be the right time.

 

[FelixDeCat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMmE8RLieiA#t=02m05s

 

[sourceninja]

I've always thought that once you give notice, they need cause to fire you otherwise they have to pay you for the period. I've never been fired after giving notice though.

I have been sent home and paid for the period of notice I gave.

 

[darkxshade]

Might be a leap of stupidity?

 

[Gibson486]

Do it. Risk is high, but reward can be awesome.

The right time to do it is always now. The worst time is when it's too late.

 

[JS80]

Do it. Sounds like you work for a bunch of idiots. Will they try to make you sign a non-compete?

 

[mvbighead]

So long as your wife can support the family for a while, it sounds like a good idea. Would be better if you had a decent savings to work with if the money isn't pouring in.

Probably not a bad idea, and it seems you understand the risks. If your family is behind you, give it a try.

 

[sactoking]

Do it. Sounds like you work for a bunch of idiots. Will they try to make you sign a non-compete?

Any company that asks you to sign a non-compete agreement as you're headed out the door and not when you get offered the job deserves to have you as competition and kicking its ass.

 

[D1gger]

Sounds like an opportunity to be your own boss. Do it.

What kind of law do you practice? Corporate? Criminal? Litigation? Ambulance Chasing?

 

[RKS]

Might be a leap of stupidity?

lol, sure but the alternative is guaranteed misery.

Do it. Sounds like you work for a bunch of idiots. Will they try to make you sign a non-compete?

no non-competes but they may litigate (with no success) to get clients back. but the boss knows that the clients can choose who they want as counsel.

So long as your wife can support the family for a while, it sounds like a good idea. Would be better if you had a decent savings to work with if the money isn't pouring in.

:thumbsup: We have got enough not to panic after a few months but if I can take just a handful of clients we should be fine.

I've always thought that once you give notice, they need cause to fire you otherwise they have to pay you for the period. I've never been fired after giving notice though.

I have been sent home and paid for the period of notice I gave.

we have no HR, employee handbook, nothing written regarding rules, terminations, vacations, sick days, paid holidays, etc. Every thing is at the whim of a lunatic boss who makes the rules up as he goes along.

 

[RKS]

Sounds like an opportunity to be your own boss. Do it.

What kind of law do you practice? Corporate? Criminal? Litigation? Ambulance Chasing?

civil ligtigation / PI currently. I am hoping to add immigration and criminal to make ends meet.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

It's always going to have an element of stupidity tied to it, but that's what risk is. If you don't do it, you will regret it for the rest of your life. I quit my job near two years ago; I had a bit of a safety net, but I had a hell of a time finding work for quite a long time. Now I'm working part-time and I'm basically broke. But I don't regret it. My old job was driving me insane. Your long-term mental health is worth more than any job.

Take the plunge.

 

[dirtboy]

Three months cushion isn't much... I hope you have a client base you can pickup quick.

 

[Gibson486]

Any company that asks you to sign a non-compete agreement as you're headed out the door and not when you get offered the job deserves to have you as competition and kicking its ass.

why would you sign a non compete while going into a company?

 

[sactoking]

why would you sign a non compete while going into a company?

Why would you sign a non-compete when leaving a company?

If you're interviewing and the company says "You got the job, just sign this non-compete agreement that takes effect if you leave and we'll get you down to HR" you sign the agreement or you find another job.

If you've given your notice and the company says "I know you're on the way out, but we want you to agree to not compete with us by signing this or we'll ..... fire you" you laugh in their face and walk away.

 

[hanoverphist]

why would you sign a non compete while going into a company?

certain positions in my company are required to sign them up front. they also have to sign confidentiality statements to protect our inner workings. i didnt think it was that odd to sign when you get hired, makes more sense to have people know what they are getting into in the beginning.

 

[JS80]

Why would you sign a non-compete when leaving a company?

"Here's a separation payment for $25k. But in return you must sign this separation agreement."

 

[edro]

You always have 1 year of unemployment as a cushion if things go real bad... take the risk!

 

[Atomic Playboy]

You always have 1 year of unemployment as a cushion if things go real bad... take the risk!

Not if you quit... Unemployment is for people who get laid off for whatever reason. Quitting your job voids your eligibility.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Wife was working a shitty dead-end job this spring. Complained about it nonstop when she got home, but all her job-searching efforts were halfhearted. Eventually she quit despite not having another job lined up. Immediately went into hardcore job search mode and found something almost right away - her first day at the new job was the day after her last day at the old one.

Now the challenge is that while her job is at least in the right career field and a lot more satisfying, she's being woefully underpaid. Not sure if the small company can afford to give her much of a raise, so it might be job hunting time again. She's been there about five months now; planning on asking for a raise at the six month mark.

 

[Ns1]

do it

 

[RKS]

Not if you quit... Unemployment is for people who get laid off for whatever reason. Quitting your job voids your eligibility.

The boss understands this and never 'fires' anyone. He usually makes life so extra-miserable that most people quit. The last person that quit was told " I am not going to fire you, I'm just taking you off the payroll". I have talked to four previous employees and they all seem so much happier.

I may be wrong but a 75% pay-cut may, in some circumstances, may allow someone to be eligible for unemployment.

 

[jbt52]

Don't do it. You will regret it forever. The grass is always greener until you're cutting it.