There's gotta be a better way

The problem is finding a job that allows you to have a life along with a job to help you afford that life. 

My husband was out of work the end of last year because his place of business closed his office as a cut back.  At the age of 59, we were devastated to say the least.  Then again, we believe that all things work out in the end so he took his time looking for something else.  He's a college grad after all, has many years of experience and glowing referrals.  No problem there.

First he hunted the Help Wanted ads, and went to places friends referred him to.  He'd always be positive only to come home feeling like he was on a seesaw.  Most of the jobs were fine, pretty much the same pay structure that he had at his last place of employment, same benefits, however, the hours and days scheduled were really bad.   They all seemed to want him to work until, at the very least, eight at night and half days on Saturday.  Some had a half day off during the week to bring the hours down to 40, but when do you get a chance to enjoy life?  On the days he would need to work until eight or nine it would amount to getting up, going to work, coming home and going to bed to get up the next day and start all over again.

Finally he found this job he has been at for almost two months.  He loves the job.  He was so happy to finally find something that had decent hours he could live with and also had all the other things his last job had.  Now the tables are turning.  They have just started this Saturday schedule.  First it was supposed to be one or two Saturdays a month.  We didn't necessarily like this but the good out weighed the bad.  Now,  if certain sales quotas aren't met by the team, that team has to work Saturday for three hours.  Let me tell you, this stinks.  

We have a house in the mountains which helps us keep our sanity.  It's our escape from the city and our time to relax.  We love getting away and know that we are truly blessed for being able to afford this.  This is the second time we have had to give up a "free" weekend because he has to work the three hours on Saturday.  If this had been part of the schedule when he was interviewed he would not have taken the job.

We know a lot of people in retail and sales positions that have what we consider bad schedules and always ask them how they can stand not having two days off together.  We both worked these schedules in the past but when we bought our mountain house we decided he would find a job that did not require late nights and weekends. 

No, I don't feel any better ranting and raving about this and I'm usually an upbeat person who looks on the bright side of things, but There's Gotta Be A Better Way to run a business and let your employees still have a life!