#self funded insurance

[youtubevideopromotion]

Seeking to find the hidden potential of self-funded health insurance solutions? Discover how this model grants employers full control over their healthcare plan, reduces costs significantly, and provides transparency into where healthcare dollars are being spent and wasted. Learn how self-funding empowers businesses to tailor plans to their workforce needs, saving over 12-15% annually. Find out why 100% of Fortune 500 companies and 97% of employers who have tried it have found success with this approach. For more click here

[virtusuper]

How SMSF Insurance Can Strengthen Your Retirement Strategy?

SMSF insurance plays a vital role in strengthening your retirement strategy by providing financial protection against unforeseen events. If you are wondering how to choose the right insurance for your self-managed super fund, Virtu Super offers the best SMSF Insurance services in Australia. Accurate information provided by our experts protects your assets and beneficiaries. Insurance enhances SMSF protection complements investment strategies and supports more flexible retirement planning.

[totalbenefits]

What is a level funded health insurance plan?

A level-funded plan is a type of self-funded plan in which the employer contributes a steady monthly payment to cover costs for administration, claims payments, and stop-loss insurance. Level funding has its advantages when compared to fully insured plans and programs. Level-funded plans often cost less, making it easier for small- and mid-sized employers to offer their employees high-quality…

[aislingbast]

The Pros of Self-Funded Group Insurance Plans

Self-funded group insurance plans have gained popularity among employers seeking more control over their employee benefit programs. Unlike traditional fully insured plans, where the employer pays a fixed premium to an insurance carrier, self-funded plans involve the employer directly covering the healthcare expenses of its employees. 

In this article, we explore the advantages of self-funded group insurance plans.

Cost Savings: One of the primary advantages of self-funded group insurance plans is the potential for cost savings. Instead of paying fixed premiums to an insurance carrier, employers only cover the actual healthcare expenses incurred by their employees. This allows organizations to have better control over costs, potentially resulting in significant savings, especially in years with lower-than-expected claims.

Customization and Flexibility: Self-funded plans offer a high degree of customization and flexibility. Employers have the freedom to design benefit packages that align with the unique needs and preferences of their workforce. This flexibility extends to the choice of healthcare providers, plan design, and the inclusion of wellness programs. Customization ensures that the benefits offered are tailored to the specific requirements of the employees.

Transparency and Control: With self-funded group insurance, employers have greater transparency into the healthcare costs of their workforce. Detailed claims data and reports provide insights into utilization patterns, enabling organizations to identify cost drivers and implement targeted cost-containment strategies. This transparency allows employers to have better control over their healthcare spending.

Cash Flow Management: Self-funded plans allow employers to manage cash flow more effectively. Instead of paying fixed premiums, they only fund the actual claims as they occur. This can lead to improved cash flow management, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. Additionally, employers can set aside reserves to cover anticipated claims, providing a financial buffer.

Potential for Refunds and Surplus: In years when healthcare claims are lower than expected, employers may benefit from refunds or surplus funds. Unlike fully insured plans where excess premiums are retained by the insurance carrier, self-funded plans allow employers to retain unspent funds. This potential for refunds or surplus can contribute to long-term cost savings and financial stability.

Employee Engagement: Self-funded plans can enhance employee engagement by offering more personalized benefits. The ability to customize health and wellness programs, provide diverse plan options, and actively manage healthcare costs demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being. Engaged employees are more likely to appreciate and utilize the benefits offered, contributing to a positive work culture.

Compliance Flexibility: Self-funded plans often provide more flexibility in compliance with state regulations and benefit mandates. Employers can tailor their plans to meet specific legal requirements without being bound by the standardized offerings of fully insured plans. This flexibility allows organizations to adapt to changing regulatory landscapes more efficiently.

Stop-Loss Protection: To mitigate the risk of large, unexpected claims, employers often purchase stop-loss insurance in conjunction with self-funded plans. Stop-loss insurance protects against catastrophic claims that exceed a predetermined threshold. This additional layer of financial security ensures that the employer is not exposed to excessive financial risk.

Self-funded group insurance plans offer a range of advantages, from cost savings and customization to improved transparency and employee engagement. While these plans require careful management and risk mitigation strategies, the potential benefits make them an appealing option for many employers. By choosing a self-funded approach, organizations can create a more tailored and cost-effective healthcare solution for their workforce, promoting financial stability and employee satisfaction.

