I have been lucky to work in several companies over the years, partly because I’ve always self selected for places where we have been well treated. But just as importantly, we treated ourselves well. In this profession you can’t always have a perfectly level schedule, but at least you can try, and it certainly helps if everyone around you is also trying.
The flip side is that if I saw dynamic changing, I had no hesitation walking. It’s why I hate the term “family” when referring to business. Ultimately it is a transaction. I’m willing to take less pay to be part of a good group of people, but if the group shifts, then the terms of the agreement has shifted and needs to be reevaluated.
So far so good here, but with state politics, there are a multitude of layers above me, let’s see how long it lasts. And hopefully, I’ll get better at influencing the dynamics long before feeling compelled to press the eject button.