Voluntary demotion?

[Seventimesaday]

Has anyone asked for a voluntary demotion and have it work out ok?
Trying to keep this short. There are three in our team.
A is junior level
B is assistant level and then
C is management level (me)

There is too much work. I am currently helping out to do part of A’s job and part of B’s job, hence having little time to do my own job ‘ properly’ and I am cutting corners and not always keeping tabs on the full picture.

The original idea was to bring in another A. B would take on some of my work to free me up. However, this means that I would be doing less of the part of the job I enjoy, and nearly all my time would be spent doing the part of the job that I don’t enjoy.
I am considering asking if someone could be brought in above me to become C and I would then work alongside B, and we would both help A where necessary.

The alternative would be for me to leave, in which case they would still need to find a new C, and having applied for a couple of jobs recently, I know I am over qualified to be considered for a B position in most firms.

I know I would be taking a pay cut, which I would have to do if I changed jobs anyway.
Only downside is that I could be annoyed/ upset if the new C changes things which I have implemented and work well, and their method makes things harder.also if C struggles and needs help, I could end up doing part of the C job without the pay.
Has anyone had any experience of this?

[BeBraveAndBeKind]

Yes, I took a voluntary demotion a few years ago. It meant a 10% pay drop but it was worth it to get back to something I enjoyed and get rid of the stress.

The manager brought in to replace me eventually did a great job but it was rocky to begin with since he wanted to change ways of doing things to ways that had tried and failed previously. Despite the prickly start, we became good friends and are in regular contact even though we've both moved on to different jobs.

[Hallelujah2020]

Yes and yes, I’m much much happier and less stressed

[Seventimesaday]

Oh, two positive replies. I was expecting to come back to replies telling me not to do it, it would never work etc.
Will put it to boss next week to see what he thinks.
Thanks for the replies.

[Gardenwalldilema]

As C won't you have some control over which bits of the job you would keep, and which bits you'd delegate?
I think I'd try to remain as C, and bring in another A or B. Otherwise the ne C could give you all the shit bits anyway.

[DuchessofDenmarkStreet]

Yes, NHS, went from A to C after menopausal breakdown/ burnout. It means I still have a job but it has been both a relief and a source of anger. I'm now earning what I was 20 years ago.
I'm grateful to my boss for doing everything she could to keep me in employment. I probably would have left a year ago if the pandemic hadn't happened.

Good to think through how you will feel personally about not being senior any more. At the same time, don't feel you have to struggle on because of other people's ideas of what success looks like.

Good luck.

[DuchessofDenmarkStreet]

Doh, meant I went from A to C

[SimonJT]

Yes, I did this, I was overwhelmed with my promotion, working over hours and generally a bit grumpy and snappy at home as I was stressed and tired. I took demotion after a year, I’m much happier, much better life balance, and my employer is obviously still happy with me as I earned a very good bonus this year.

[DuchessofDenmarkStreet]

Aargh C to A I mean. Sorry.

[Psuedoshoes]

I'm seriously considering doing the same OP, my job is literally consuming my life at the moment which as a single parent isn't great! Good luck to you

[AvocadoPlant]

Effectively you’re asking the company to fund another B. (Rather than a cheaper A). Given A and B are both currently unable to do their job because of workload that sounds the most sensible, provided the company agree to the added cost.
In which case surely you could stay as C snd reorganise the workload across the 4 roles with you keeping at least part of what you enjoy.

[FluffyPJs]

I'm a teacher. I was on the leadership team and was burning out. I stepped down, gave up my TLR, and have never been happier! Although its less money (but not that much actually) it's less work, less stress, the person who took over from me has done a fab job and I'm so pleased that it all worked out.

Ultimately your own mental and physical health is the priority and if you can afford the pay cut then I would say do it!

[Shelddd]

I will go against the majority here and say it's probably not the right solution.

