Job Dilema should I stick or twist...

[Deleted User]

Going through a dilemma, wondering on peoples opinions, basically I'm divorced with 1 daughter, have my own place and been in a relationship with someone who has her own place for about 2 1/2 years now. I work away from home for periods of 3 weeks at a time then get more time at home, I get a good wage and work with some good people, but lately I'm really struggling going back to work and sometimes the politics/decisions at work drives me mad.

I've been offered a new position at home (Mon - Fri) but basically its a 50% pay cut and this would really impact my lifestyle to the point where I estimate £1000 a month after all bills have been paid to live with, the job has potential and I've been told I would be promoted in a year for a higher role and more money, tbh these opportunities don't come around very often. At first I was very happy to be offered the new role but now I'm starting to have doubts I could take the reduction, am I just been daft should I stay where I am, I have a good team who work for me (mostly) and I do have a good position, pay and good time off, but sometimes I find myself thinking about leaving when I have hard days or I don't agree with some decisions. Am I jumping for the wrong reasons, I could go to this new place and find its not for me and be worse off long term.

Other option could be maybe me and my partner move in together, two wages, 1 set of bills, me being home every night and a simpler lifestyle???

El_Torro

Office politics and not agreeing with every decision that management make is pretty common, you might change jobs and find that your new employer has even bigger issues than your current employer. 

The bigger concerns seem to be the fact that you currently work away from home a lot and the big pay cut you would take in the new job. Would you be able to maintain your current lifestyle in the new job? If yes and being home more is important to you (sounds like it is) then why wouldn't you take the new job? Hppefully you will be promoted and close the gap somewhat soon. New employers often promise quick promotions though, which doesn't always materialise. 

MalMonroe

Hi,

Of course we all, when working (I'm now retired and still working but I love my boss - I'm self-employed) spend at least a third of our time there. And it'd be great if everyone could be happy in their work. Some people are.

You said "lately I'm really struggling going back to work and sometimes the politics/decisions at work drives me mad."  

You say the new job has potential and you could be promoted within a year. 

It might be worth sitting down and writing a list of pros and cons. It sounds a bit simplistic but I have found it helpful in making decisions in the past. Also what's helpful is listening to your intuition. 

There's more to life than money - and I think being left with £1k per month after all bills have been paid is really quite good. The change might do you good, as well as not having to travel so much. My instinct would be to have a go at the new job because I love to try new things, and if I'm miserable, then I never give of my best and that's not fair to anyone. But that's just me, and nobody here can really advise you what to do. 

This - "Other option could be maybe me and my partner move in together, two wages, 1 set of bills, me being home every night and a simpler lifestyle???" - is a totally different kettle of fish altogether and something you have to discuss with your partner, of course. For me it wouldn't work, not just as a money saving exercise anyway because I've been there, done that and now my independence is far too valuable. As far as your living arrangements go, I really do think you both have the best of both worlds.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, its a good call to write down pro's and con's, myself and my partner have been talking about living together over the last 6 months or so but have never really done much about that idea. Tbh if it wasn't for the incoming v's outgoing's (which i am concerned about) i would jump at the chance to start the new job. My partner even mentioned about renting mine out (rental would be double my mortgage so a little extra would be coming in as well) and stay with her (paying bills and household income to her) and see where we are in a years time, then a promotion and we could sell both houses and get our own little 3/4 bed detached house with no mortgage. My only outgoings would be bills and child maintenance and on the wage i would be earning we could easily have a very good comfortable lifestyle.

SensibleSarah

It's always a risk. I've changed jobs before and found myself jumping from the frying pan into the fire in terms of things like office politics etc. But there again, life is too short to be stuck in a role you're really not enjoying and sometimes the short term pain of a pay cut could be for long term gain, especially in quality of life because of the reduction in travel etc. 

Anyway, sounds like moving in with your partner could be an option to help reduce outgoings, but becoming a landlord isn't something to take lightly (just a quick read of the homes forum will tell you that) so I wouldn't necessarily say that was an easy option. 

