How many New Jersey people does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One. They just stand there and wait for the world to revolve around them.
Seriously, my corporate HQ is in Newark, NJ. I work in the home office Minneapolis, MN location. (Technically Plymouth, MN).
They were very hard to get to know. Now that I have an "in" they are good people to me. Thing is, I'm talking about executives, and upper level division management of a company with 21 billion in liquid assets.
From the people I know who've come from the East Coast states in general, they say the work ethic sucks (at lower level positions, anyway.) They have the attitude that they can go anywhere else, anytime, and make their $8/hr. The people aren't jerks by their standards, just by reasonable people's standards. You pretty much follow the social patterns you are raised with, and by our standards, they were raised to be jerks.
My true belief is that you should expect the same kind of people wherever you choose to work, so long as you're not scoring a higher level management position.
The situation is slightly more complicated now, though. If you choose to return
- They may treat you worse because they don't think you have the nerve to quit
- They may treat you better for a little while trying to keep you on.
- You will more than likely obtain the "whiner" classification from other employee's.
- They may hold a vendetta against you and hire a new person, train them in, and fire you for an unjust reason. (Seen this happen to many people, including myself)
- You may be more recognized for your contributions, and continue to receive better treatment.
- You might have the capability of using the experience as a bargaining chip.
Auto parts places stink for work environment, even here. Turnover is quite high, and pay is low. Still, it's a lot nicer to have a job, and switch, than to outright start looking when you have bills to pay. Personally, I'd probably look for an entry level office position, and then leave Pep-Boys for a stiff increase in pay, and a better work environment.