How long have you been at your current company?
Posted by fwambo42@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 314 comments
I just past my 11 year anniversary a couple months ago so was curious about other member's seniority. What's keeping you there beyond the quest for the paycheck?
G-Style666@reddit
9 years. FML.
I don't feel like looking for another job when all my shit runs great and I'm in charge. Comfort comes at a cost.
SudoZenWizz@reddit
16 years working with same people, 15 years of current company.
learning opportunities, flexibility, team and customers
Zae313@reddit
32 years now.. Local government.
s_schadenfreude@reddit
18 years. I stay because I've been fortunate to have a good team, good bosses over the years, and tons of flexibility. I also work for a non-profit that has a great mission.
Sharkwagon@reddit
18.5 years, honestly it’s 50% because I love (most of) my co-workers and 50% because I’ve always been too busy to seriously look somewhere else
AnalogJones@reddit
9 years
Fartz-McGee@reddit
15 years, and it's the payche....oh wait.
Pukely@reddit
24 years. I stay for benefits, culture, friends and pay.
shelfside1234@reddit
18.5 years
The main aim now is a big fat redundancy pay-out
crytek2025@reddit
What made you stay there for this long?
shelfside1234@reddit
Generally it’s a good job - well paid, good benefits and a brilliant pension so not felt the need; have had the occasional wobble though won’t lie.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
wow, that's pretty good. I'm looking at retiring in the next 3-5 years so now sure I would ever make it that long.
Otto-Korrect@reddit
I retire in 1 year, 3 months and 9 days. (my 65th birthday)
WendoNZ@reddit
But who's counting right :)
F1Phreek@reddit
I have 35 more years lmao
JustBeinOptimistic@reddit
Awesome man. Congrats!
Dookie_boy@reddit
How does that pay out work ?
shelfside1234@reddit
It would involve the platform I support to be decommissioned, leaving me without an active role… under UK employment laws I would be entitled to 1 week pay for every year I’ve been working there.
But my place my well up that to a month per year to get rid of me because with my wages and the fantastic pension scheme I’m on mean I’m very expensive.
And I almost forgot, the first £30,000 of the redundancy is tax free
Otto-Korrect@reddit
That's not bad. I'd be happy with 20 weeks' pay for leaving.
First-Structure-2407@reddit
Yep yep yep 25th year and I ain’t fucking going
5141121@reddit
I'll be 12y in June.
I'm sorry if transitioning roles at the moment because the platform I was hired to manage is being sunset, but that's still at least a year out.
I'm hoping after the sunset a good redundancy offer comes in and I can coast into my next gig.
Hobbit_Hardcase@reddit
11.5 yrs
The last point is the real clincher. I know I could move elsewhere and get more money, but having a team I don't despise and a boss I actually get along with makes the effort of find somewhere new something I can't be doing with.
Consistent-Front7802@reddit
Too long 😐
M0rdwyn@reddit
19.5 years.
Daisy_Bloodworth@reddit
10 years in a couple months. What's keeping me here is the 42 days PTO and a good IT manager. The moment the manager goes or retires, I'm very likely to pack my bags (and so are other IT colleagues). For the salary I don't have to stay here.
Kenjii009@reddit
3.5 years switching soon because of payment increase I would not get here.
mcdonamw@reddit
12 years current employer. 14 years prior employer. I'm a serial longtimer, likely to my own detriment 😂
Ill-Mail-1210@reddit
16 years. Almost 14 years in my previous role/company. 17 more years before I retire, 15 more years to go on my mortgage
battletux@reddit
About 20 months and have been told my role is at risk, so have asked for voluntary redundancy. Once my 3 months notice is done I'll be 12 days short of my 2 year mark, and eligibility for statutory redundancy pay 😔
Hotshot55@reddit
Longevity =/= seniority.
Common_Option_4385@reddit
One of the old heads at my previous job was one of the worst techs. Typical 50 year old who has worked with the same old technology environments for 30 years and has no clue how to handle new things thrown at him, needed babysitting all the time. Super annoying.
But on paper it looks cool. 30 years of infrastructure work. Muh senior.
CantaloupeCamper@reddit
Tell that to the ass union I dealt with / the one my wife deals with….
Thankfully I’m out of that stuff directly
Nerd2259@reddit
Unions. You might not be considered the most senior, but you'll get better raises and employment protections than a senior that isn't in one!
CantaloupeCamper@reddit
Not that you get to actually find out…
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
yeah, I blanked on the right term to use. that's a better one
Penners99@reddit
I am now retired ( retired at 60) but I was at my last company for 27 years, ending up as a senior manager, just below director level.
Relevant-Injury3791@reddit
10 years.
Less than 2 miles from home.
Pay is good.
sleepmaster91@reddit
5 years at my current company
Previous company i was going on 4 years
IT_vet@reddit
I’m on the network engineer side now, not sysadmin, but hit seven years a few months ago. Moved into this org coming from an IT director role in K12. Took a pay cut when I started, but they’ve been good to me since. In seven years I’ve been promoted twice and doubled my salary.
The biggest reason I made the move was to get back to an individual contributor role. I’ve been able to do that here, but still make big raises. Last year I promoted in place and was given a 20% raise to go with it in July. In January this year I still got the typical 3ish% merit + ~7% bonus.
Plus I enjoy what I do. It’s a real engineering role - no tickets, no users.
Chili_Clause@reddit
Well, I was there for 10 years but in the last two weeks they fired almost my entire department, including me, which is a shame because I really enjoyed the job and had a great boss. Companies don't care about you, they had my boss fire her entire staff, then the next day they called her in and fired her. Luckily I shouldn't have trouble finding work.
thenew3@reddit
23 years next month.
AlissonHarlan@reddit
Orevious, almost 13
Now 4,5
randomlyme@reddit
12 years and I got an early notice I’m being let go, fortunately my resume is great and recruiters are knocking on my door. Feels like I’ve been held back and now it’s time to fly.
