Job stress in the area? (Raleigh, Durham: real estate, home, job market)

[JennC]

My husband I are considering a move to the Raleigh area from New Jersey. He works in accounting/finance for a corporate job. One of the main reasons we are moving is for a better, balanced life. He is currently expected to work so much overtime that we barely see him most days. The overtime and rat race is very prevelant in NJ and especially in his field.

How is it in the Raleigh area? Are people working 9-5 jobs and spending quality time with family? Or are they expected to kill themselves at work like they are here?

[FVmommy]

I really think it depends a lot on the specific company. I think overall there is probably less emphasis on overtime/rat race here than in NJ, but it still exists in some (maybe a lot?) of organizations. Unfortunately, with companies laying off, those who are left are left with more work and more stress, I'm afraid, even at places that might have been more laid back in the past.

[Francois]

Originally Posted by JennC

My husband I are considering a move to the Raleigh area from New Jersey. He works in accounting/finance for a corporate job. One of the main reasons we are moving is for a better, balanced life. He is currently expected to work so much overtime that we barely see him most days. The overtime and rat race is very prevelant in NJ and especially in his field.

How is it in the Raleigh area? Are people working 9-5 jobs and spending quality time with family? Or are they expected to kill themselves at work like they are here?

Right now most of the stress is about being laid off or looking for jobs, since unemployment here is the highest it's been in 25 years. (and rising) The "workday" is very dependent on industry, and probably would be pretty much the same in your husband's industry wherever he was. But right now, having a job at all is so uncertain, there is more stress, and there is getting to be a general attitude of "be glad you have a job at ALL" so nobody complains about things like work/life balance.

[NCmoonlight]

http://money.cnn.com/news/storysuppl...pmap/index.htm

A picture (or map) is worth a thousand words....

[JennC]

Thanks everyone for your responses. My question isn't as much about unemployment as the quality of employment. We probably won't be relocating until the real estate and job market looks up a bit. We loved the area so much when visiting and really want to raise our family there. We are just wondering if the quality of the work mirrors the quality of life.

[skaternum]

It really depends on the company. I've worked at places where you put in 8-9 hours a day and that was it. I've worked at places where you worked nights and weekends too. Huge variance from company to company.

[JJingle]

Originally Posted by JennC

Thanks everyone for your responses. My question isn't as much about unemployment as the quality of employment. We probably won't be relocating until the real estate and job market looks up a bit. We loved the area so much when visiting and really want to raise our family there. We are just wondering if the quality of the work mirrors the quality of life.

It depends on the company culture, management, and the level of employment. I would imagine these factors are determinates anywhere despite location.

[saturnfan]

NC is a right to work (for less) state. State employees cannot unionize.

Unemployment benefits are generous, but very little job security.

Many employers use illegal aliens which drives wages down.

[tabbcat]

Originally Posted by JennC

My husband I are considering a move to the Raleigh area from New Jersey. He works in accounting/finance for a corporate job. One of the main reasons we are moving is for a better, balanced life. He is currently expected to work so much overtime that we barely see him most days. The overtime and rat race is very prevelant in NJ and especially in his field.

How is it in the Raleigh area? Are people working 9-5 jobs and spending quality time with family? Or are they expected to kill themselves at work like they are here?

I came from EDS, IBM and General Motors (in Detroit). Raleigh/Durham does seem to be much more relaxed in terms of professional standards. My husband and I are never home later than 4:30pm, and we have plenty of family time. I wouldn't be surprised that work/life balance is regional... we couldn't be happier with it here, although I do miss the "rat race"

[he's so hott]

As others have said before, it depends on the company your husband works for. To narrow it down even more, it'll depend on what your husband's immediate supervisor expects from his/her employees in terms of the amount hours they put it at the office. Your question isn't really one that can be generalized by region or city as every company and boss within a company is different. Hell, you can have 3 different bosses within the same building on 3 different floors whom differ on how many hours the employee needs to put in at at the office.