"Multi-Jobbing" to Compensate for Good Job Lost
Riverside woman juggles sewing and fast food jobs to replace white collar employment
Barbara Montgomery had a good job managing the credit card department for Bank of America in the Inland Empire --until it suddenly evaporated.
Montgomery, like many workers who lost comfortable jobs with benefits, is now cobbling together multiple less lucrative jobs to get by.
She called on an old skill -- sewing -- to fill in some of the lost income. But that isn't enough to cover the bills, so she pulls the graveyard shift at McDonald's as well.
Montgomery, 55, said learning to sew in high school was her saving grace and the route to employment at Monograms Etc in Riverside.
"I do tap-a-twill," she said, referring to a specialized type of embroidery with ribbons. "We cut them and sew them on," she said.
"At one time, it was a full time job but I think because the economy isn't as good as it was, a lot of people do embroidery when they need it, not when they want it."
Montgomery, who is single, spends five afternoons a week at the sewing machine, goes home and grabs a nap and then prepares for her second job working the night shift at McDonalds.
She cleans, works the cash register,and preps for breakfast service under the Golden Arches.
She arrives back home at five in the morning, eats a snack, watches some news and then tries to sleep. At two in the afternoon, she is back at the sewing machine.
Sunday is her only day off.
"It's crazy," she said. "I get about four hours' sleep a day."
She said the two jobs are paying her bills, but she doesn't have a lot left over. "It's getting me by," she added.
Montgomery hopes to retire one day and spend a little more time on her hobbies, which include water sports and working out at the gym. Until then, she will be stitching away while trying to make ends meet.
Back to Work: This story is one in a weeklong series focusing on jobs and employment in Southern California.