Mindless-Internal-54@reddit
I'm coming up on 9 years at my current company. Every place has its ups and downs but I'm surrounded by really great people that care of the employees and the good days far outnumber the bad ones. Just last year I had a major health scare (almost died, and should have died) and missed a total of nearly 7 weeks of work, then could only handle working a few hours a day for a month or so after I came back. Everyone stepped up to cover for me while I was out, and I didn't miss a single paycheck during my time off. I came back to work and things were actually in better shape than when I left. At first it as thinking "well hell, maybe yall are better off without me here!" But everyone just busted their butts while I was out. That's not something you really ever hear about anymore.
Important-Finding-65@reddit
Coming up on 10 years with the same credit union. Mostly stay for the PTO tbh, currently getting 32 days a year + holidays and it keeps going up til year 20. They got me by the balls lol
Rocknbob69@reddit
16 years and Benefits. They trap you with the benefits package because you will never get this at another company. Company supplied lunches so you don't leave the office
paleologus@reddit
Nobody else is going to give me 45 days of PTO.
itguy1991@reddit
Dang. I only get 20 days per year and I don't even use them.
Luckily, my company allows cash out, so I did 80 hours last year and have already done 40 this year. Even after those cash outs and taking a week off earlier this month, I still have 4.5 weeks on the books.
Trying to do better about using my PTO, but with my GF busy with accelerated nursing school, there's not a whole lot of reasons to take time off.
ClassicTBCSucks93@reddit
I got no days at my last place. Well I did but I'd wind up just working the entire day or dealing with the incompetent MSPs fuckups that they would do ad hoc. I'm so glad I'm gone from there.
Frothyleet@reddit
*in the US
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
yeah, I'm about 3-5 years away from retirement and looking forward to eh ACA co-pay (if it's still even an option at that point)
Gryphtkai@reddit
26 years ...but I work for a state agency. Once you get past 10 years you end up tending to stay to keep the pension.
joelwink@reddit
What's this “P” word you speak of?
Gryphtkai@reddit
I got in just as state was switching to a 401 style program. You had the option of sticking with the guaranteed pension or go with the investment funding. I said gimme the pension…
Of course at that time the retirement fund was doing well and state said that after 10 years you were fully vested in state medical insurance for yourself and spouse no matter what your age. Then before I hit 10 years it changed to 20. Then they dropped spouses. Then it became you didn’t get medical benefits unless you put in 30 years or were in 20 years and over 65. Now it’s if you’re under 65 you can enroll in a separated plan ..not sure how that’s paid for. But for me being over 65 I get a tax free stipend based off the number of years worked to cover Medicare cost, drug plan cost , dental and eye care cost, Medigap or Medicare Advantage. I’ll get around $380 per month. So much for fully covered health care at least it’s something.
I’m eligible to retire but state medical insurance is so good I’m staying on till some medical issues are taken care of. Didn’t realize how good the insurance was till I ended up with cancer and everything was covered except for $2500 out of pocket max. Since we go from July to June for our fiscal year everything I have done now I don’t have any out of pocket expenses for. Getting as much done as possible before July. As it is I’ll probably not retire till 2028. Course it helps I work from home.
omegafivethreefive@reddit
10.
Equity.
deadstarsunburn@reddit
Just hit 10 years. 7 of that was spent with my original company, 3 with the company who purchased us. I hate it here and would like out but I don't know where else to go. Not getting any bites on what I apply for.
as0909@reddit
1 year 9 months, I hope I will finally break my record off of my longest employment at this place which is 2 years 4 months. I love my workplace but I feel like in a year 1.5-2 I would start looking around as that would be only way to chase higher paycheque
cruising_backroads@reddit
Previous job 21.5 years
Current is 10 years and 3 years from retirement.
6Saint6Cyber6@reddit
A long time. Benefits and flexibility can’t be beat. I just came back from 6 months of FMLA to care for a family member and didn’t even use half of my accrued sick time. No one batted an eye when I took the time either.
MyNameIsNotMud@reddit
Almost 35 years, retiring next week.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
wow, good show!
notmyrouter@reddit
19 yrs so far. Changing departments next week to become Sales Engineer. So maybe another 19yrs or however long I decide to stay.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
lot of effort in that kind of role. good luck!
port25@reddit
22 years of duct tape, shouting matches, power outages, and good friends. I stay because I thrive in chaos.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
chaos always makes things more interesting
ronmanfl@reddit
Just had my 10 year a week ago.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
get anything special? I had my ten year anniversary ten year and got some imaginary gift points for a recognition tool that we have. ended up getting an iwatch which I guess is better than a kick in the balls
PlaitOnIck@reddit
Almost 2 years, trying to jump ship. I try not to spend any more than 3 years in any role, too much to learn elsewhere and too much money to be made by not sticking around
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
amen brother
Miamichris127@reddit
13 years
Transmutagen@reddit
Previous job was a MSP, I downgraded to a specialist role at a community college and I’ve been here for 10 years now. I have 14 years left to retirement, I’ll probably be here the whole time.
salkiri@reddit
17 years and love it. Small company, WFH, good pay and benefits, good group of people to work with.
Consultant to local business for 15 years as well. Love the challenges and group I get to work with.
_Ethel_Beavers@reddit
Just hit 18 years at an MSP. Rarely work more than 40 hours/week. Don’t have any direct reports. Mission/clients are pretty good. Not a lot of emergencies. Not officially on call, but will take an occasional “can you point me in the right direction” call after hours. Boss is chill. Direct access to the owner when I need it. Getting paid below market, but pretty reasonable for the work/life balance.
PictureFamiliar1267@reddit
14 years. PTO keeps me here!
scubajay2001@reddit
Two days...
DavidKleeGeek@reddit
I started my own tech consulting company 12.5 years ago and we're still going strong. It's by far the longest I've ever been in a single position.
sysadmin42601@reddit
17 years. Plan is to start winding back and looking at mentoring someone to take over next year or helping to business find a reliable MSP
khantroll1@reddit
3 years in June, though no kidding it seems longer.
Two things keep me there:
1) I genuinely love my team. I work with a wonderful group of people, and a few of them I consider dear friends outside of work.
2) I have golden handcuffs. I’m in the top 10% of salaries in my area. When you combine that with reasonable insurance, comp time, 2 weeks of vacation AND more then that in sick time, bank holidays, a pension, and super flexible scheduling… I’d need a 60% increase in my salary to even make worth considering.
That isn’t happening in this economy.
