Returning to the Dumpster Fire (Virtually)?

[CO-guy]

I'm rolling up on 2-years post-resignation / post-FIRE. After I resigned, my former employer offered to keep me on for an additional year at half-time with benefits, which I was grateful to receive. Unfortunately, the relationship soured near the end of that year when I declined their "curious" efforts to bring me back to full-time.
......but I don't work here anymore.

As the title implies, the "Dumpster Fire" is still burning, same as ever. A 'birdie' in the office told me that, after I departed last year, upper-management were successful in hiring someone at the VP-level to complete the tasks I had respectfully declined to do for half the pay. However, that person showed up without their family, muddled their way through orientations, meetings, etc. to get up to speed on the organization, and then resigned after a few months without doing anything. Interestingly, upper-management was able to quickly replace them with a less-qualified applicant from the original pool. That person did arrive in town with their family, likely because the received a large relocation package as part of their offer. Unfortunately, rather than relocating, they enjoyed a month-long ski vacation in an AirBnB before departing without ever showing up for a single day of work.

So that brings us to today (well yesterday), when the bids I submitted to "Dumpster Fire" management for various projects were accepted. Knowing that nothing has happened since my departure, I only bid on projects where I can literally just change the dates on the documents I currently have in my possession, but of course the bids are at the top end of my consulting rate. Everything is entirely remote, but it still feels like I'm returning to the "Dumpster Fire" and that place is toxic. Anyway, figured I'd share a financially exciting but otherwise uncomfortable update.

 

[2HOTinPHX]

Sounds like there is a book or a movie of the week in there somewhere....

 

[6miths]

Hard to believe that there are such people as your 'replacements'. I guess corporations are beginning to reap what they have sown. Glad you are able to do it remotely. Good luck.

 

[Al18]

Sounds like you are indispensable. Make sure you schedule some vacation time for yourself.

 

[Masquernom]

The company I worked for once purchased a new software package, I believe it might have been some new project scheduling software. They hired someone from the outside with experience in that particular special software. When the guy showed up, he couldn't even open the software. One day and they fired him.
Another time my company hired a guy and gave him a signing bonus, without signing a contract. He cashed the bonus check and never showed up.

 

[audreyh1]

Wow, really crazy replacement stories. I suppose they have no trouble finding better jobs.

Still, it’s just toxic associating with such a place even if you are remote. Makes me shudder to imagine it.

 

[Closet_Gamer]

I hope the money is worth it. Don’t let them get inside your head.

 

[audreyh1]

Those people in that company sound like idiots. It’s pretty dangerous working for idiots.

 

[Texas Proud]

I am wondering why you would even want to do it if it is a dumpster fire...

 

[Koolau]

Good luck. Never let them get you down!

 

[HarveyS]

I think you should reconsider.....The management is clearly out-to-lunch. You are opening yourself up to liability if the ship crashes while you are on board. Your gain will be financial, but at what cost to stress, dis-harmony on your home life, missed opportunities due to work constraints, etc.
(Giving a signing bonus without a contract was insane. I hope your "birdie" got that wrong.)
Run, don't walk, from this dumpster fire.

 

[Lucie]

Good for you! Sounds like you put yourself in a good position. Consider this as FU money as it makes it easy to watch the dumpster fire without breathing in the toxic smoke.

 

[Dtail]

Not sure it would be worth it to me, even remotely. Eventually, everyone is replaceable.

 

[CO-guy]

Another time my company hired a guy and gave him a signing bonus, without signing a contract. He cashed the bonus check and never showed up.

I think something similar happened to the person they paid to relocate who was a non-starter. Presumably the person said they need some money in advance to relocate before bailing on the actual job.

As far as motivation to take on the projects, it's entirely about the money. While the projects are (slightly) more involved than just changing the dates on paperwork, my proposals added up to around 500h of my time, which I am confident I can complete in under about 3h/wk by May 2026. Plus, my goal for this year is to keep my consulting under 1000h, so this would cover almost half of that amount at my "top dollar" consulting rate, while taking up very little of my time.

Anyway, none of the would have been possible if any thought had been given to the RFPs. I can imagine management telling an admin, "We need the following tasks completed......." That admin then dutifully recorded all tasks and forwarded the request to HR and Finance as a list. If it were me, I would have packaged the projects into bundles, but management doesn't even understand what most of these tasks involve. Regardless, that's what allowed me to cherry pick the projects I wanted.

 

[CO-guy]

Good for you! Sounds like you put yourself in a good position. Consider this as FU money as it makes it easy to watch the dumpster fire without breathing in the toxic smoke.

I'm absolutely looking at it as a bonus. For the past two years I've managed to rescue over 100 stray puppies a year from 100% kill shelters in the 4-corners area (i.e. no overnight kennels). Although there's much more involved with the rescue once they arrive at foster homes, I sleep better knowing that the transport van I hired is sending them on their way to a better life.

As soon as I saw the approval message on Friday, I jumped up and shouted to my better-half, "We're going to save 200 puppies this year!"

