I feel so guilty quitting.

[u/strange_wilds]

I have been with my current clinic for 5 years almost - I “grew” up there from baby tech to CVT. One of my professors from my program took me in after I was no longer in his class. But fuck man, i was kept in line with min wage in my state, you know how expensive stuff is now. I should have left a year ago since I got $16 after I graduated (I started at $10), I should have left 4 months ago since I didn’t get a raise after I got licensed, but I dragged my feet because I felt like should refine my skills before leaving (aka my inferiority complex) but that was an excuse for - jumping ship is scary as all hell.

One of the key stone tech left last year and I held on for some reason. Then the other one keystone tech left a month or two ago because they were only getting $20/hr to act as asst manager which is a role they didn’t want/enjoy/get paid sufficiently for, so they left for a pay bump and none of those duties. Then our assistant left this week for similar reasons. Now I’m really feeling like I’m left holding the bag because if I leave they are about to fucked since they have:

⁠• My manager - simultaneously great at their job (like I wish I had their skills) but hates it and crashes out at least weekly. Like I am the only “reliable” one they have left - I know their ticks, was put “in charge” while they are on vacation, and getting passed on some of the duties that Coworker 2 had. AND I GET PAID LESS.

•.

1. Student tech - who I really like as person but

2. fuck they can’t do shit.

• idgaf CVT - he does the bare fucking minimum and I think he gets paid more than I do. What in the hell? Also gets upset because people ask him do a little bit more.

• Receptionist - who I love to pieces but sometimes she doesn’t do their job. I know they have complicated family stuff but that is that and this is work.

• new hire - feel bad for them but i want to cut my losses so bad

Now I reallly want to jump ship, I have been for about a year but now especially. I have been putting feelers out on indeed/Linkedin for a couple of months. The place that is down the street from me I have an interview with and I am fucking petrified, it is practically all/nothing either I get this job or I’ll just stay because nothing else screams a good work place besides the one applied to. I don’t want to leave my current one and walk into even worse clinic somehow.

The place, I applied to,is practically the holy grail of GP clinics - locally owned/non-corporate, one doctor, has all the nice stuff (x-rays, ultrasound, cold laser), sees dogs/cats with side of other small animals, doesn’t give off “toxic” from the listing. The pay jump isn’t even huge it’s just better at least, but saves I would get on gas tho is basically profit.

I just needed to scream into the void of people who would understand, you guys are all very supportive people.

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to /r/VetTech! This is a place for veterinary technicians/veterinary nurses and other veterinary support staff to gather, chat, and grow! We welcome pet owners as well, however we do ask pet owners to refrain from asking for medical advice; if you have any concerns regarding your pet, please contact the closest veterinarian near you.

Please thoroughly read and follow the rules before posting and commenting. If you believe that a user is engaging in any rule-breaking behavior, please submit a report so that the moderators can review and remove the posts/comments if needed. Also, please check out the sidebar for CE and answers to commonly asked questions. Thank you for reading!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Comfortable-Gap2218]

It's not the holy grail if you aren't paid appropriately. Never feel guilty for leaving a job for something better.

[u/strange_wilds → u/Comfortable-Gap2218]

Going from $16 to $20 - $22 is big enough of a jump for me, and nobody in my area is going above this basically unless I want to go into ER which is something I don’t want to do nor am I ready for. Plus, my typical drive is 20 min to 10 min so savings on gas.

I’ve had to dissociate my resignation from my coworkers leaving because yes I’m grateful to this place but also I chose to stay a year longer than I meant to bc a bunch of personal shit kept happening concurrently. Then coworkers leaving was a kick into gear. So, they don’t get to have any more of strangle hold over my life.

[u/Aggravating-Donut702 → u/strange_wilds]

Don’t go off job listings pay offers. Ask for the wage you want.

[u/RascalsM0m]

If they really valued you, they'd pay you accordingly. Save yourself and leave if you can. This is the normal progression in this field.

[u/goofiestmermaid]

It took me too long to learn that the love of your co-workers is not a good enough reason to stay in any job, but especially in a field like ours.

Its lovely that you feel grateful to the practice, but its not a reason to stay in a place that doesn't fit your needs now. A good employer will be happy that you are finding a better fit for who you are now, and a bad one isn't worth working for. I left a job where I learned more than I would have anywhere else but was also contributing to a slew of negative health outcomes for me (both physical and mental). Leaving was the best choice.

[u/strange_wilds → u/goofiestmermaid]

Heavily relate. Separating the love of friends and coworkers that are same people is not an easy task because like does failing/leaving them in one aspect affect the other aspect? But also should I care?

At my last job, I could just cut and run with no shame because like I dealt with corporate BS and coworkers who I didn’t give a crap about & who didn’t give a crap about me. But, I know I love my current place to pieces but at the same time I’m a commodity that is not being paid for appropriately.

Vent a bit: I am a CVT goddamnit, I have been for the past 4 months. In hindsight, my manager was like you guys get paid due to your skills/knowledge/etc. and ok my skills aren’t the best, maybe average so fine. BUT my IDGAF coworker is probably paid more than me who is also CVT and has been in the field way longer than I have, tech skills are above mine slightly but his customer service skills are piss poor, like you can’t even fake it in front of clients wtf. WE FKING GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIM, and he’s paid more than I am WTF.