TeddyRoo_v_Gods@reddit
10 years. I built half of the systems here and too afraid to look elsewhere now.
bofkentucky@reddit
12.5 years at current employer, 24.5 years as a sysadmin (or Lead Platform Engineer in HR speak these days). They'll have to drag me out of here. Good pay, zero risk of being acquired, new problems every day to keep my mind fresh, and a good group of guys I get to work with every day.
Type-94Shiranui@reddit
2 months and I hate it. I fucked up and regret the move! I'm looking for a new job. The regret is fucking killing me. New job is a total step back in terms of responsibilities.
beingboston@reddit
19 years. Keep learning and kicking ass. And hopefully not getting let go any time soon.
vermyx@reddit
Currently 4. My previous "record" was 16. I dont miss the long thankless hours, having sales trumps stability, and that having people accountable for their mistakes/misplanning is bitching. Loyalty is not necessarily a hood thing. The reason I havent hopped from this place is that the IT director is pretty strict on a 40 hour work week, compensation for working off hours, makes sure that the execs hear about your good deeds, keeps your ass out of the fire.
HungoverHawkeye@reddit
16 years. I hate every day of my life.
kornkid42@reddit
20 years
Vegetable-Ad-1817@reddit
27 years, but about 12 roles and 4 departments.
PositiveBubbles@reddit
Nearly 7 years now! Eligible for long service leave in 7 months
DasaniFresh@reddit
8 years. I’ve reached the top of the IT food chain and don’t plan on leaving. Leadership is open to my suggestions and my boss is cool.
jasmeralia@reddit
A decade. They've been extremely supportive of the health issues i deal with and promoted me to management despite my frequent sick days. And they bloody pay well. Earns them a lot of loyalty in my books. Plus I get to play with new technologies on a regular basis... I really can't complain. Except about our CHG management process... filing CHG tickets in our SNOW system takes ages and the turnaround time for approvals is nowhere near agile. It's the one major gripe I have about my job.
vawlk@reddit
20, 2 more to go
DestinationUnknown13@reddit
26 years with my first IT job and 13 years with my current IT job. Couple more years and I'm finally on my time.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
so you've worked 39 years in only two jobs? that's pretty amazing!
DestinationUnknown13@reddit
Yes I have been lucky to work for good places and people that value their employees.
tcake24@reddit
25 years
Bigdaddyjim@reddit
22 Years. Retiring in three months.
2_FluffyDogs@reddit
26 years, 3 months and 21 days. I got super lucky to find the company after getting into IT with bullshit corporate environments.
Tandom@reddit
28 years and I’m still not working. They’re just paying me to play with really cool toys. They call a job, I’ll call it fun.
RichardSefton@reddit
2 jobs ago, 7 years. Left because i switched careers. Last job, 6 years and left because acquisition and poor management. My current job ive only been a year and looking to change because acquisition and commercial decisions is having a real impact on my job description. Would love to find somewhere i can work for 10-20 years.
techypunk@reddit
I don't stay anywhere for more than 3 years. I get a promotion everytime. I always am.looking for a legit role to stay at, but finding the unicorn is impossible.
DnB_4_Life@reddit
11 years, local government.
LotusLord23@reddit
Almost 21 years. First it person outside of the corp office. Was still in college when I started. I’m at corp now with a working manager title. I like the people (most of the time) and the industry is pretty stable (beverage alcohol). Historically I’ve had a lot of freedom to work remote, including 2 extended trips out of state to adopt my kids. I’m the 2nd longest tenured person in the department with one woman working remote in a business analyst role and approaching retirement.
jaguarpaw67@reddit
14 years. work life balance, could get more money somewhere else but won’t get the flexibility like my current workplace
Corgilicious@reddit
In February I left the company I’d been with for 20 years. Overall had a good career there, but for the past few years I had been stuck in a professional development cul-de-sac with no indication that was going to change. I wasn’t even looking, but the universe sent me an opportunity that I decided to jump at.
notarealaccount223@reddit
23, but between company growth, leadership changes and operating model changes it's been like 5 companies.
enigmatic407@reddit
13 years next month, work/life balance and my boss is not a micromanager (like everywhere else in the industry I'd worked by the time I got this job)
EncomCEO@reddit
22 years and too many rounds of mergers and splits to recall them all.
Magumbas@reddit
24 years
-RYknow@reddit
Came on a 3-5 yea plan... About to wrap up my 10th year.
hosalabad@reddit
Twenty-five years, two months and nine days. But who’s counting.
LForbesIam@reddit
20 years. Full Pension and job enjoyment.
n3TZ3r0@reddit
Previous job was 5 years. New one is about 2.5 weeks
digitalamish@reddit
31 years from initial start date. There were a couple of years when I was laid off and worked elsewhere, but was brought back. Total time is over 25 years. If I can get to another 5 or 6, I can retire.
whippy_grep@reddit
I found some Novell Netware 5 CDs the other day
digitalamish@reddit
I’m trained for Banyan Vines over token ring.
ComprehensiveBuy675@reddit
8 years, continued growth has kept me onboard.
EdmondVDantes@reddit
Money, flexibility with my kids and working with cool technologies
The_Long_Blank_Stare@reddit
21 years. My company doesn’t pay the greatest, but we have a combination pension + 401(k) with match + 100% paid Cadillac plan health/dental/vision coverage for the employee. It’s really hard to beat because saving for retirement is almost mindless, and having a low deductible insurance plan makes life measurably easier. Been through two administrations—one was insanely cheap and everything was held together with duct tape, and the current one is blowing through all of the money saved by the previous one and everything is constantly changing. It’s been a wild ride, but I’m keeping my eye on the benefits + my retirement.
crimsonDnB@reddit
Coming up on 9 years.
I make movies. It's fun, it's interesting. And it's low stress. The company takes care of us and I'm 100% work from home.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
I always make sure to stick around for the sysadmin credits :)
CanadianBaconBurger9@reddit
9 years, Pension.
whosthere5@reddit
11 years here. Nowhere to really move up the chain but it’s a French company so great work/life balance. I plan to stay until I need to make more (got two toddlers at home now) or we get bought out
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
I've always been curious about EU based companies and how things go there. I imagine it's about the same - combinations of both good and bad set ups
Nevafazeme@reddit
8 years, which is the longest I’ve ever stayed in the same job.
