Some words on my absence/career change

[strictlyxjs]

H

[JMO413]

Good to hear you found something you enjoy doing.

[neohic]

Good to hear that you’re kicking @$$! Can’t agree more with the near stress less environment of structural welding. I miss the days of working in a bridge shop before moving from Minnesota to Colorado. Nobody bothers you when your helmet is down. Nobody questions your decisions as long as the parts match the print. You go home and whatever isn’t done can wait until the next day. 
 

Congratulations! 

[fiatslug87]

Right on! Sometime a complete career change does a world of good. 

[Eagle]

The story of your previous job isn't surprising. I don't know what the big universities are teaching in their business schools and management programs, but it seems like they've all decided for the rest of us that a high five and an "Attaboy!" is supposed to be better than a cost of living increase.

 

Screw that mentality. Good for you for bailing out.

 

[oldmanche]

12 minutes ago, Eagle said:

a high five and an "Attaboy!" is supposed to be better than a cost of living increase.

When you work at a placed where they care about people, this stuff is in addition to pay increases that are based on performance with some market constraints, but at a minimum a cost of living increase.  Really sucks that you were doing great work in a very important and meaningful job and that happens.  Sure glad you have found someplace without the stress and quite the cool factor - congrats.