Psyched Out

Today I was pulled aside by the head of HR and given a choice of continuing to work part time in an administrative position and working full time in my current position. They are eliminating the part time position I work in so as to concentrate the hours now worked by various people into one full time position. I've liked working part time since last October, when I was offered this position. I've been able to spend time with my kids in the morning before their afternoon kindergarten starts.

The part time administrative position would be at the same wage, and would still include client contact as I would be helping people sign up for benefits. But it just wouldn't be the same as real clinical contact. And I'm fairly sure I'd dislike it. I don't especially enjoy filling out forms or playing phone tag with hostile Medicaid and SSDI bureaucrats. I don't want to BE a bureaucrat.

I love Love LOVE my current job, generally helping out and finding people who need treatment but aren't coming in. It's clinical without having the quadrupled work load that the case management job acquired last fall. I don't have a case load. I might have to borrow one if somebody goes on maternity or disability leave, but it wouldn't stay mine for more than a couple of months at the outside.

This offer has made me realize just how much I value the job I'm doing now. Enough to go back to full time.