Why I’m still here: 2 years in got a raise of 16.5% (that I asked for). 2 years after that got a 9% raise. Then 2 years after that I got an 18% raise (received a competing offer that was matched). We’ll see if anything happens in this 2 year window coming up :)
whippy_grep@reddit
28 years for State Government. I have 30+ in government overall, so I’m eligible for my full pension, but my gig is a good one. I don’t plan to retire for a couple/few/several years.
I’m senior as all get out - I remember when my manager (and his manager) started lol. I’m just an old hand among the grunts who has been around long enough to have a good working knowledge of our department’s (very) different divisions.
Nakenochny@reddit
Going on eight years in June. Other than management, I’m the most senior person in my department, both in terms of time with the company and position. Pretty weird, speaking as a millennial who didn’t think I’d ever get a properly stable job.
burguiy@reddit
8 years
NLBlackname55NL@reddit
2 months as modern workplace architect currently, at a CSP.
7,5 year jouney from tier2 to underappreciated consultant/engineer/jack of all trades before that, at a CSP, which is currently crumbling :-)
2 years internally as "systems administrator" and "IT Intern" before that. I'm 28.
Secret_Account07@reddit
I’m at around 14 years.
With seniority and pay raises I’m about $56 an hour. I’ve lost all motivation to move up. Just had a posting that would move me up to next scale but I just can’t find the motivation.
I’m burned out. I’m exhausted. I’m tired of driving an hour in, working 8 hours, then driving an hour home. I was soooo happy WFH. More productive too. Now I’m just miserable
Can I please retire?
EmperorGeek@reddit
I started in 1991.
gwrabbit@reddit
10 months, no regrets. Previous place was 6 years.
BryceKatz@reddit
I spent 10 years. I stuck around long enough for my family to take advantage of an incredible education benefit.
I left 9 months ago for a 64% pay raise. No regrets for any of it.
organized_chaos23@reddit
10 years and for what is keeping me, that would be golden handcuffs.
Ccw_tn@reddit
I'm probably the outlier here both in terms of age and length of stay. I got my first IT job in 1984 (when I was 20) and stayed there until 1989. I left there to work in the data center for one of the largest accounting and financial services firms in the world and stayed there from 1989 until 2006 (17 years!). When I left there it was to take a position in the IT department at a tier 1 automotive supplier just a couple of miles from my farm and I've been here since then (20 years and counting!)
Only 3 jobs in 42 years has to be some kind of record lol! I've been lucky enough to have basically stumbled into 3 great jobs though and I plan to stay here until I retire.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
it's definitely in the top three. there was one other guy who's had two jobs in 39 years (13 and 26) which seems absolutely crazy to me
Lord_Phoenix2501@reddit
0.5 years, I just started 😂 Working for my government right now, I really enjoy it
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
remember what that feels like and keep it with you :P
b00mbasstic@reddit
Almost 19 years
shinglehouse@reddit
Same! Cheers!
bws7037@reddit
total of 40 years. Quit 3 times but they kept offering me more money.
Rouxls__Kaard@reddit
15 years. Only job I’ve ever had.
MedicatedDeveloper@reddit
Previously 9.5 years, now 2.5 weeks.
I miss the political capital but the change of pace from "manage 100 AWS accounts running custom software as a team of two" was VERY nice. I have slept better in the past 3 weeks than any time in the past 5 years.
frubie-09@reddit
Your previous sounds like my current 🤣
old_cypherpunk@reddit
16 years. After years wandering the wilderness working for large corporations in my youth I learned that a good workplace is worth 10k or more in pay. I found my happy place and stayed there.
delightfulsorrow@reddit
26 years.
Back then, during peak .com, I switched for the money.
The first 10, 15 years then I stayed because it was fun working there. Great, very skilled people from whom I learned a lot while working with them, good opportunities to switch positions internally if other topics looked more interesting or promising (I did that twice), you could change things if you were willing to take over responsibility. And you felt appreciated for it.
This got worse though. Company grew and morphed into a typical enterprise environment in a highly regulated industry. The last 10 years I stayed mostly for the money, strictly limited and well compensated overtime and on-call, working from home opportunities and the fact that I know the company and a lot of people, know whom to call if I need something to be done (no matter how many processes exist, talking to the right people still helps a lot.)
And now I'm simply too lazy to look around for the last few years until retirement. I plan to retire in 3-5 years, could do so even right now if anything happens, so I can't be bothered.
last10seconds00@reddit
11 years
JesradSeraph@reddit
10 years, but it got sold for billions a couple years ago and I got two more years of extra stock to collect.
WildBlueIndian@reddit
33 years next month. Started with a VAX and 40 VT100 terminals. Same place. Same family ownership...
Significantly different these days.
razorback6981@reddit
20 fucking years.
tdmsbn@reddit
13 years, hasent been bad. MSP work isn't that bad, moved over to a dedicated customer coverage and that has honestly been amazing.
Ay0_King@reddit
Too long.
madlyalive@reddit
20 years. Sys Admin to CIO.
LordCornish@reddit
All of this millennia and a touch of the last.
tdmsbn@reddit
Not many will be able to say such things. Hell of a line.
Casey3882003@reddit
6 and a half years. Going to try and stay for as long as they will have me. Don’t really have any gripes aside from the normal end user bs. But the pay, benefits package and working remote make it hard to find something better. Plus at this point I know the ins and outs of how all the applications work together which makes it easier to handle.
moonracers@reddit
11 years with my current org and stayed for 15 At my previous employer.
whatyoucallmetoday@reddit
12 years. The effort vs reward ratio is quite good. The commute is not too bad unless the floor of the house is cold.
ddadopt@reddit
24 years. I don't have golden handcuffs, but there are silver ones.
Casey3882003@reddit
First time hearing silver handcuffs and I feel that. Not been here as long as you but certain benefits make it hard to leave.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
yeah, mine are more of a rusty tin type
yellowadidas@reddit
5 years. a few years longer than i should. job security is just too good and i love the people. it’s made me too comfortable and lazy
Morkai@reddit
7 months. Company before that was 3 years before I was made redundant.
keivmoc@reddit
6 years now. I wasn't planning on staying long but I got to head up a FTTH project for my community. We'll see what happens after that.