[financeprincess]

I spent, at a minimum, at least $500-$1,000 a month exclusively on my self improvement. Here is most of what I spend on, in no particular order:

Education (classes, books, courses, certifications, college tuition, seminars, etc.)

Private lessons for languages, musical instruments, sports, etc.

Personal hobbies and passion projects

Crest whitening strips (great when in a pinch), Invisalign, professional whitening, preventative dental care, prescription whitening products from my dentist

Investments such as index funds, REITs, ETFs, CDs, individual stocks, commodities, appreciative luxury items, precious metals & gems, etc.

Organic food, vitamins, supplements, high quality healthcare, therapy, massages, prescriptions (Rx skincare, etc.)

New glasses & contacts (getting some bayonetta glasses from Burberry soon, very excited)

Sports, gym membership + sauna, hot yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, tennis, skiing, dance, etc.

Personal care such as bath/shower products, body care, haircare, skincare, makeup, brightening eye drops, perfume, etc.

Travel, events, concerts, festivals, etc.

Shopping (clothes, accessories, home goods, etc.)

Eating out at restaurants and going to coffee shops

Beauty treatments such as manicures, pedicures, waxes, brow tint & threading, salon blowouts, hair cuts & colors, facials, lash lift & tints, vitamin IVs, etc.

Regular visits to my dermatologist, dentist, psychiatrist, eye doctor, primary care physician, gynecologist, and any other specialists

Semi-regular appointments with a personal trainer, holistic nutritionist, and dietitian

I don't do all of these every single month, but most of these are recurring throughout the year and budgeted accordingly. Eventually I might add in more intense cosmetic work like medspa services, Botox, etc. If you can find a workplace with a great benefits package such as high quality healthcare, an HSA/FSA, health & wellness reimbursements for the gym, disability & life insurance, etc. I would highly recommend it and max out all the benefits you can.

[zinniajones]

Text of thread at https://kolektiva.social/@zinnia/110418489814171631:

Yes - this is what is happening in Florida due to SB 254, which was signed into law on Tuesday 5/17/2023, taking immediate effect. This immediately cut off 80%+ of adult trans people in Florida from having their HRT refilled, because SB 254 uniquely prohibits only nurse practitioners from prescribing only gender-affirming medications.

This has already been in effect for 7 days now.

Trans adults in Florida have already been cut off from their HRT refills for a week now, including those of us who have been stable on these medications for years or decades.

This is VERY different from the general situation of trans youth care bans in 19 states, many still working their way through the courts.

This has *already* happened, to *all* of us: all trans adults in the third most populous state in the US.

The number of trans adults on HRT massively exceeds the sliver of the population that are under 18 and are prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

These laws, advanced under the pretext of 'protecting children', are now directly impacting a far larger group of people who are not children and are not subject to those pretextual concerns.

Other arguments about withholding public Medicaid funding for transition treatment also do not apply here: SB 254 does not even allow receiving this care through private insurance or paying cash out of pocket. The care isn't simply not covered - the care itself cannot be provided regardless.

What is happening in Florida requires special attention above the situation of trans youth care bans nationally. This is having a vastly larger impact quantifiably.

It will have worse impacts qualitatively as well: adults are responsible for taking care of and protecting trans kids and making sure they do not hurt themselves.

Whereas as a trans adult, we have no one standing guard at the brink but our own self and the void to which we are accountable.

These are the facts as they stand right now. These are the facts as they have stood for a WEEK and NO ONE nationally is putting any attention on this because there are 19 trans youth care bans all across the country going on, along with everything else targeting trans people and the LGBT community broadly.

This is a specific harm that is happening now and has been happening for 168 hours.

It is not a hypothetical issue to raise awareness of, as if it were at the stage of some proposal that needs to be fought back. This has already happened and is happening right now. Active harm is happening until this law is rolled back.

For all of Florida's history since the inception of the applicable regulatory and licensing bodies, nurse practitioners have been allowed to prescribe hormone therapy, testosterone blockers and other relevant gender-affirming medications.

That has been the case since I moved here in 2011. There was no reason why this wouldn't be the case. It's also the case in every other state.

