The job as Librarian in Barry library was advertised a couple of weeks ago. That is the biggest library in our authority, and the advert is internal only at this stage. At the moment the post is on the salary scale above mine, so it is more money, and would give me a bigger pension.
So do I apply for it?
It is complicated by the fact that we are undergoing something called Job Evaluation. The theory behind Job Evaluation is to even out the pay scales across local government, however as all authorities seem to have come to completely different conclusions while using the same system it is very questionable as to how well it is going to do what it is meant to do. It has cost umpteen millions across the UK - done at the instructions of Central Government - but our counter staff have been graded at at least £2-4,000 less per annum than those in two of our neighbouring local authorities. Fairness is a debatable point. We had the results of our Job Evaluation exercise a few months ago, but it was rejected by the Trade Union vote (largely because the lowest paid have had their pay cut - everyone assumed that they would benefit from this).
Under those results the post in Barry has gone up more, and I have gone up a little bit in my present job. However we have no idea what changes may come about as a result of the revised job evaluation process. So you are applying for a job when you have no idea what the salary is, which is very odd.
I have pondered at length about it, and eventually, as my motives to apply were solely financial, I have decided that it not for me. The library is currently very badly managed, and has a lot of potentially difficult staff, which is one challenge. It is also a town with some very stroppy borrowers, and a fair amount of difficulty with misbehaving kids.
So, after much internal debate I have decided that the extra money is not worth the amount of stress that I would find doing that particular job. It may suit someone else but not me.
I feel better for making the decision.
1 comment:
I'm glad you feel better, I do too, I was worried you were going to go for the change...that seems odd as I type it, but changing a job that you seem to like for one you'd like less for maybe more money didn't seem the best idea. Life's short stress can make us wish large chunks of it away, which is a shame.
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