Sorcerious@reddit
A what
yesforsatanism@reddit
Fibre to the home
LazloColetrain@reddit
Do you have an opinion on Ripple Fiber?
LazloColetrain@reddit
25 years with about 5 to go, maybe 6 if remote work and chill mgmt team continue. Was already offered a move to part time for the last 18 months when I decide to exit
jason9045@reddit
Hit 15 years a couple of months ago. I've got all the seniority I want and what's keeping me here is the 4 weeks or vacation I've got built up.
wirtnix_wolf@reddit
Psst... In Europe, 4 weeks of paid vacation are mandatory. I have 30 days of paid vacation.
jason9045@reddit
Yes I know I live a dystopia. It’s one week prorated off I were starting here today as a new employee
c4ctus@reddit
Twenty years. I want to die.
rr1965@reddit
35 but I retired.
one_fifty_six@reddit
Just had my 9 year anniversary. I've had 4 or 5 job titles. Climbed my way from a 2 man help desk team to a stressed out SysAdmin. Only like 2 other guys that have been here longer than me. I used to be them when I started. Now I understand why they aren't like that anymore.
niamh-k@reddit
Spent 13 years in 3 different IT roles in my previous company (essentially started as a first liner, left a third liner)
Currenty looking at 6 years for my current company in the same role. Technically second role, but it was ultimately just a new title and more pay for doing the same thing I was always doing.
bingblangblong@reddit
14 years. I get to do what I want. Small org.
xzer@reddit
Close to 7. Profit sharing, employee match, pension. Kinda cool, probably gonna stay in banking
Shroomeri@reddit
13 years 🫣 This was my first job after school and I’m still here haha.
philmcracken519@reddit
8 years. Money is average, very little micromanaging and a nicely varied workload keep me there.
Otto-Korrect@reddit
Just hit 20 years. It wasn't in my plan, it just happened. Now I'm happy to stay anywhere I can get a steady secure paycheck and benefits until I retire! And I actually enjoy (most of) the people I work with).
Another_Random_Chap@reddit
Just completed 6 years, but I was contracting on this project for a couple of years via a 3rd party before I took my current job.
5eppa@reddit
6 years roughly.
pee_shudder@reddit
Six years even though the owner is a total douchbag
RetroactiveRecursion@reddit
20 years give or take
Enjoimangos@reddit
Same, hard to walk away from the PTO and work/life balance.
CobblerYm@reddit
I'm on the state retirement system, I've been here 20 years. If I get no more pay raises or position changes I'll retire in 10 more (age 50) with a pension around $80k/yr. I get 4 weeks vacation + 3 weeks sick + 4 personal days, + 18 paid holidays a year. It would take a lot to get me out of here before I'm able to retire.
Now once I retire, it's likely just from here and I'll go somewhere else for 5 years or so. Double income for 5 years seems like it would be greatly beneficial since I can live off the pension and save 100% of my second salary for the time.
Lukage@reddit
The what/what balance?
I've definitely seen the PTO accruals increase (even if comparatively they're awful in some places), but never any direct relationship between work/life and tenure.
rick_C132@reddit
When you’ve been around a long time, everyone knows and respects you. You can tell people to fuck off and not work so hard to prove everything.
Enjoimangos@reddit
It's something my old colleagues always comment about missing after they've moved to another company.
you're right though, it is not tired to tenure.
BradtotheBones@reddit
2.5 but ready to find something else already.
Scurvy-Jones@reddit
New job: 6 months
Previous job: 14 years
Caveat - I used to work for an MSP and now I'm internal for one of my former customers. So, it really feels like I've been working here for 5 years.
Logistics-gal@reddit
21 years. I've stayed for the benefits and flexibility.
Amartincelt@reddit
10 years now. Golden handcuff - pays too well, and the job market is too shit to leave currently, though I dream of it daily.
ZachVIA@reddit
19.5 years
TooOldForThis81@reddit
20 years. Have a 12 month severance clause. I'm also waiting on redundancy.
baconjerky@reddit
6 years > 1.5 years > 2 weeks - just made the jump to IT Manager in the finance space. Having a blast lol
CharcoalGreyWolf@reddit
Three years shortly.
Why am I still there? Because the pay is solid and the benefits are reasonable. No other reason. I don’t absolutely despise where I’m at, but my days of liking it have certainly come to a middle.
I’m within 7-10 years of retirement, the landscape out there is uneven. But if the right offer came along, I’d jump. It wouldn’t need to have a pay bump either.
whatdoido8383@reddit
Previous sysadmin role was 10 years. I left for a M365 admin job which I've been at several years now. Loving not having to mess with generalist sysadmin stuff anymore. Security stuff and patching etc was really getting to me.
I'm more biased to a good working environment and job security now so I'll probably stay at the current org I work for as long as possible. If that's 20 years until I can retire, great.
With the current state of things, I'm not sure I could ever afford to, but I'd love to do something not IT related before I get too old. Not sure if I could ever make that work though. Life is too expensive now to take too much of a pay cut and not jeopardize retiring some day.
improbablyatthegame@reddit
Did this same thing. Spun off from M365 engineer to pure email security engineering. Been pretty good!
whatdoido8383@reddit
Nice, I'm hoping to do something similar sooner rather than later. My job now is a little too open ended for my liking. What I wanted to actually work on is only a small part of my role.
But, still 100x better than sysadmin generalist stuff!
Turak64@reddit
11 months, never stayed anywhere for more than 3 years. Have almost doubled my salary in 8 years, simply by moving around a bit... And getting a load of Microsoft certificates in 2020/2021.
Already looking to move on as I'm really bored where I am, there's nothing to do. I hope to eventually find somewhere that I can get a decent run at, but I'll never stay at a job if I'm not happy.
theedan-clean@reddit
It will be 11 years in October.
