I have a question for those of you who are opting to relocate to New Jersey. How can you be sure you will not upend your entire family, move, start to settle in, just to find yourself laid off a year or two down the line? In general, I'm not opposed to moving, but it's that scenario that keeps me up at night.
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NJ is the worst state to live
High Real-estate taxes, Car insurance, Rent, and housing prices are outrageous.
Commuting on 287 is a nightmare during peak hrs.
Tolls are going up and so does transit prices. But NJ Transit trains are the worst than 3rd world countries.
You are spot on. That is a high probability unless you can charm your way into the #innercircle. A leading Fintech and its Issuing business unit is one such place and there are no new openings in Berkeley Heights. The 2000 number is a sham to get Government rebates. Actual hiring counts are far less as most of the positions are internal mobility and a fraction of new positions.
@1ljf+1dK3xBlt This has to be one of the more bizarre answered I've seen out here in quite some time. You mentioned "proven performers .. confident in their abilities". If a "proven performer" wishes to relocate, that's great, but isn't it reasonable to assume this type of individual would have ample alternatives that don't involve moving?
Your statement about a guaranteed job doesn't make any sense, either. No job is a guarantee, but people would probably be less upset losing a new job in their current location as opposed to losing their current job after they had totally upended their lives.
Also, are you suggesting that people who don't want to move are "risk averse"? That's simply not true. Individuals who are unhappy with their current working situation, some with many, many years of tenure, are moving to new opportunities, with companies unknown to them. New teams. New bosses. New corporate culture to learn. I'd call that pretty brave.
Perspective and experience. I moved twice in recent time. November 2019 to NYState and close to Jersey, and 18 months later, after living in he-l, moved back to Georgia. Each move cost $12,000 so moving is not cheap. Trains to NYC are often slightly off time but they were a comfortable travel option. A bus is more crowded but more comfortable. Working in NYC though, or Jersey City (First Data) is a nightmare. If you in Alpharetta, stay there and get another job.
Rediculous…we are asking proven performers to move. Any A player has the confidence in their abilities. No one ever in any job is guaranteed at any company. Of you believe somehow by working for Acme Payments you would be guaranteed a job you are very naive. If you are so risk adverse that you’d rather quit your job than relocate to NJ that seems self defeating.
Hi, I'm not a fiserv emp. I came out here to find out about the company since I heard they are moving some jobs to Berkeley Heights. What I read has put me off on Fiserv but I figured I'd share the commuter info for those of you thinking of moving and want the backup plan of taking another job in/near the city.
BH has a train station in town. But BH is on the only single track line on NJ Transit (east and westbound trains share the one track until Summit) so the schedule is less frequent to accommodate; its called the Gladstone line. The estimate of 90 minutes door to door to Jersey city is reasonable maybe 10 minutes less. Going to NYC door to door is averages over 90 minutes. Train delays are common in bad weather due to snow, damage to power lines, etc. Fyi - Door to door to me is the time you pull out of your driveway until you sit down at your desk.
Traffic along the major east/west highway (route 78) is terrible in the morning. Parking and tolls add up if you need to pay for them. So if you need to get to NYC, Newark or Jersey City (via Hoboken) the train is the safer but longer option. Monthly train ticket to Hoboken is close to $300.
There are easier and cheaper places to live; I plan to move once the kid graduates high school. Its a nice town, don't get me wrong. But there are plenty of nice towns that have lower taxes and shorter commutes.
Sorry you are all going through this. I wish you all the best.
Fiserv has proven they have no loyalty to me. Why should I give them any loyalty?
That's exactly the concern that many people have expressed. Go with your gut. Frank is a cost-cutter, not a business-grower.
And to the person that said "oh yeah plenty of jobs in the area!" Sure there is. And most of them are in the NYC metro area. Take a look at this map.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Berkeley+Heights,+NJ/@40.7134923,-74.234526,11.75z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c3babd801f568f:0x299157173a541ca2!8m2!3d40.6808726!4d-74.4310524!5m2!1e4!1e2
I selected the 'transit' layer. Notice something? NYC transit doesn't come close to Berkeley Heights. There is probably some kind of connector, but think of the quality of your life with the following commute:
- Drive from NJ suburbs to transit connector - 20 min
- Wait for train/bus to 'plenty of jobs' in the NYC metro area - 10-15 min
- Train/bus ride to 'plenty of jobs' - 30 min
- If you're unlucky, transfer to another line to 'plenty of jobs' - 20 min
- Walk from transit stop to 'plenty of jobs' - 10 min
Total: 1.5 hours if you're lucky, 2 hours on a bad day. ONE WAY.
Now, repeat that in reverse every evening!
Don't want the commute? Live closer in. But pay astronomical prices. Don't want to pay high rent/mortgage? Live further out, but limit your employment opportunities.
And pay the most expensive car insurance rates in the country while doing it! :-D
I wouldn't move a bowel for this company. They care less about the employees everyday. Sick and tired of their all mighty "employees #1", talk is cheap, prove it someday. Part of the problem is that they cannot promise you long term employment if you relocate because what if your performance drops to firing levels in 5 months? If they say, Ok, we can promise 3 years of employment to you for moving, you both have to live up to the bargain.
Plenty of other jobs to be had in the area, assuming you actually want to move to Jersey….doesn’t sound like you do though.