leaving a job
It happens. You’ve done your homework, you’ve checked things out, the horse job looks great, and it turns out to be a disaster. What do you do? Employers who are abusive, don’t pay, change what they promised, don’t have enough financial backing, mistreat their horses, or don’t respect employees as human beings exist in all lines of work including the horse industry. If you find yourself working for an employer like this, your best solution is to put the employer behind you as quickly as possible.
Leaving quickly may not be easy. You may have spent your savings to move to a new location. You may have moved in to employer provided housing. You may have no place to go. You may have children or horses that need your care. If you find yourself in this kind of trap, getting out may be very difficult. There are two things you can do to avoid being caught in this kind of trap.
1. Before you accept a horse job, arrange for a trial period with the employer. Don’t move your family, animals, and belongings until you are sure the new job is going to work out. Put a few things in a suitcase and go work for the employer for a month or so. Arrange in advance for a review after 30 days and arrange for time to make your final move. If you are still happy with the job and the employer is still happy with you at the end of 30 days, make your final move. If not, you will have a place to go and a way out prepared. If an employer resists the idea of a trial period without a good reason, their attitude may be an indicator of other problems. Proceed with caution. (Special Note: Do NOT tell a potential employer that you want a trial period because you are afraid the job might not work out or because you have had a bad experience in the past. Consider suggesting that the trial period will give the employer a chance to find out if they are happy with your performance before making a long term commitment to you.)
2. Always have your escape plan worked out in advance. Before you take a job, think about what you will do if the job does not work out. Don’t put yourself in a trap. The most important part of your escape plan is financial. If you need to do anything quickly it usually takes money for moving expenses, travel expenses, temporary lodging expenses, etc. As a general rule, it is a good idea to keep a minimum of three month’s salary in the bank at all times. In addition to keeping the escape money in the bank, have a plan in mind for (1) where you will go, (2) who you will stay with, (3) how you will care for your children and animals, and (4) how you will transport your belongings. The more quickly you can take care of these concerns, the more quickly you can escape. If three month’s salary in the bank seems like a lot to you, start with one month, or one week’s salary and build your escape nest egg as soon as you can.
You may never find yourself in a job you need to escape from, but being trapped in a job without an escape plan can put you in a really tight spot. Before you accept a new job, get your escape plan ready just in case.