Longest I've stayed at any company, by 5x
oneconfusedearthling@reddit
Nearly 25 years, my first IT job out of college. For me I like the company, sure it has quirks and frustrations but treats its staff well and is socially conscious. Opportunity to see various technologies even if I don’t get to play on them. Great colleagues to work alongside and as we are global we have a lot of culture and experiences to learn from.
wirtnix_wolf@reddit
Since 1987. Started as apprentice. Meanwhile in upper Management.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
holy crap. I think you win the prize so far!
Wah_Day@reddit
previously job was 8.5 years, now its 7/8 months
Shad0wguy@reddit
13 years this month.
uskay@reddit
3 years, if I were to get a gov job I'd be gone like a fart in the wind tho.
mkallon8@reddit
15 years this april. I am in a good place at the moment will see how things turn out in the near future. one thing for sure the bigger the number of years or in other words the more experience you got the heavier the movement between jobs cause you would be expensive to buy out.
quicksilver777@reddit
26 years While it’s stressful being the only IT I am proud of what I have built. You know…..until it breaks
azjeep@reddit
16 years this year. Private pension and ESOP make it nearly impossible to leave.
slayermcb@reddit
8 years this summer. Just got named Tech Director too.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
sounds like an awesome bennie!
uptimefordays@reddit
I’ve been in my current role for two months now. Before that, I was in my previous role for four years. Initially, I had planned to stay with my old company throughout their digital transformation. However, when it became clear that infrastructure wasn’t part of the desired end state, I started looking for a new role. Apparently, I left just before the offshoring announcement!
I transitioned from an infra engineer III (specialist) to a senior software engineer at a larger company.
Maeldruin_@reddit
I'll have been here for 9 years in 2 months. I work for an MSP. I stick around for a few reasons.
I like the fast paced nature of the MSP world. I hear about some IT folks that browse reddit for most of their day, and I'd die of boredom in that kind of environment.
The benefits are pretty damn good too. 6 weeks of PTO each year, retirement is a 4% match +9% profit share. Multiple options for healthcare that range from a couple bucks a month to a few hundred, depending on your needs/wants.
I quite like our leadership team. We're pretty much trusted to do our jobs, they don't try to butt in when they're not needed, and don't make changes for the sake of making changes.
I've never felt like this company considers employees assets. I've never been questioned about why I'm calling out sick, and I've never had a PTO request rejected, or had them try to bull any BS on that front.
I still feel like I'm learning new things here, another advantage of working at an MSP.
Training has gotten a lot of love in the last year or so, since some of our partnerships (MS and Fortinet in particular) require a certain number of certs to maintain them.
My only real complaint about the company in general is pay growth over the last 5 or so years. Annual raises were only like 3%, though I got a pretty big pay bump when I moved from helpdesk to engineering in that time.
BlockBannington@reddit
Was here for 3 years. Then left for a better job. Then came back for a ever better job lmao. 3 years now so let's just say 6
eking85@reddit
13 years and 4 months is how long it feels but it’s only been 4 years as of January
TheBigBeardedGeek@reddit
Current position I've been here about three years. Last job I was at for over a decade.
I stayed there because we had a lot of PTO and the job was fun. However the job became less fun, the pay became painful, and the PTO wasn't as worth it.
Buzzbait_PocketKnife@reddit
27 years working in local government. Looking forward to my retirement in 3 years.
leprechanmonkie@reddit
12 years in May. I am on the professional services side (customer facing delivery for a software company).
My salary has tripled since then, I work from home and set my own schedule. I could probably get a 20% raise jumping jobs but I am comfortable, love my coworkers and have great relationships with my managers throughout these years.
The job itself is high stress sometimes, dealing with large enterprise migrations, but most days is pretty chill.
Xattle@reddit
3yrs here. Normally I'm a 2yr/contract type but got lucky. I'll be here until they fire me. Remote admin of a few Citrix solutions with opportunities to train up my cloud environment chops. Frontline support isn't me either so on call only if something literally explodes (happened once so far, data center UPS went sideways).
All that said, management drastically changed and other teams are getting laid off so I'm keeping my resume updated like usual.
Maleficent-Style8507@reddit
2 years. Still finding a company to jump from Helpdesk/Tech to Sysadmin
sneakattaxk@reddit
same 11 years (as jack of all , master of none) and then 4 years at the current place, was only supposed to be a stepping stone but they got me with the golden benefit handcuffs
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
yeah, it's definitely tough to find a good fit
ajsharm144@reddit
Coming close to 10 years.
Gullible-Block-4509@reddit
Going onto 7 Years. Started as helpdesk and am now a Senior Database Engineer. I think i am at the highest point I can get without someone leaving... As long as the raises keep coming then I think I'll stick around
link3it@reddit
5 months
funkandallthatjazz@reddit
13 years.. Time does fly.
oceans_wont_freeze@reddit
14 years. Remote the whole time.
FruitGuy998@reddit
First company out of college = 11 years 2nd = 2.75 years 3rd = 4 years in May
loosebolts@reddit
Getting on for 20 years
Lobster_Bodyslam@reddit
3.5 years. Still looking for a place to stay at for a while. Was planning on staying here but I don't like the direction the company is going in. Haven't for a long while. Plus management pulled the rug out from under me on a couple things (promotion/raises). So, been shopping for the last 4 months.
ShakespearianShadows@reddit
7 months…. I was at my last place for 6 years. Loved the management and team there, but had to move to get a decent pay raise.
Limp-Damage4818@reddit
11 years. My senior colleague is 36 years in… I see my future in her. I’m fine as long as I get paid to support my family
mycatsnameisnoodle@reddit
17 years. I stay because of 6 weeks of vacation a year, an additional 17 paid public holidays, and a pension. Retiring in a little over a year.
post4u@reddit
26 years. I have it too good here to leave. Great salary for the area. No commute. Plus I love what I do.
trishap00@reddit
19 years come Nov, I don't know why except what little retirement I will get when I make it there.
Doomstang@reddit
About 14 years here. I have a lot of freedom across our systems and they've finally started to show interest in letting me grow my management skills. I know I could make more somewhere else but I still make a respectable amount. Some days I want to rip my hair out in frustration, but there's also comfort in knowing a good amount about nearly every piece of our tech stack.
First-Structure-2407@reddit
In my 25th year. Took them from Windows 98/NT4 to Windows 11/Intune purely cloud.