This new law is a carveout of prescriptions when used for one purpose, gender-affirming care, from nurse practitioners specifically, in a way that has never been done before. It affects all ages.

It has immediately obstructed access to HRT prescription refills for more than 80% of TRANS ADULTS in Florida.

It has also prohibited first appointments for HRT via telehealth with in-state or out-of-state MDs or DOs - first appointments must be in person. This will require expensive and time-consuming travel that is beyond most trans people's means: driving to Georgia from Florida can take 8 hours.

This was an intentional targeting of almost all trans adults in Florida, and the means by which we have received our generic, FDA-approved medications for years. And it included closing every possible door that would let us find another way to keep taking the medications we have taken for...

Well, for me it was 3,891 days when the clock stopped

[fuck-customers]

I work at a self-service location as the de facto low level management of a crew that includes only me.

Sometimes, this style of facility will have someone on hand to “do the thing” for customers. My facility is funded by taxpayer money and charges no fees on location. Because we are not making money, we also do not “do the thing” for anyone.

The amount of customers who have toddler-level meltdowns in the middle of my facility because I don’t sprint over to them as they arrive and beg to “do the thing” for them is unreal. I get screamed and cussed at. People call our office. I get all kinds of disgusting threats.

In the operating rules that I have to follow, I am explicitly instructed not to “do the thing” because customers will then be more likely to expect it of my less capable coworkers.

Last week a customer saw that I wasn’t “doing the thing” and told me to do my job. I told them that my job was to not do the thing they wanted me to do and that I can get fired for it. They responded that my job was to serve them and that nothing else mattered.

I told them that if they were here to “do the thing”, do it. Otherwise, get out. They refused. I called my (awesome) supervisor. They instructed me to tell the customer to leave immediately and that if they didn’t, call the cops.

Guess who had to call the cops? Yours truly.

The customer waited until they arrived and was escorted outside. I put my super on speaker with them to decide what would happen. My super decided the customer needed to be formally trespassed as they were an insurance liability and safety hazard.

Boy did they throw a fit when they found out. Now they get to drive further and pay $20 a week to have someone “do the thing” for them because they couldn’t act like a human being.

Posted by admin Rodney

[petalsthefish]

Taylor Swift Boys And Their Corresponding Harry Potter Characters - A Summary

***For insurance purposes this is a joke

Joe Jonas: Gildroy Lockhart - arrogant. Fumbles his career. Toxic AF when he doesn’t get his way.

Tom Hiddleston: Remus Lupin. - Can play a cocky bastard but is actually a cinnamon roll. Will bring you home to meet his mother on the third date. Definitely a bottom.

Taylor Lautner: Harry Potter - sweet. Athletic. Hero complex. Marries a girl who had posters of him in her room growing up.

John Mayer: Voldemort. - Has googled how to stay young. Doesn’t believe in true love. Will send his lawyers after you if you use his name publicly shaming him.

Drew: Ludo Bagman. - very basic. Childhood crush. Pretty Forgettable. Probably became head of finance or something idk.

Jake Gyllenhaal: Fenrir Greyback - a little too hairy. Smells girls’ scarves. Self inflicted bad guy syndrome. Does not own a toothbrush.

Conner Kennedy: Neville Longbottom - pure blood trust fund baby. Can’t do long distance. Loves his grandmother. Not the most handsome, or the most smart, but he does have a heart.

Harry Styles: Sirius Black. - owns a motorbike. Tattoos everywhere. Every one loves him. Loyal AF.

Calvin Harris: Peter Pettigrew. - Can’t keep a secret. Can’t share credit on projects. Hangs with cool people but isn’t actually very cool.

Joe Alwyn: Severus Snape - social skills are zero. Hates having photos taken. His crush was too cool for him. Will die mad about it.

Matty Healy: Stan Shunpike - has a sailors mouth. Never shuts up. Needs a smoke break right now. Acne problem, probably.

Travis Kelce: James Potter. - football team colors are red and gold. Hosts a podcast with his brother where they joke around for hours. Crushed on the same woman for years before she finally started dating him.

[thescreamcorner]

Sometimes it's really really concerning how much anti-psychiatry and anti-recovery rhetoric exists-- and for once I'm not just talking about endos, but even within the OSDDID internetsphere, especially in actively pro self dx circles. It's not to say that you can't or shouldn't work on things away from a healthcare team, but with chronic and intensely debilitating disorders it is rare, if not impossible to fully be "fine" without help.

