tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post372390551790396893..comments2024-03-29T09:05:29.819-04:00Comments on Chemjobber: Family separation -- the new normal?Chemjobberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932113680515602275noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-64785683378970777492010-12-21T17:56:46.465-05:002010-12-21T17:56:46.465-05:00My grandma (would have) always said: It's just...My grandma (would have) always said: It's just as easy to fall in love with someone who's not in your research group.bad wolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15804828431479742741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-11522351964165719172010-12-21T14:42:31.438-05:002010-12-21T14:42:31.438-05:00This is indeed a sad trend that I have recently be...This is indeed a sad trend that I have recently been a part of. My spouse and I are about to be separated by 20+ hours by car within the next week (just in time for the holidays). We are in the same field with a PhD and postdoc experience. But, unfortunately due to the bleak job market, we are having to take jobs where they are available (and receive offers). Finding one job in pharma is tough enough. Now try and find two at the same time in the same field.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-53430682286390395382010-12-21T09:49:38.662-05:002010-12-21T09:49:38.662-05:00As this crappy year winds down, I keep hearing mor...As this crappy year winds down, I keep hearing more depressing stories. Several of my friends from grad school are getting divorced, plus another has taken a job far (i.e., >7 hour drive) from his family out of necessity. I hope whatever sham of tax relief/economic stimulus bill that was just passed will actually create jobs for everybody, including over-qualified/over-specialized scientists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-77892727351105159722010-12-21T02:18:31.116-05:002010-12-21T02:18:31.116-05:00Heh...that's why mine's a banker. # : )Heh...that's why mine's a banker. # : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-59277502811206706222010-12-20T17:24:30.419-05:002010-12-20T17:24:30.419-05:00I've seen a very ironic situation pop up. A fr...I've seen a very ironic situation pop up. A fresh PhD chemist can't find a job to save his life, spends six months looking for Post-Docs, finally lands one on the opposite coast. His wife, no PhD, no scientific background, just a bachelors, lands a job within weeks in the area of the Post-Doc position.<br /><br />It has to be aggravating for the wife in this situation to support someone in a career that seems to have no demand. Why keep going? Why get virtually the same or lower pay than someone with a lesser degree? But at least this situation illustrates how people, with two very different careers, can actually coexist while one pursues a career in chemistry.<br /><br />For those couples that are both scientists, someone's gonna have to give.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-41912532469339359882010-12-20T13:36:59.360-05:002010-12-20T13:36:59.360-05:00A6:30a: Is this the Groton site or elsewhere?A6:30a: Is this the Groton site or elsewhere?Chemjobberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15932113680515602275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-7376413767072781832010-12-20T13:35:39.615-05:002010-12-20T13:35:39.615-05:00@A6:30 Dude, it's called spellcheck! "the...@A6:30 Dude, it's called spellcheck! "their"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-25009659007445403712010-12-20T09:30:38.678-05:002010-12-20T09:30:38.678-05:00This is absolutely a huge problem. We have numero...This is absolutely a huge problem. We have numerous people in Pfizer who are facing this exact sitation as part of the layoffs / relocations going on. I personally know at least a couple dozen families that had to part ways (hopefully temporarily) because they weren't able to sell thier house and/or thier spouse was unable to leave thier job. Most work Mon-Fri at Pfizer and drive home to spend weekends with family. This is compounded by the fact that (due to the poor job market for chemists in my opinion), Pfizer did not offer a full relocation package to those being moved. Consequently, the employees were forced to decide between leaving thier job or leaving thier family. About half of those I know have been re-united -- but the remainder still do the "workweek commute".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-26150161599030332292010-12-20T08:43:17.689-05:002010-12-20T08:43:17.689-05:00One of the postdocs I work with also has to do thi...One of the postdocs I work with also has to do this. I don't think he's lived in the same state as his family for a few YEARS now. Pretty sad that people have to resort to this.J-bonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-86199348268719202362010-12-20T08:04:41.861-05:002010-12-20T08:04:41.861-05:00I know two folks who work at my (small) research f...I know two folks who work at my (small) research firm that suffer from this exactly. One commutes to another state entirely Friday evening, and one drives 4.5 hours to get home (he sets out at 4:00 on Friday).<br /><br />Sucks.See Arr Ohnoreply@blogger.com