medievalism | Interesting news on the job front

I'm not officially supposed to know that the execs of my company are trying to trim the fat to make us look more profitable for a future (1-2 years) sale to investors. Lately it feels like there's no more fat to trim, they're cutting flesh off the bone at this point. They won't fire or do layoffs. They're trying to make us attrition ourselves by cutting benefits, increasing workloads, freezing hiring, running too lean to be sustainable, all the usual tactics to get people to leave on their own.

I've been half-heartedly looking because my huge commute (up to two hours drive to work and over two hours home during season) and my insufferable colleague (both lazy and bad personality combined) are starting to grate on my nerves. But, it's a losing situation for me. I currently do practically nothing all day. I can have maybe half a dozen calls and office visitors in a week and the rest of my time is sort of mine. Any job I've seen nearer to home will be more work for less money. I'm not great at math, but that's not an equation I like.

Last night at trivia (which I got into at the invitation of my colleague and supervisor), I got to see another colleague whom I haven't seen since I moved to my current location. He was originally a property manager but moved into our sales team. He told me that the sales team made a proposal to a two building, high rise condo that's much, much closer to my home. He said that if they sign with us, they will get an on-site property manager, an on-site admin, and on-site maintenance people. It would be a bigger workload than I currently have (almost any position would be, if I'm honest), but not as intensive as when I had a full portfolio with 24 properties. He also said the admin position (which is the one I would be offered) starts at two dollars more per hour than I'm currently making. That feels like a pretty big win. So, I asked him to keep me in mind if we get this contract. I know exactly where this condo is and it's 1/3 of the commute I have currently.

So as I get this glimmer of hope, the Board President of my current location called the office today. When I told him the property manager wasn't in the office, he took a moment to have a conversation with me. The gist is that he asked me to get my CAM license (it's what you need in Florida to be a property manager). I told him I'd be interested in it, but I feared the company would put me elsewhere as we're always understaffed and I'm not interested in being a property manager elsewhere. The BOD President then went on to say they didn't want to lose me, he buttered my buns with compliments on my work and professional demeanor, and then added that he'd make it work if I got my license because they don't want to lose me.

So I'll be checking in with my HR rep when she's back from PTO next week to see if I can get the company to reimburse me if I get my license. It's a little over $500 for the 16-hour class, the background check, and the state test. Maybe if the company won't, the BOD will approve that to be paid from the Association's funds. It's a lot all at once and a lot to think about for my future career.