Like. If you're experiencing dissociative amnesia or memory/identity issues in general (even when caused by things as innocuously treated online like ADHD if it's at a debilitating level), you NEED someone who isn't affected by those things in order to have a sense of grounding and heal. And it's vital for that to be someone who has a baseline understanding of how dissociative disorders work.

My caseworker calls are sometimes the only thing giving me any sense of the passage of time, and she remembers things during calls that I completely forget or dissociate through. Not even my partner can consistently provide this because of her time blindness, vs the professional who reaches out, doesn't have a disorder affecting her memory, and takes notes during our calls.

My therapy visits, as infrequent as they've been lately, are some of the only reason why we've made progress toward one of our alters no longer making contact with our abusers when she fronts, and that fight isn't over yet. My partner can't stop her from doing it-- she'll wait until they're asleep. They also don't have the resources or bandwidth to address with her why doing this is bad, and if they intervene incorrectly it increases the chance that one day I wake up in another state.

I get from firsthand experience that healthcare, especially in the US, is notoriously inaccessible, and in some places the facilities available are full of inexperienced, incompassionate tools who don't care about their patients. But instead of using that as an excuse to stop trying, instead of pushing others into not seeking care and not trusting doctors, that needs to get channeled into finding and providing resources.

Many states have government funded healthcare available for those below the poverty line. Many facilities offer payment scaling plans even without insurance. A fair amount of insurance companies that "don't cover this" will make exceptions if you go through other channels and get professional referrals. It's not easy, it's not always free, and it's not fast. For those underage, it may be awhile before you can legally access it.

But for the love of all that is sacred on this burning planet, do NOT discourage trauma survivors from trying to get psychiatric help over the potential of a bad experience or a bad doctor. You are not helping people heal and learn to love themselves. You are creating paranoia and enforcing a regressive mentality that can prevent someone from reaching out before its too late.

[virtusuper]

How Much Does It Cost To Set Up SMSF?

If you are thinking How Much Does It Cost To Set Up SMSF? then this is a typical subject. Setting up an SMSF typically costs between $900 and $2,000, depending on the complexity and services required. Professional advice ensures this and helps optimize the financial success of your SMSF.

[vixsims]

more lore brainstorming, again about another suspicious death.

There are so many great theories abt Skip Broke's death. Did Brandi kill him for insurance money? Did his life of crime finally catch up to him? Was it his time-traveling self / evil clone !!?

But what if it was something as simple as....a few unpaid bills and an accident turned cover-up?

Set the scene, Skip Broke is enjoying a relaxing soak in his tiny pool when....the Repo-man shows up. Uh-oh, looks like the Brokes were behind on their bills again. Oh well, there goes the TV, Skip thinks. Except, no. This time the Repo-man goes for the pool ladder.

Leaving Skip stranded the Repo-man continues to repossess a few more items while Skip panics as his needs decrease to fatal levels. When the Repo-man returns outside it's to find a grave beside the pool. Not wanting to get in trouble, he quickly pops the grave into his inventory and flees the lot.

Later, Brandi comes home from work and she just knows Skip is dead the way sims close to one another always do. However, finding no grave in sight she immediately becomes suspicious. She calls the authorities, and like Dina with Michael, claims someone did something, but once again the cops are useless and don't believe her! Instead they make assumptions and decide Skip must have skipped out on his family and run off with someone else, faking his death. After all, there is no gravestone and there's always a gravestone. Besides, a murder investigation? That means more work, and if there's anything SimCity cops hate it's work.

Repo-man has never been caught and continues to live comfortably in SimCity, going around to all nearby towns to gleefully repossess their items.

Eventually, Dina and Brandi become close friends, unlikely pair that they are, as they bond over the mysterious deaths of their husbands and the ineptitude of the SimCity Police Department. Together they start a support group for Family of the Mysteriously Disappeared and Deceased. With funds from Dina's days as a reality TV star and a hefty donation from Mortimer Goth after the disappearance of Bella, the group hires Detective Dan D. Mann to look into these disappearances...

