Should I stay or go?

Ducky101

Hi there,

I'm hoping for some impartial opinions.

Last month my employer informed my team that over half of us will be made redundant in March due to funding cuts. As a result I started applying for other jobs.

Last week I got a formal letter from them stating that several people have volunteered for redundancy and therefore I am no longer at risk of redundancy. However, in January 2014 we will have a big cut in salary due to an organisational restructure (I'm talking approx 5k).

Yesterday I went for a job interview and got the job - a permanent full-time contract with the local council. I know I am really lucky to get another job so quickly in the current climate, but this evening the doubts have started to creep in...the starting salary is 2k less than what I am currently on, although it will rise with yearly increments to match what I get now. Also, the location is 5 miles closer to my home so I will save a bit on commuting.

Although I am fuming with my current employer and their 'restructure', I work within a lovely team, something which I really value after having a horrible experience in the past in which I was victimised by a senior colleague who made false allegations that I was incompetent. Although this was eventually proven to be untrue, it took me a long time to get my confidence back, and my current job and team were instrumental to that.

I suppose it boils down to whether or not I take a short-term paycut and the risk that I will not be happy in a new job, or stick where I am for another year and hope I can get another job offer in a year's time. I will definitely be looking to change jobs then because the pay cut is so large.

Writing all this down has made things a bit clearer to me, but I still feel a bit muddled what would you do - stay or go??

Sambucus_Nigra

We don't do either job so can't exactly say.

rheme

My advice would be to manage the risk. Although the job offer you have is £2,000 p.a. less than you have now once you have taken tax and n.i. contributions off it your take home pay will not be £2,000.00 less. Also you state that the travelling would be less therefore the reduced travel costs will start to offset the salary reduction.

It is really hard out there in the job market at the moment and you need to protect yourself. I hear your comments re having worked in a situation where you were victimised, thankfully these situations are few and far between. Whilst by moving jobs you will be leaving the much valued work colleagues you have it doesn't mean to say that you will loose contact with them and probably will establish the same relationship with new work colleagues.

Hopefully things work out well for you whatever you decide.

Evilm

I'd be tempted to take the paycut and go. But I'm not you and I also don't have crystal ball as to what the new place is going to be like or what will happen at either place in the future.

mjbmjb

2k cut is better than a 5k cut. But it depends what you earn now. Going from 35k to 33k wouldn't be too noticeable, going from 17k to 15k would be.

Person_one

I'd go, your current job sounds like its seriously lacking in security. You're very lucky to have the opportunity to move seamlessly to a new and decent job.

The last thing you want is to find yourself suddenly unemployed with nothing new on the horizon and having to sign on.