W-hole_Line@reddit
5years. Started basically Helpdesk and now im responsible for all end point devices, handscanners, laptops, desktops, company phones .... intune/Sccm. Basically only one who knows it. 700 devices. Moved us from sccm to intune and everythinf else that comes with that
Real-Patriot-1128@reddit
6+ years current after 20 years previous job.
Generico300@reddit
13 years.
I work with a couple good friends here, but mostly just too lazy to want to look for another job.
OniNoDojo@reddit
21 years exactly in.... 14 days.
Started as an L1, up to answering to the owner. He takes very good care of his staff and currently all of our staff except for 1 have been here for over 3 years.
I know, it's like 300 years in IT years
doctorevil30564@reddit
Will be three years in July at my current job. I'm already to to a maximum of 150 hours of PTO accrued at 4.5 hours every two week pay period. Decent benefits package and just got a 5% pay bump on my last yearly review. Its a good job so far.
floatingby493@reddit
4 years at a government role, hoping to stay here until I retire. Pay is decent but the work life balance is great and the work load is pretty chill.
applematt84@reddit
7.5 years
100% remote, generous PTO, and flexible work/life balance.
the_1_that_knocks@reddit
10 years, currently in my 4th role.
digdugnate@reddit
26 years, roughly.
mikerg@reddit
I'm 33 years at my current job in a local sheriffs office (about 600 users). I've been in the "business" for almost 45 years. (I started with punch cards, Yes, I'm that old.)
After working in the private sector for a subsidiary of a large corporation, the stability of a steady paycheck and benefits were a God send. I'm now the director and have a great crew of seven people. I love that I wear different hats and am always learning something new. The people, however, are what have really made this job a joy.
TheBariSax@reddit
21 at previous, 5.5 at current and hoping to retire from this one
thomasmitschke@reddit
30.5 years. The company name changed several times.
PsychicRutabaga@reddit
I hit my 30 year service anniversary back in November. I tried to leave after the first year but the company counter offered and I stayed far longer than I ever expected. I got a tiny bit of cash and an attaboy for the 30 year milestone but it wasn't much. The days of gold watches are long gone.
I've learned to bend like a willow through changes. I've been through mergers and buyouts, from being in a publicly traded company to being bled dry under private equity, and then the remains of the company sold back to the public market. I've survived more "headcount reduction" efforts than I can remember.
I started as help desk, became a Unix software developer, pivoted briefly to project management (barf), back to technical with supporting a mixed Windows/Linux web farm, became a Windows unified communications admin (Microsoft OCS/Lync/Skype for Business), then back to enterprise Linux sysadmin/DevOps. All while dodging efforts to lobotomise me into management.
It hasn't always been easy, but I work with a good bunch of people, a few who have been here longer than me. And there are nice perks like more vacation days than I can use and I've been working from home for about a quarter century. I don't have too many years til I can retire but I'm unsure whether our division will last that much longer. In any case, I've held a variety of roles even within the same company to keep things fresh.
CallmeBerto@reddit
Year 6
Working for the government, great pay and benefits.
Impossible_IT@reddit
33 years gov, going on 28 in gov IT.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
that's not something you usually hear about in government positions. congrats!
CallmeBerto@reddit
Depending on where you end up the pay could be bad. However I was lucky and was hired in and got 2 promotions within 3 years. Got a great time, honestly I can't complain.
SemicolonMIA@reddit
3.5 years here. Looking to move on to the next gig soon.
mghnyc@reddit
I once worked for the same employer for 17 years. I really thought I would retire from there (it was a university and longevity is pretty much the norm) but I decided to leave eventually. The only reasons why I really stayed was job security, a good paycheck, really good benefits, and a very predictable work environment. Hindsight now, unless you need the stability because of having kids or mortgage payments, I would discourage people from staying for that long with one employer. The work gets stale and your skill set doesn't evolve enough if you ever have to look for something new. It's a lot more exciting to learn a new industry and a new IT environment every few years. Keeps you young and sharp (said by a guy in his mid-50).
Apprehensive_Bat_980@reddit
Too long
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
care to elaborate? We have a lot more people in the 20-25+ range than I expected
Apprehensive_Bat_980@reddit
As in, it’s shite and need to move on. Lads who have typically been there for an extended time can’t be moved on as they are on too much salary
cyberwizard6767@reddit
Just took a new job but my last job I stayed about 3.5 years. Left because I wanted to stab either myself or my monitor every time I had to sit at that desk. I was the sole IT tech for an office of about 100. What didn't work out was the culture fit, lack of training, and my own general misalignment with company principles. Nothing objectively "wrong" for many, but a terrible fit for me.
bythepowerofboobs@reddit
22 years for me. I went into this thread thinking my number would be among the highest, a very pleasant surprise to see so many other companies taking care of their people enough to stick around this long!
ComparisonFunny282@reddit
2 months at a new company, 8 years 7 months at the previous, 15 years in acedmia before that.
Temporary-Library597@reddit
21 years. Probably another 4 more. My spouse is going to retire in 2 years and someone has to pay for the health care.
RoastedDonutz@reddit
Knew my company was in bad shape but didn’t want to give up the pay and 30 days of PTO after 15 years. Got laid off and back to 10 days PTO now which sucks.
esochan@reddit
27 years. In the EDU sector.
landob@reddit
15 years
SupplePigeon@reddit
On year 17
unknwnerrr@reddit
Year 6 at MSP and finally leaving to internal here in a few weeks. Got a 50% pay bump and is down the street. No more driving across town for cheap ass clients anymore.
Necessary_Judgment@reddit
26 years.
Expensive_Finger_973@reddit
A little over 7 years at the current place. I am still here due to a combination of nothing obviously better having come along, incredible total comp package for the amount of work I do, 100% wfh, boss in a different state and timezone, mostly total control over what I work on and when, and just not having gotten hit by one of the layoffs they do seem to do every few years.
I've got something like \~2 years of living expenses saved away in a HYSA if and when the layoff comes. So I am just riding the wave for the compensation and resume fodder.
c1u5t3r@reddit
Currently 15 months in. Last job was 15 years.
Moorific@reddit
Going on 10 years at this current company but only been in a Sys Admin role for about a year. Literally worked my up from regular sales, to accounting, to IT Support Tech and now Sys Admin. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to keep up-skilling and moving forward at this current company.