[aislingbast]

The Pros of Self-Funded Group Insurance Plans

Self-funded group insurance plans have gained popularity among employers seeking more control over their employee benefit programs. Unlike traditional fully insured plans, where the employer pays a fixed premium to an insurance carrier, self-funded plans involve the employer directly covering the healthcare expenses of its employees. 

In this article, we explore the advantages of self-funded group insurance plans.

Cost Savings: One of the primary advantages of self-funded group insurance plans is the potential for cost savings. Instead of paying fixed premiums to an insurance carrier, employers only cover the actual healthcare expenses incurred by their employees. This allows organizations to have better control over costs, potentially resulting in significant savings, especially in years with lower-than-expected claims.

Customization and Flexibility: Self-funded plans offer a high degree of customization and flexibility. Employers have the freedom to design benefit packages that align with the unique needs and preferences of their workforce. This flexibility extends to the choice of healthcare providers, plan design, and the inclusion of wellness programs. Customization ensures that the benefits offered are tailored to the specific requirements of the employees.

Transparency and Control: With self-funded group insurance, employers have greater transparency into the healthcare costs of their workforce. Detailed claims data and reports provide insights into utilization patterns, enabling organizations to identify cost drivers and implement targeted cost-containment strategies. This transparency allows employers to have better control over their healthcare spending.

Cash Flow Management: Self-funded plans allow employers to manage cash flow more effectively. Instead of paying fixed premiums, they only fund the actual claims as they occur. This can lead to improved cash flow management, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. Additionally, employers can set aside reserves to cover anticipated claims, providing a financial buffer.

Potential for Refunds and Surplus: In years when healthcare claims are lower than expected, employers may benefit from refunds or surplus funds. Unlike fully insured plans where excess premiums are retained by the insurance carrier, self-funded plans allow employers to retain unspent funds. This potential for refunds or surplus can contribute to long-term cost savings and financial stability.

Employee Engagement: Self-funded plans can enhance employee engagement by offering more personalized benefits. The ability to customize health and wellness programs, provide diverse plan options, and actively manage healthcare costs demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being. Engaged employees are more likely to appreciate and utilize the benefits offered, contributing to a positive work culture.

Compliance Flexibility: Self-funded plans often provide more flexibility in compliance with state regulations and benefit mandates. Employers can tailor their plans to meet specific legal requirements without being bound by the standardized offerings of fully insured plans. This flexibility allows organizations to adapt to changing regulatory landscapes more efficiently.

Stop-Loss Protection: To mitigate the risk of large, unexpected claims, employers often purchase stop-loss insurance in conjunction with self-funded plans. Stop-loss insurance protects against catastrophic claims that exceed a predetermined threshold. This additional layer of financial security ensures that the employer is not exposed to excessive financial risk.

Self-funded group insurance plans offer a range of advantages, from cost savings and customization to improved transparency and employee engagement. While these plans require careful management and risk mitigation strategies, the potential benefits make them an appealing option for many employers. By choosing a self-funded approach, organizations can create a more tailored and cost-effective healthcare solution for their workforce, promoting financial stability and employee satisfaction.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

Feel the need to push back on a couple of things.

New Orleans (even post-Katrina) is not a "third world country." Also, the preferred nomenclature is "developing country" or "global south." But NOLA doesn't qualify, no matter what term one uses.

"Succession by popular vote instead of by hereditary primogeniture." -- even Harry's not that stupid. What Harry means by "modernizing" is to split the Duchy of Cornwall and then Lancaster, and for him to get all the perks - security, grace and favour home, staff, etc - without having to read the red boxes or meet the PM weekly or be sent somewhere he doesn't want to go. What Meghan means by it is what she's still trying to do: let me use my title to get fame, freebies, and financial remuneration, without having to live in the UK or do any work.

Lastly, I don't want to denigrate Earthshot or Homewards but as I understand the projects (and maybe I'm misunderstanding) their impacts won't be measurable for a while either. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I have no objections to the Homewards project (as I understand it) and my sole - but fierce - objection to Earthshot is the galas. (I don't care if that's how most non-profits make money, it's the wrong move for an environmental org.)

Thanks for this. A few things.

