[clevelandtovegas]

I am currently having a rough time in my life. Aside from the fact that I’m a few months from turning 30 and I haven’t really figured out what I want to do with my life, I’m going through a rough time making it from day to day. For a little context, I’m from Cleveland, Ohio and I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada three months ago. The main reason for making the move was to get out of my comfort zone to grow. I wanted to do something new in life, try to inspire myself to find a path to success/happiness. I don’t know anyone out here, I came here all alone to try and find my way.

Well, so far I have to say that I have become more unhappy than I was back home. The job that I moved here for is stressing me out, I work as a cook at MGM Grand. The issue is that I’m hired as an on-call (which during the entire process, I was under belief that it was a part-time positions). I had no idea about the on-call status prior to moving out West. I get my 4-5 days per week, but the scheduling is so unstable. I’m literally on-call 24-hrs 7 days a week, working in a random restaurant/shift each day. I’ve asked other on-calls how they manage (some of which have been working on-call for years), and they tell me that you just have to “hug your phone be ready and you’ll get your 40hrs”. The money is great, but the uncertainty of everything is a lot for me.

Due to this issue, I went and found a full-time position at a bar/grille inside the Holiday Inn Desert Resort. However, the position pays much less ($18.20 @ MGM, $14 @ Holiday Inn). My question to you is if I am making the right decision? Would you choose stability > money? I know that I will make considerably more if I keep the MGM job, but I’ll always have to move with a degree of uncertainty in my daily life. If I take the Holiday Inn job I‘ll be able to know my weekly schedule/daily tasks each day, but I’ll be taking $4 pay cut.

What would you guys suggest, would you take the on-call/money or stability/paycut? I suppose some people can work under these circumstances, as I’ve noticed most casino jobs are on-call until you move up seniority list for full-time. The only pro for me to stay with the casino would be the money. I’m constantly on edge, every phone call I get I think is management calling me in. I just need some advice, I’ve never experience anything like this. I just need to figure out how to survive out here

[strato58]

First, I give you credit for making the move. It took some gonads. I would do exactly what you did and take the stable job. Hopefully the $4 per hour difference will not hurt you too much. You don't even know if you'll get 40 hours at MGM so the difference may be less than you think. With the Holiday Inn job you will know exactly what you are making and can budget accordingly plus have the benefit of knowing your work schedule and free time schedule. You're young and need some personal life too. In the mean time you can keep looking for something better that will hopefully pay as much or more than the MGM. Good things come to people that take chances. You've done that and i'm hoping for the best for you in your future.

[K12144]

There are a few other things in play. For example, can you pay the bills on the lower-paying job? If not, there's not much choice there. Is being on call getting in the way of other things in your life (you're with family, you get a call and have to run off suddenly... you're at the gym, get a call and cut your workout short...you never can have any sort of hobby or social life because you don't know when you'll get called into work... your sleep may be disrupted... etc.)? And, which, in the end, will really pay more? Would you be working the same number of hours at each job, or are you comparing working 30 hours at $14/hr with working 10 hours at $18/hr?

How exactly does being on-call work? Do you have the choice to decline to go if you want to (which the question of "you'll get your 40 hours" makes me wonder about-- wondering if it means "they'll call you for enough shifts to make 40 hours but you can decline some" or "as long as you're reliable they'll start calling you more often"?)? I'm wondering what is the advantage to them over having set shifts for their employees-- surely there's some sort of pattern where they can estimate how many employees they'll need at a certain day/time and would only need people "on call" for rare situations where there's a sudden unanticipated surge in customers? Is Vegas really that unpredictable?

[Packrat1]

Stability means many other things too. Like do either jobs have medical or dental and if so is one plan better? If you get medical at the $14 job and not on the part time job you are in essence making a lot more on the $14 an hour job. Benefits can add up to way more than the $4 an hour difference. I would suspect your 40 hr a week job looks better on future resumes as well as applying for credit.

Not sure if you are interested but have you considered any other fields like Fire Fighter or Police Officer? Those jobs pay very well lots of overtime too. Just a thought.

[VonZimmer]

Who or what you are won't change - ever - because you move somewhere.

It's not because of Las Vegas or Cleveland, it's all internal.

I'm being blunt because the odds are that folks have been coddling you, and that does.not.help.

Another way to look at it (without wasting money on a Psychiatrist) is to ENJOY LIFE IN VEGAS!

Just roll with it and you'll find your true calling.

RE: stability, you are 29 and single? Do you have to be up at the same time every day?? For what?

Earn the money at MGM. Who cares if the hours suck? It's V E G A S.

$4/hour = $8000.00/year. Really want to throw that away??

-von

[PinkString]

Take the least stressful job so you don't go nuts. Stability with the pay cut. I have turned down jobs in the casino industry because they were on call only. I just couldn't do it. I need to know how many hours a week I am getting and have a steady run of days in a row to work and have a few days off that connect. Just cut out a luxury or two to make up for the pay cut. Trust me, you will be happier with the stable job. And you can plan a life around that.