Zero_cool6969@reddit
I hopped around too much probably ruined my career doing so
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
not necessarily. technical types will recognize the value from someone who learns new things at new companies.
v-irtual@reddit
7 years. There's still room for me to grow, and I have a good manager and good teammates.
Sideshow-Bob-Ross@reddit
I left a job after 12 years because I could see the writing on the wall. They were outsourcing anything they couldn't move to the cloud. I jumped ship, got a 20% pay bump, and my replacement is making half what I was.
Sneakycyber@reddit
14 years at my current desk. Job stability, very flexible work schedule (4 day work week, remote whenever), 5 weeks of PTO.
ThisIsDJTom@reddit
6 weeks. Jumped shipped for a better long term opportunity/pay. Haven't looked back.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
be sure to take a breath and enjoy that new company smell!
DavWanna@reddit
Just shy of two years, off in couple of weeks. Can't really wrap my head around people staying (or being able to stay, I should say) in the same place for decades.
brekkfu@reddit
9 years at prior job, 6 years at current
otacon967@reddit
7 years. For a millennial I’m office furniture at this point 😂
methodtomymidness@reddit
just passed my 2-year anniversary full-time. was a temp for a few months before that
TuxAndrew@reddit
12 years
Flexibility, autonomy and PTO.
widowhanzo@reddit
Just over a year. It's nice, work keeps me busy and it's challenging enough but also not too difficult. Remote, flexible schedule (outside of a few core hours and meetings), it's alright.
I've never been anywhere for longer than 3 years, I get bored.
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
that's how I was when I was younger but got tired of the bullshit
jetlagged-bee@reddit
13 years. Now a director. Got a 4 day week. Well paid. Think I'll be happy to do another 13 years and retire from here.
TheGenericUser0815@reddit
I work for a company that is owned a big city in Germany. There are many of those, we call them corporate Bremen. Changing from one to another isn't considered changing the employer. That way I count 26 years there.
Rex_Bossman@reddit
20 years in July. I pretty much choose what my day-to-day looks like. Of course I have to put out the fires when they come up but they are few and far between. Also, the people I work with truly are a "work family". It's a pretty small family owned company and everyone from the owner down are great people.
Oolon42@reddit
This is my 10th year. I like it here a lot, and I don't plan on ever going anywhere else. I absolutely hate everything about job searching, interviewing, being the new guy, etc. It all sucks.
Competitive_Sun_7276@reddit
10 years at a startup & 18 in the current.
PW_PW_@reddit
17 at my previous company, coming up on 16 here. IT manager.
CantaloupeCamper@reddit
I did 20 at another place and approaching 8 or so now I think.
Chaucer85@reddit
Just hit 8 years
Sefflaw@reddit
22 years. Just need to get to 25 yrs to get my silver name badge!
krattalak@reddit
15 years.
I'm now at the point I need to take 3 fridays a month off or I just stop accruing pto.
WiskeyUniformTango@reddit
My job history in order (first to current):
ammie12@reddit
3 years in, still learning a lot so it doesnt feel like a good time to move.
gabacus_39@reddit
Coming up 25 years soon although we've had a couple of name changes
Sefflaw@reddit
At 25 years we get a silver name badge and (maybe) a parking spot
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
wow! that momentous occasion calls for a shiny, new plastic plaque! /s
great job on sticking it out!
ProfessionalEven296@reddit
4 years. Completely remote. I stay here because I want to retire at some point, and they offer a great retirement package (a co-worker retired this week with 40 years service...)
fwambo42@reddit (OP)
I used to work at HP and we had a couple of guys here that both worked 25+ years and we figured out we collectively had 100 years of service with HP within the team. we called ourselves the century club
sysadminsavage@reddit
A few months. Made the switch from fully remote back to hybrid and I'm actually enjoying being back in the office a few days a week (though it helps to have fun coworkers, I'd be bored as hell if I was going in just to be on Teams meetings in a cube by myself).
I spent almost seven years at my last employer and survived the COVID-19 layoff cycle and massive internal layoffs (especially for IT) in 2024 and 2025. I jumped ship because it felt like a matter of time before they got to me. Feel very lucky I was able to find something new especially considering the current job market.
WaldoOU812@reddit
7.5 years. I've been in the industry for 26 and this is the first place where I legitimately feel like part of a family. I'm a gamer and when I took four days off for the launch of Age of Conan, my co-workers thought I was nuts. Here, my director took four days off for Diablo IV.
I legitimately love my co-workers, my boss, and my boss's boss (the director). I even like most of the people on other teams that I work with, and in the entire time I've been here, I've never once had an "I hate Mondays" experience, and as I've told people repeatedly, my worst day here beats my best day at one of my previous jobs.
hellcat_uk@reddit
21 years, with 11 of them as rolling 6-month contracts. Eventually went perm-y when a company split happened. Job is on my doorstep, I'm in no desire to move, and there's constant new opportunities.
wtf_com@reddit
10 years left in December. Wanted to leave for years but kept having interesting projects come up that I wanted to participate in. Finally had enough and left and am currently paying for the burnout over the last three years.
Recovering though but a lesson to everyone; no company is worth burning out for.
1dohnjoe@reddit
Almost 3 years now
MangoEven8066@reddit
Current almost 1yr. Previous 18 years. I should’ve left a lot sooner.
cwm13@reddit
6 years at the teaching hospital/university I'm at now. Another 10 working for a different traditional campus in the same university system in the same city.
Lonecoon@reddit
17th year out of the past 20. What keeps me here is the not great job market, and I can pick my own hours.
en-rob-deraj@reddit
7 years, which is the longest I've ever stayed at a company. Our area is not thriving and finding an inhouse job is difficult. They pay the bills but they don't give raises all that often. I only stay because I am free to do whatever I want when it comes to my family and kids sports.
dreamersword@reddit
11 years. My current job has a lot of flexibility and with being a single parent that is what is important to me now.
I am very scared that not moving is going to hurt my chances of making more money but it is what it is.
TraditionalTackle1@reddit
4 years in July, I get paid well and my boss is in a different state, I pretty much run the show in my office.