 

[38Chevy454]

I'm absolutely looking at it as a bonus. For the past two years I've managed to rescue over 100 stray puppies a year from 100% kill shelters in the 4-corners area (i.e. no overnight kennels). Although there's much more involved with the rescue once they arrive at foster homes, I sleep better knowing that the transport van I hired is sending them on their way to a better life.

As soon as I saw the approval message on Friday, I jumped up and shouted to my better-half, "We're going to save 200 puppies this year!"

That's great that you are working to increase your ability to help the rescue dogs. Hopefully that can help you offset the dumpster fire BS when you are doing the work.

 

[Sojourner]

I'm absolutely looking at it as a bonus. For the past two years I've managed to rescue over 100 stray puppies a year from 100% kill shelters in the 4-corners area (i.e. no overnight kennels). Although there's much more involved with the rescue once they arrive at foster homes, I sleep better knowing that the transport van I hired is sending them on their way to a better life.

As soon as I saw the approval message on Friday, I jumped up and shouted to my better-half, "We're going to save 200 puppies this year!"

Wow... that is amazing! Good for you! Hard to imagine a better use of your easy "dumpster fire" money than rescuing hundreds of helpless, abandoned dogs.

 

[CO-guy]

Wow... that is amazing! Good for you! Hard to imagine a better use of your easy "dumpster fire" money than rescuing hundreds of helpless, abandoned dogs.

For those unaware, just in the 4-corners area, it's estimated that a quarter of a million dogs die every single year of starvation, predation, and dehydration. A true Darwinian nightmare. After talking to my better-half about it today, our goal for 2025 is to rescue 250 animals, or 0.1% of the 250,000 dogs that will unfortunately die this year in the 4-corners area.

As far as "dumpster fire" fumes go, not only are the projects remote, but nearly all communication will be by email. From an oversight perspective, the organization tried twice to hire someone to complete these tasks, albeit unsuccessfully, before contracting it out to me. While much of what I do is analytical, soliciting management answers to questions over email is all I'll need to develop any accompanying narrative. Easy peasy and they'll just be happy to check those items off the list.

 

[TheWizard]

I'm familiar with the four corners area, been there a few times.
Lots of coyotes and deer die there every as well, I suspect. Feral dogs as well as you say.
I don't see this as a significant problem worth dealing with.
Let Mother Nature deal with things as she normally does.
This is not a problem that needs a solution...

 

[CO-guy]

I'm familiar with the four corners area, been there a few times.
Lots of coyotes and deer die there every as well, I suspect. Feral dogs as well as you say.
I don't see this as a significant problem worth dealing with.
Let Mother Nature deal with things as she normally does.
This is not a problem that needs a solution...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, dogs aren't native to the American Southwest, and so have nothing to do with "Mother Nature." The DOW, USDA, and other wildlife ecologists and conservationists have demonstrated that feral/stray dogs destroy native habitats, kill native species, and also kill and eat humans.

Teen’s death highlights free-roaming dogs on Navajo Nation land

A lone dog with sad eyes and no collar trotted up a dusty dirt road in a hardscrabble community near the southeast corner of the Navajo Nation.

www.sltrib.com

Regardless, I'm pleased with my decision to pick up some "dumpster fire" projects. Not sure where all the extra income will go, but at least some will go to rescue puppies.

 

[RetMD21]

I wondered how the situation with the dumpster fire turned out. Thanks for the follow up. I think picking up some easy money makes a lot of sense. It's great that you have a meaningful project!

 

[CO-guy]

I wondered how the situation with the dumpster fire turned out. Thanks for the follow up. I think picking up some easy money makes a lot of sense. It's great that you have a meaningful project!

Glad you enjoyed. The only thing surprising to me is that they were able to hire someone: Twice! Then again, neither apparently did anything, so still on-brand for dumpster fire management. I'm wondering if, in a year, they try to bring me back to full-time and the cycle repeats like some odd bureaucratic loop.

 

[38Chevy454]

...... I'm wondering if, in a year, they try to bring me back to full-time and the cycle repeats like some odd bureaucratic loop.

Paraphrasing Nancy Reagan: "just say no"

 

[RetMD21]

Glad you enjoyed. The only thing surprising to me is that they were able to hire someone: Twice! Then again, neither apparently did anything, so still on-brand for dumpster fire management. I'm wondering if, in a year, they try to bring me back to full-time and the cycle repeats like some odd bureaucratic loop.

I hope you make a post about it next year if that happens, lol

 

[Retired Expat]

I think you should reconsider.....The management is clearly out-to-lunch. You are opening yourself up to liability if the ship crashes while you are on board. Your gain will be financial, but at what cost to stress, dis-harmony on your home life, missed opportunities due to work constraints, etc.
(Giving a signing bonus without a contract was insane. I hope your "birdie" got that wrong.)
Run, don't walk, from this dumpster fire.

In my experience if you have enough to retire there is no monetary incentive that can make a bad situation tolerable. If you have FU money (what ever that might be for you). your patience level for corporate BS goes way down post retirement. I did it once….once!