Recently transferred to a new group from my old one that I’ve been at for 2 years. At my old one, I wasn’t paid particularly well, but I knew every aspect of my job, management liked me and I got along with all my coworkers. I had a nice routine going. I could be on my phone half the day and still be able to carry out all my job duties. Everything was great.

Of course, everybody within <organization> always speaks highly of this other group. “They pay x% better!” “They hardly do any work!” Etc. This mantra is beat into our head the day we’re hired. So when the opportunity comes up to join this group, I knew it would be irresponsible to turn it down.

I made my bittersweet goodbyes and left my old group. I wouldn’t have left this group otherwise; every aspect besides the pay was practically perfect for me.

But I still feel like I made a mistake. I’ve only been at this new group for a week but it’s just a huge disconnect. Everyone here is ready to bust your chops over any mistake. The work culture is absolutely more corporate. I worked with <PMC position>’s in my previous job but they were all down to earth and friendly; their job is more aligned with blue-collar work compared to my current group. The PMC’s I work for now are Ivy-league, top 10 <PMC> university alumni. I can’t relate to these folks with their rich people hobbies. These are literally the labor aristocracy, the top 5% at least.

I know I’m lucky to even be in this position but I can’t help but detest it. I made this jump because it pays extremely well but I can’t retire here. I would’ve eventually made a sustainable wage at my previous group, over a much longer period of time, but even then it couldn’t match my current wage. After my degree, I would much rather take a pay-cut and work for my previous group as <PMC position>…

I just needed to get this off my chest. I don’t expect users here to have much sympathy for me, as I know plenty here struggle with surviving the day. For the pay, I should suck it up, even if its a toxic work environment. But I miss my old desk and coworkers.