[Deleted User]

Deleted_User said:

Going through a dilemma, wondering on peoples opinions, basically I'm divorced with 1 daughter, have my own place and been in a relationship with someone who has her own place for about 2 1/2 years now. I work away from home for periods of 3 weeks at a time then get more time at home, I get a good wage and work with some good people, but lately I'm really struggling going back to work and sometimes the politics/decisions at work drives me mad.

I've been offered a new position at home (Mon - Fri) but basically its a 50% pay cut and this would really impact my lifestyle to the point where I estimate £1000 a month after all bills have been paid to live with, the job has potential and I've been told I would be promoted in a year for a higher role and more money, tbh these opportunities don't come around very often. At first I was very happy to be offered the new role but now I'm starting to have doubts I could take the reduction, am I just been daft should I stay where I am, I have a good team who work for me (mostly) and I do have a good position, pay and good time off, but sometimes I find myself thinking about leaving when I have hard days or I don't agree with some decisions. Am I jumping for the wrong reasons, I could go to this new place and find its not for me and be worse off long term.

Other option could be maybe me and my partner move in together, two wages, 1 set of bills, me being home every night and a simpler lifestyle???

I was in a similar situation to you with a job offered to me that I really loved the sound of but it was going to be a significant cut to my salary (around 25% down on basic and then hardly any bonus potential in comparison to where I was now). They wouldn't budge on it unfortunately. I really struggled with the decision but in the end turned it down because I decided it was too much of a step backwards that would have taken me a long time to come back from. 

For a while I really regretted turning it down and thought it was a bad decision, however, I kept looking and applying and got offered another position a few weeks later which is still a career change but only a very small reduction on my basic salary (around 5%) + the potential for a much higher bonus than I currently have.

Perhaps don't assume this is the only possibility for you and if you aren't in any huge rush, have faith in yourself and keep looking because other opportunities will turn up. 

I would also treat the job and the house move as two separate entities rather than confusing them in your head if possible.

london21

Every company has its pros and cons.

Office politics is very common, your new place will also have theirs.

50% income drop in the current economy with prices increases.

Your wellbeing is important but think about your best overall choice. 

Tucosalamanca

How long have you been with your present employer?

Over two years and you're entitled to redundancy, arguably offering you better job security.
In today's crazy world, are you happy to forfeit any redundancy rights and basically become a disposable employee for the next two years?

With prices increasing and so on, I would want to be very confident that the new role was going to present opportunities.
Could you easily find a job at current salary if the new role doesn't work out?

[Deleted User]

Tucosalamanca said:

How long have you been with your present employer? 

Over two years and you're entitled to redundancy, arguably offering you better job security.
In today's crazy world, are you happy to forfeit any redundancy rights and basically become a disposable employee for the next two years? 

With prices increasing and so on, I would want to be very confident that the new role was going to present opportunities.
Could you easily find a job at current salary if the new role doesn't work out? 

Yeah, i've past 2 years service with my current employer, tbh i didn't even consider the redundacy rights .

I think this morning i'll speak to my partner and make my mind up, she wants me home but she is not sure this is the right opportunity or time to do it.

borisbo12

Hmmm, sounds to me as if maybe the guy was trying to frighten you or to get you on his side by being so 'thoughtful'. The YO may never have even mentioned that you were to ride Comanche and it may be a little story that the guy has invented to make himself look good? I don't know. But I think that you really need to clarify these facts with the YO before you decide which yard to work at.

Gycraig

Deleted_User said:

Thanks, its a good call to write down pro's and con's, myself and my partner have been talking about living together over the last 6 months or so but have never really done much about that idea. Tbh if it wasn't for the incoming v's outgoing's (which i am concerned about) i would jump at the chance to start the new job. My partner even mentioned about renting mine out (rental would be double my mortgage so a little extra would be coming in as well) and stay with her (paying bills and household income to her) and see where we are in a years time, then a promotion and we could sell both houses and get our own little 3/4 bed detached house with no mortgage. My only outgoings would be bills and child maintenance and on the wage i would be earning we could easily have a very good comfortable lifestyle.

Is this still the case with the new interest rates ? Mine has gone from being quadruple the mortgage to about 15% more before all costs. 

Last thing I would do right now is become a landlord tbh.