[airics]

see if there are other openings at other mgm properties...

[EA]

I would do something that is more valuable.

[soclose]

Stability will equal to peace. Your story is common and not too many people that are young really like to work on-call. I don’t think anybody I know actually likes being on that type of schedule. It’s all about having a work-life balance. The casinos don’t believe in that. That is something to always ask before accepting any job offer.

[clevelandtovegas]

Strato- I really appreciate you saying that, I’ve had some tough times but I know that it’ll all work out. Nothing is ever easy about change, I will figure it all out though. Thanks again

K12114- I would be able to pay my bills with the $14/ hr, provided that I save up as much as I can over the next few checks before I start with Holiday Inn. I’ve already informed them of my other job, so started off I will be part-time but I will eventually go to full-time if I were to quit the MGM job. The way the on-call works is they have three time slots to call you 6-9a, 12-4p, 7-10p, so basically 24/7. When they call it has to be 4 hrs ahead, they literally called me at 9:40pm for a 3am shift. I got 3 hrs of sleep that night. You can refuse up to 25% of shifts offered every 60 days before they can fire you. So as you can imagine, I have had my daily routine/activities interrupted on multiple occasions already.

Packrat- They offer great benefits with medical, PTO, decent hours (close at 10-11 instead of 24hrs), and they’re much more able to work with my schedule. At this point, I’m just going to work the MGM on-call as much as I can while working part-time with Holiday Inn. If they call me in on a schedule day with Holiday, I’ll just have to refuse it until I’m close and then resign before I get fired. I’ll try to save as much money from MGM checks in the meantime

Von- I don’t mind the criticism, it’s needed. I came here for that exact reason, to develop a different mindset from what I’ve always had my entire adult life. We’re all trying to find that balance with happiness and success, but the foundation has to be solid before anything. I just need to get this situation figured out, and then I can relax and live a little. As you all can tell, I have some issues with anxiety which is ultimately why I don’t do well with uncertain situations. I know you say $8000 a year is a lot to throw away, you could even say I’m not as driven as others to get to the bag, I’ll take that. I just don’t feel any type of happiness lately, it’s like I’m literally just doing it for the check. I think I need to take a step back, regather and figure it out what exactly I want to do long term. I’ve noticed that many of my coworkers (the full-timers) are longtime cooks, passionate about the job. I just cook because it’s what I’ve done since a teen, my first job as a fast food and then from there other restaurants. But I don’t want to be a cook or chef, so first I need to find something stable to pay my bills and provide for myself (and save as much money beforehand). Then I can focus on finding what I need to go after, step-by-step

Pinksteady- I have to agree with you, it’s like I wish they would’ve let me know this is the way it works here. I was working at a casino in Cleveland, the MGM purchased the casino last year. Their talent reps sold everyone on transferring out to Las Vegas, but they didn’t tell us about the on-call status. I just don’t get why they would make people work this way, I could see if they allowed you to use it as a true second job. But the fact that you can’t refuse, you have to be available 24/7 with no days guaranteed off. As I said, I deal with anxiety issues I use CBD to help with that. (I used the synthetic urine to secure the MGM and Holiday Inn job). I’m with you though, as good as the money is the on-call status just isn’t for me.

TellYoMomma- You are correct that I am homesick at times, I can’t deny. I find myself thinking what have I gotten myself into at times lol, but I expected that. That’s another thing though, I am 100% not trying to be racist when I say this. At work I often have trouble understanding my coworkers, they are mostly Hispanic or Asian. Again I’m not being racist, but I’m from the East coast so the culture shock is real for me. I have to ask 2/3 times to repeat what they said a lot, they’re cool though most don’t get frustrated. It helps that I have a Mexican gf haha, but admit at the moment I am a mercenary to the check. I have try and save up as much as I can before I let the job go, because I just feel I will never fully enjoy working there. Even after I work 3-6 months and get a weekly schedule, I enjoy working in a workplace where I develop familiarity with my daily tasks. I need structure, and to answer your question it is combination of mental and financial. I’m using this all as motivation, I just need to get through it

Airic- You have to wait 6 months to transfer, and even then it’s still on-call until you move up seniority list. Which takes months/years

Soclose- That phrase your used, “work-life balance” is the phrase I have been thinking about during this entire process. I agree that they don’t really value your happiness. They figure they pay you well, so deal with it. And I have to admit once you get in, it’s a really sweet and exciting opportunity. But the stress endured while working your way up is just too much, if you notice there’s not many young people in full- time position. I figure I’d have to work under these condition for at least 1-2 more years before I get a set schedule, which the top of the on-call cooks have. But I just don’t see myself doing that, thanks for your response