You misunderstood what I meant by post-Katrina New Orleans. I wasn't talking about post-Katrina today or post-Katrina 2010s. I meant immediately post-Katrina, as in September 1, 2005 post-Katrina. New Orleans, and especially the Lower 9th Ward, was left in really horrific conditions that absolutely were reminiscent of developing nations. Celebrities with no connections to New Orleans (like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) flocked there for years to do charity work and many of them used their New Orleans-based humanitarian aid efforts for self-promotion. I should have been clearer about that.

And by the way, while today most of New Orleans has largely recovered from the effects of Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, there are still parts of it - especially in the Lower 9th Ward - still dealing with the impact, long after the rest of the city and the rest of the world moved on. For example, it took 10 years for residents to get a single grocery store after the storms. Many residents are still tied up in financial problems from storm damage, insurance, and rebuilding. And there are buildings condemned from the storms still standing, still with FEMA search and rescue symbols on them, still with mold and personal belongings and flood damage in them, and there's reasonable belief that some missing/unaccounted-for people from the storm may still be in those abandoned structures. (And also let's not forget the ethical and moral issues being debated still today.)

If you still don't believe how horrific post-Katrina was or that a city in the US could feel so abandoned that it paralleled developing countries, I encourage you to read memoirs or listen to stories from Katrina survivors and New Orleans residents about what it was like after the storms. (This book is hard to read, but it's worth it. There's an Apple series made if you'd rather watch it instead.)

To your third point about Earthshot projects not having results yet, nope. The Earthshot projects may not have global results yet or large-scale results, but they do already have results, even if small. Because Earthshot isn't funding brand new initiatives - Earthshot is funding small, proven, existing projects and awarding the winners grants to scale up their operations. It's right there on the website:

"Proven prototypes" and "signs of success" means that the projects must have outcomes and results to report in their applications. They can be small datasets, but they're still datasets, outcomes, and results that Earthshot winners are able to compare their grant-funded work against to measure the effectiveness of those grants.

Further, Earthshot's Roadmap, which describes how they evaluate nominations to determine finalists and winners, has specific requirements for nominees to demonstrate actual impact of their work:

So, yes, Earthshot projects are able to deliverable measurable results quickly. And we know they're delivering measurable results immediately because Earthshot and William are promoting it. That's the whole point of those "come see what Earthshot winners are doing" videos on social media and engagements - it's to show how the companies are using their prize grants to deliver on the metrics they were required to support in their nominations.

[turtlesandfrogs]

So, here's the problem: the longer I work in gardening and landscaping, the more I care about the ecological impacts of native plants, and the less I care about aesthetics. Which is a problem, when most clients' primary concern is that their yard looks nice. Which, fair, I just don't care as much about it as they do and I feel like I could be making a bigger impact than I currently am.

So I'm thinking of quitting this job and going one of two entirely different directions, and for some reason it's rather hard to choose.

Option A is starting my own native plant nursery, which would focus on small (4 inch and gallon pot sized) native plants, with a focus on plants that are most important for native pollinators (especially those that are endangered or threatened where I am). There's some competition, but mostly at selling-to-landscapers level and not retail, and I'd want to focus on retail sales.

Option B is to get a job with the state doing some kind of ecological restoration work. The problem with that is my bachelor's degree is over a decade old and I don't actually have the kind of experience to put on my resume that would likely convince them that I can do the work (unless a combination of teaching and being self-employed as a gardener that helps people incorporate native plants and removes invasive species counts, which maybe?). So I'd probably have to take a lower level job and one that's further away to get in, and then work my way up.

Option A has the upsides of: completely setting my own schedule, getting to work with plants most of the time, getting to work with my partner, flexibility to decide I want to start teaching classes again or something. It has the down sides of having to do taxes multiple times per year, and not being guaranteed to work, and either needing to take out a business loan to get started or work at a day job to fund starting it up. Also if it fails I'll have to get another job without have professional references again, which yikes.

Option B has the upside of once you're in state work, it's way easier to get other state jobs so if I burn out of one job, I can hop to another relatively easily, will almost certainly make more money, comes with health insurance and retirement savings, and is likely the more stable option. On the down side, it would mean working 40 hours a week without getting to pick my schedule and it would be harder to take time off than it is now, I'll have to work my way up to a comfortable salary, and there's a lot less autonomy than when self employed. But I'll also have professional references out the wazoo, so finding new jobs should be easier?

