Job Share. Can it be done?

[Alacrity]

We live in a major metro area where the ED doctors make at the lower end of the spectrum. Simple due to supply and demand
If she were to drive 2 hours in any direction her pay would go up about 75%
(granted, this is non-rush hour time.)

I work in IT and can make 50% more if I were to drive 2 hours in any direction. My job is such that I can take 6 month assignments or 9 or a year, etc. Basically they are fixed engagements where a time period is part of the negotiation.
My work is very portable and I can find a job in any English speaking country in 2-6 weeks.

So, I was thinking. Would it be possible to just work 6 months a year and then take 6 months off?
Granted, I'd have to find someone in my wife's profession, of the same caliber, that would want to do the same thing.
Think this could work?

Anyone interested?

[ladymoreta]

No clue, but it sounds like an interesting idea! Would you guys alternate half-years or both take off at the same time?

[Deebs]

In EM, anything is worth asking for. I know my DH's hospital couldn't do it, but they would do a month off, possibly twice a year. They'd also stack shifts, so she could work six shifts on and stay in an apartment in the area, three to four off, and six on, and then have about a month off by back loading the same shifts. I don't know if that makes sense, but basically if she could put in twelve, twelve hour shift each month, she could negotiate to block them. It would have to be an upfront deal and written into her contract, though, and much more likely if she'd work evenings and/or nights.

[poky]

I've seen an ad (this one was for anesthesia, but I'm sure there are probably others) for 6-months-per-year work in Maine during tourist season. They don't need as many bodies in the winter, so the job is set up that way.

[Alacrity]

We would both work the same 6-8 months, then take 6-4 months off.

I did the math. If we both worked 6 month gigs outside the city we would both be netting the same amount of money.
Did the calculations with the new tax rates and the cost of commuting, lunches out, dog walkers, etc. My job will pay for accommodations equal to a hotel. So I could rent a decent place for $3,000 / mo for six months.

Our situation would be unique unless you lived in the 3 major spots. New York, Chicago and San Francisco. All pay low in the city but pay pretty well outside a 100 mile radius. I guess no one wants to live right next to a major city in the corn fields.
Think New York vs. New Jersey and Chicago vs. Peoria

Neither one of us has kids and the dog could live with the changes.

Why not?
6 months in Peoria or Rockford, then 6 months in Italy, Hawaii, Mexico, etc.
Sounds like the life everyone THINKS we live

[Deebs]

Why doesn't she just do locums? It would give the flexibility and pay you're looking for without having to find a job that would accept her absence for 1/2 the year.

[Alacrity]

High malpractice in her profession.

To give an example.
Adam is born with a birth defect. Adam dies at age 8 due to complications. Adam's parents sue every hospital Adam went to in 8 years including every doctor on staff at the time. Claiming that there was accumulated negligence. Suing lawyer works on a percentage basis and gets it all tried as a group in a single lawsuit.

But locum is an option. Looking into that also. DW just likes the company that she is with and they have positions all over the 50 states

[Vishenka69]

We live in cornfield between NYC and Philly for the same reason.

I've definitely heard of job share in some specialties, but also think locums might be easier.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9360 using Tapatalk

[Alacrity]

We live in cornfield between NYC and Philly for the same reason.

Yeah, I wouldn't wish the Philly tort system on anyone