Opinion on a job opportunity Australia

[baldock92]

Hi Blondes. I've recently been presented with an opportunity in a job and I thought some neutral opinions would be nice. I don't normally like talking about wages openly but it's a pretty key part of the dilemma, so I've had to be open with money. I've also most probably left out some key information as it's pretty late over here and I'm trying to thrash this all out before I go to sleep

For the past 3-4 months my girlfriend and I have been working in a hotel bar and restaurant in a remote town right on the seafront in South Australia, after being on the road for over a year now, which has been pretty awesome. I've never had a job where I actually enjoy being at work doing my job, being around colleagues and customers, so right now everything is great. On top of this the money is pretty damn great for a low skill job, $29.34 an hour, so we're really able to save up a good chunk of cash each paycheck. Now, part of the regulations of the working visa we are on is that you can't work for the same employer for more than 6 months, meaning we've only a couple of months until we have to leave again. We've spoken to the owners about potentially getting a visa sponsorship which would involve promoting us to management and moving from casual employment to full time employment. The issue with this is that casual employees earn significantly more money than full time, roughly $7 per hour, than full time employees (just part of the way things work over here in Aus), but full timers get other benefits such as 4 weeks holiday pay + sick pay, as well as being guaranteed a minimum of 38 hours/ week, even though I've not had an issue getting at least close to this every week. I'm just not sure the benefits of going full time really make up for losing nearly 25% of an hourly wage.

What's your opinion on this folks? Pursue a job promotion for less money and more responsibility/stress, or just be happy we had the opportunity to have a great job for 6 months and move on? Perhaps it's a pride thing but I'm not sure I could deal with having fresh faced 18 year old trainees on shift earning $7 an hour than myself as a manager. Any thoughts would be great.

[DropTheHammer]

How does superannuation come into the equation? Is that only available on the full-time salary? A friend of mine said that their pension savings scheme is very generous in Aus.

Maternity/Paternity pay something to consider too?

Surely the benefits of going full time far outweigh the initially/seemingly lower wage-how many people can say that they enjoy their job as much as you do currently?

[RED-DOG]

I would move on, but I think that's just my nature.

The whole tone of your letter says that's what you want to do anyway.

[bergeroo]

I mean isn't the key thing whether you want to continue living in the small town in Southern Australia, if so, how long for? Do you want to live in Aus long term, just extend your stay? I'd say that's the most important thing rather than the job itself?

[MintTrav]

Would the visa sponsorship help you to get permanent residency? And is that something you want? If so, you could take advantage of it and then move on.

Otherwise, it's time to move on now.

[Simon Galloway]

Interesting situation and it brings up something I've come across in the past where I was surprised that most people think the opposite way to me, but they clearly do.

When I worked in IT I managed a team, but because some of the roles in the team were specialised with obscure skillsets needed, those doing those roles were paid vast sums of money, a LOT more than I was being paid.  Should that grate with me?  It certainly didn't, I was getting a fair wage for what I was doing and the wages of someone else made no difference to my life whatsoever - I don't have to live on his wages after all, so if he earns 4x what I do... no difference to me.  But when it came up in discussion, it was a problem for other people in similar situations.

I think if I was in your shoes, I'd see the change in role and pay as an unavoidable visa tax.  If the new role is acceptably remunerated and you are enjoying yourself, why punt that off because you have a problem with someone else's wages that in no way influences your financial circumstance or life?  If the get $100/hr... gl to them.  The question is (or should be) "Am I happy to continue on $22/hr or not"  To me, getting tied up in a knot because someone else bowls up and gets $29/hr is irrelevant and 0% chance that influences what I decide to do.  If the other guy turns out to make $5 and hour or $50 an hour... no difference to you either way.

[4KSuited]

There are a number of issues here (in addition to the good points made by others):

1. The difference in hourly rate is a reflection of the added benefits you get as a full time employee (holidays, sick pay, bank hols, pension, further employment rights), so it's not correct to feel that you will be getting paid less than the casuals.

2. Is this the job you really love, and want to commit to for a significant period of time? Does it present you with a career path? Or is it just great fun, and there's the chance of a long term working visa? Presumably you will have to stay in this job for a specified time as one of the terms of the visa being granted. Nor would you want to walk out on your sponsor with visa in hand?

3. Realistically, though, are you guaranteed to get the visa? With no prior experience in the sector, I think it may be a stretch to prove that there's no Aussies qualified to do the job better than you. In other words, don't bank on getting the visa. Just carry on enjoying the job at current pay rates and worry about the pay (if it's still an issue for you) IF you get the visa.

Last but not least, money isn't everything. May sound trite and cliched, but it's so true. Would you rather do a job you hated for twice the rate of pay? It's a set of values best learnt early in your working life, IMO. I've met a lot of people along the way who have tons of £££ but a terrible quality of life, since they often hate the job they do or find themselves working all the hours that God sends doing their job and missing out on the other things in life.

Good luck with your decision baldock - I'm sure you'll make the correct one, especially since you're conscious of taking "neutral opinion".

[celtic]

Take the pay cut. Probably isn't even much of a pay cut when you factor in all the other benefits when going full time.

Lucky bastard.

[celtic]

I would move on, but I think that's just my nature.

The whole tone of your letter says that's what you want to do anyway.

Why would you move on, Tom?

[RED-DOG]

I would move on, but I think that's just my nature.

The whole tone of your letter says that's what you want to do anyway.

Why would you move on, Tom?

There's a race of men that don't fit in,
    A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
    And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
    And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the Gypsy blood,
    And they don't know how to rest.

If they just went straight they might go far;
    They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
    And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
    What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
    Is only a fresh mistake.

And each forgets, as he strips and runs
    With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
    Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
    Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
    In the glare of the truth at last.

He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance;
    He has just done things by half.
Life's been a jolly good joke on him,
    And now is the time to laugh.
Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost;
    He was never meant to win;
He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone;
    He's a man who won't fit in.

[dakky]

4 weeks holiday in itself is worth around 7-8% so probably brings your immediate hourly up to almost $24 effectively

[shipitgood]

If you love doing it, you have a very simple decision!

Aus is an amazing country, if the company will sponsor you to stay then go for it.

Too easy.

[hhyftrftdr]

''For the past 3-4 months my girlfriend and I have been working in a hotel bar and restaurant in a remote town right on the seafront in South Australia, after being on the road for over a year now, which has been pretty awesome. I've never had a job where I actually enjoy being at work doing my job, being around colleagues and customers, so right now everything is great''

Take the cut (which isn't as big once you factor in the additional benefits) and keep living the dream.

[MANTIS01]

When you leave this place you will have 'promoted from casual worker to full time manager' on your CV, whether you decide to stay in Australia or whatever this will have value for future earning potential, long-term innit.

What's more, as a manager the business/team you are responsible for will have a ready supply of high calibre casual labour due to the attractive rates of pay, making your job even more enjoyable, easy-life innit.

[NoCardDSC]

I'm unsure how it works but if possible surely, take the pay cut for the permenant job - That way you can continue living what seems to be an exciting chapter of your life, until you decide what you want to do long term.

GL with it whatever you decide to do.