One of the things that concerns me is I have ADHD and up until teaching, the longest I ever stayed in one job was almost 2 years. I taught for 4 years, then was self-employed as a gardener for 4 years, and now I've worked for this landscaping company for just over a year (and am grumpy about a) not making much money and b) aesthetics and only providing services to people who can afford us, rather than say, improving the environment for everyone). So I'm actually kinda afraid that if I started the native plant nursery, I would get sick of it after less than 5 years and be starting from scratch again. Whereas with a state job, I can pop over to a new job fairly easily. On the other hand, maybe I'm just doubting myself too much because all of those other jobs were actually really bad matches for me.

Anyway, my brain is going in circles over this. I mean, really, part of me thinks I should stay at this job even though it doesn't pay much compared to what I could make elsewhere (I have learned a lot though, which can be transfered to other jobs) just because it's so low stress compared to any other job I've had in the last decade & because the people are great and the work isn't bad. It just galls me that occasionally clients have ideas that I strongly disagree with, like cutting down a very nice magnolia tree because "it's too big" and I just have to do it because I'm an employee now. Ugh.

[turbulentscrawl]

Modern AU: Norton Campbell

You've heard of modern reader? Well now it's time for Modern canon!

- Previously, he worked in the oil industry, but a nasty accident he doesn’t speak about has left him with his fair share of burn scars. Norton now works as an independent contractor, known around town as a do-it-all type of handyman. He rarely works with or for group projects, preferring to be hired directly by property owners for the work they need done. He’s his own boss, and he makes his own schedule, but he’s a workaholic.

- He was raised by his uncle Benny after his parents died when he was still very young—his mother shortly after childbirth, due to complications, and his father in a work-related accident. Benny’s health deteriorated fast, though, and as soon as he was legally able Norton picked up a part-time job to help pay the bills and build a college fund. (Or several, more like, and he was known to bounce around for better pay.)

-Some time in his senior year of high school, he discovered that Benny was keeping secrets; Benny had not only convinced his father to stay in the oil industry after he was born, but wasted and gambled away all the life insurance money from his death. Enraged and betrayed, Norton dropped out of school and left. He drove as far away as he could with the little money he had, and then lived out of his truck for a while. Eventually, he made enough money to rent a shitty little motel room by the week, and then a shitty little apartment.

-After leaving, he at first went into the oil industry like his old man and Benny had been—it was something he was familiar enough with and hard labor paid better than being a busboy again. But after a few years there was an accident which left him with several burn scars. He was left in pain for a long time, but the worker’s comp paid for most of his medical bills and his rent, giving him just enough time to get his GED. After that, he started into construction, plumbing, and other handiman things he was knowledgeable in after years of being poor and self-sufficient.

-The accident, this time, was more of an ACTUAL accident. Norton had a disagreement with some of the coworkers he hated. There was an altercation, and something ignited…and Norton was the only one who got out. He doesn’t talk about it, mostly out of shame and a sense of guilt, but he copes by telling himself they deserved it.

- He drives the same beat-up old pickup truck Benny bought for him as a kid. It was transferred into his name when he was 18, so Benny can’t swipe it from under his nose. (Legally, anyway.) He could probably get a loan and buy a new car, but at this point he prefers to keep the old hunk of junk. Maybe he’s sentimental, or maybe the weekly maintenance he has to do on it is just therapeutic in a way.

-Not a super techy guy. He keeps up with industry news and learns new skills often, but his truck, his phone, and most of his home appliances are older. He’s good enough with fixing things that he hasn’t bothered to replace them.

-He’s not much of a decorator, either, but he’s good at thrifting and building his own furniture with recycled materials. His apartment/home is a bit of a hodgepodge, with mostly bare walls, but what he does have I impressive in its own way. Any décor he has is likely gifted.

-He’d like to own a home one day, but he’s playing things by ear. He realizes that might be asking a lot while he’s got no real support system.

-He’s a fair cook, but a lot of what he makes could be called “struggle meals.” They’re what he’s been used to for a long time.

-He’s a little paranoid about pumping gas into his truck, but he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. On his days off, he tends to walk to take public transit to save some money and gas mileage.

-He’s that guy with a 7-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, bodywash etc men’s soap. Someone please teach him better ways.