You just need to delegate better. You allude to some things that make me think you are trying a little too hard to be in control of everything. If you just let some of that go and just be happy with things getting done even if they're not done your way you'll be much happier in your job and you'll still make same money.

I know it can be hard and this happens quite often to people who work their way up to a role, they micromanage and step in too often and do too many junior tasks they should be delegating out.

[Teeshirt]

Yes, it’s quite common where I work to be able to do this - a manager steps back to a more junior role. Someone else junior then applies for the manager job. Also know quite a few teachers who were senior who step back to being classroom teachers.

[Shelddd]

I was guilty of this myself and it took a big adjustment to figure it out but once I did my job is a lot less stressful.

[Swimmingwiththebees]

Been here and done this recently. Did the C job for 6 months, was working ridiculous hours to keep on top of everything and felt very stressed. My only difference to you was that when I stepped up to do the C role, the B role I was previously in was replaced with an A so I was left stepping up and woefully undersupported.

I did what I promised I would in the C role but was very firm that I wanted to step back down. Only a couple of months into my new role and things are a bit better. I don't regret my decision one bit. It isn't back to how it was before just yet though, so be prepared for it being a bit of a rocky transfer period where you still may need to cover some of the C role as the new person gets up to speed.

[SionnachGlic]

In theory it sounds like a solution but in practice it could work out somewhat differently. Instead of Mgmt funding extra A role (Jnr so cheaper), you are asking for funding of more expensive roles..I'd maybe check what the budget for hiring is first before launching into the proposal.

Also, you admit readily you'd be annoyed if a new C did things differently & your concern also is that you'd possibly be assisting the new C. The new C may not like the old & still present C having some sort of 'hold' over the role & might shake things up to make his/her mark. Your helping out might be to do something that you feel strongly should be done differently...but hey, you are not management anymore & C is now your Boss so you would have to let it slide & get on with it. Or you could end up with the new C giving you the shitty bits of the B job & the current B the nicer bits. I don't know the qualification, but could the current B go for it (& get the req'd qualification while on the job?) & then you'd be the new (and only) B & doing all the B work & not just the preferred bits? Might the new B have some input as to how the role should be divided...after all, you'd be at the same equal level so no reason why you should have dibs. So that could change things. Let's not forget A who could be ambitious & waiting for a B role to come up...now effectively blocked within the team. Not that everyone else's job needs matter but a shift can totally change the dynamic in ways you may not foresee. I'd be more inclined to think of a structure to best support me as C to keep the elements of the role (and control!) that I am best at & enjoy. There must be a way to get yon the required support & improve your job satisfaction. If not & you don't want the responsibility any longer, then your plan could work...but just not perhaps on exactly your terms. In which case, you could end up leaving anyway but not before you took a step down the ladder- so need to think how to explain that at your next new job interview (before you make the change). I hope it all works out as you wish, best of luck.

[SionnachGlic]

Might the current B.... (not new)!

[Hallelujah2020]

@Seventimesaday

Oh, two positive replies. I was expecting to come back to replies telling me not to do it, it would never work etc.
Will put it to boss next week to see what he thinks.
Thanks for the replies.

Just taking a step back from the responsibility has made a huge positive impact on my mental health

[Seventimesaday]

It’s not possible for me to delegate the parts of the job I don’t like as there is no one else with the correct qualification to do them.
C is a job for someone with a professional qualification.
B is really for someone part qualified and A is for someone just starting out.
The person who currently does A job is happy doing what she does.
The person who currently does B job is (to be very blunt) incapable of progressing any further, they actually struggle with some aspects of B job, so I end up doing it myself for ease, because despite explaining several times they still don’t understand.

The part of the job I hate doing is the analysis and reporting. I like doing the part of the job that provides the information to be analysed and reported on.

I know that the boss will listen when I explain why we need another B rather than A, so no worries there. There is definitely enough money in the budget for a second B, plus I would still be able to cover for C in times of holiday or sickness.

As several of you have said, the reduction in stress would probably be worth the reduction in wage.