#havingaplan

Post 9: Solutions

Some solutions that can help fix this problem are having everyone know each other’s pay. Forbes calls this “pay transparency” and that’s where everyone knows what the other makes. It allows everything to be out in the open, and then women can be sure if men are making more than them. It also helps give validation to people’s salaries. Instead of not giving a reason as to why employee number 1 makes more than employee number 2, now they would have to and if anything that makes their pay more valid when the reasoning is explained. It helps employees be more aware of what’s going on in the company, and if anything creates more trust between the employee and the employer. For more info check out the link below: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2015/11/19/two-solutions-for-the-gender-pay-gap-that-can-be-implemented-today/#2436c7e068ad 

Another solution would be to update the Equal Pay Act or create more laws regarding equal treatment in the workplace. The Equal Pay Act hasn’t been updated in over 20 years and with the world changing everyday, it should be safe to say that the laws should be updated too. Situations come up and they will keep happening if they aren’t handle properly the first time. If there is such a problem with women taking maternity leave and not having a concrete policy for what is to be done on it, then maybe it’s time to create a fair policy that can help the employee and the employer instead of burning them both. Other countries in the world have policies for when employees go into labor and even for the fathers that take leave to be with their new child.

I have always hated the question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I never really have an answer. Usually I default to saying something like, “in a place better than I am today, depending on what comes my way.”

Passive. 

Lately as I get pretty darn close to 5-years away from 50 years old I have been giving that question some more in-depth thought. I can hardly believe that I am even writing a sentence that has 50-years old in it but for some reason it excites me as much as I think, “Oh my god.”

I have always played it safe and responsible job wise. It has served me well, but I have ever been doing something I love. When I came back from Africa my perspective had changed.

So here we go at the 10,000 foot level - gotta start somewhere.....

1. Pay off everything in the next 5-6 years (this is THE KEY step!)

2. Work with JW part-time on the stuff we talked about last Friday (still keeping it on the DL for now). Become indispensable to her (also a KEY step)

3.When I hit the “sweet spot” (56 years old) at my current job (years of service (19) + age  (56) => 75) retire from there with the health insurance benefit.

3a) Alternatively I could drop down to 3 days a week at my current job and start doing 3 days a week in a new venture. This would delay my retirement age though.