Jesse, I'd ask how much your share of health coverage is. What are your employer's current contribution to your retirement plan? Are there any other perqs--mass transit subsidy, snacks in the office, etc.?

Don't forget there's a monetary value to not hating your job too!

Taking a step back shouldn't mean anything to someone at your level at this point. Companies shouldn't be asking for salary history anyway.

Oh, they can't ask salary history in MA any more! Health coverage will be I think about the same premium for what looks like a better plan (but I don't typically use much health care). Current job does a 3% match on retirement. Transit subsidy is good, but that's like $40/month. The other perks are endless -- cheap yoga, credit union, on and on.

Jesse, if you need to explain taking a step back, then you could say that the benefits and overall compensation were a better fit for you.

Not hating your job also is a huge quality of life bonus.

Literally no one would know, except now I've told all you people!

It is totally worth it.

OK, I feel better.

Congrats Jesse!

And sending out lots of ~ma to Omnis, Ouise, and Scrappy's mom

Wow, so much news

OMG, I'm totally wrong. It's less than I'm making now, but more than I started at three years ago. Now I really feel better!

Hooray for better jobs!

Congrats, Jesse. Happiness is priceless and definitely worth taking less money for.

This year will be interesting for me, as we are moving to open plan office space in October. I don't mind some aspects of an open plan office, actually, but combining it with my hell commute makes my job even less appealing than it's been for a while. No matter what I do when I quit this company, I'll be making less money and I'd be willing to take a 50% salary cut to not have this commute. OTOH I go crazy working from my home office more than 3 days in a row, so the best thing that could happen is finding a position in the east bay closer to me.

I have a lot to say about Omnis, but I am saving it for private communication with him. Hello and my best to everyone else (I am all caught up on the board now, finally.)

Hey Nanita! Are there companies who do what we do, in the East Bay? Good luck.

I could handle open office on a day or two a week basis (it's essentially what the co-working space is) but can't imagine EVERYONE having to do it, or having to do it every day! Cubes were bad enough, geez. But these days I haven't worked in an office in..9 years? So...yeah.

I'm still trying to figure out what i want to do when I give up the co-working space at the end of the month. Need to have a place to go, but when I have multiple meetings every day, coffee shops aren't the best (not to mention, I end up eating/drinking too much in them!)

Also...go Jesse!

Open plans are such bullshit (in most circumstances).