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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Instability at work WWYD

91 replies

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 06:07

I like my team, I’ve made decent friends, and they’re all super friendly and I feel like I’ve found my people in that sense.

i also really like my clients, but I don’t like the leadership nor the product, and more often than not it takes me out of my comfort zone.

the company has already made some quiet redundancies BUT we just has hired someone super expensive and closed a very decent deal. Which makes me think we still have some time.

i have a redundancy insurance policy that kicks in in April, so overall I feel like things would be ok.

in the background a company approached me and I’m fairly confident I can get this job. It’s my area of expertise, I know this industry inside out. They’re also bringing tons of people from my previous company including 3 ex colleagues who are varying degrees of “nice”.

Part of me thinks I should just take this new job, part of me thinking I should wait it out, wait for the insurance and then take my time.

So my AIBU is… am AIBU for potentially ignoring the “bird in hand philosophy “?

OP posts:
Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:40

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:35

This is relevant and you should have mentioned in op

so yes they have made 10% redundancies of poor performers and long established names
BUT
they have actually increased the total workforce in a very short period of time

you have the impression this was a company shedding staff and that you’d been worried about your job security since 4 months in!

Edited

Yes but that’s super common for a series A company.

In order to get to Series B they need constant growth, particularly in revenue which hasn’t happened.

Also almost half of our revenue is at risk.

So now they’re panicking and reducing headcount so the revenue per employee seems higher for investors.

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Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:37

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:33

They hired more than 10% of the company workforce in the last 6-12 months and there’s zero growth? Bloody hell

Yeah I don’t understand your comment.

The company over hired (which is pretty common!) and there's no real career progression for the next 2 years unless things drastically change.

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Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:35

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:32

Yeah more or less.

I’ve seen it happening before, so I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew it was a gamble when I joined, but not such a “high risk” one.

This is relevant and you should have mentioned in op

so yes they have made 10% redundancies of poor performers and long established names
BUT
they have actually increased the total workforce in a very short period of time

you have the impression this was a company shedding staff and that you’d been worried about your job security since 4 months in!

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:33

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 07:57

I forgot to mention that there’s zero growth at my current company.

I think startup life is certainly not for me

They hired more than 10% of the company workforce in the last 6-12 months and there’s zero growth? Bloody hell

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:32

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:30

So they took on more than 10%
and then laid off 10%?

Yeah more or less.

I’ve seen it happening before, so I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew it was a gamble when I joined, but not such a “high risk” one.

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Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:31

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:28

No the £2500 is net. My husband’s salary covers all of our basic expenses, we really just need the car payment, so we’d be fine.

how much does £2.5k represent in relation to what you’re currently brining home a month?

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:30

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:29

Yes, when I joined there was a massive wave of recruitment, I want to say at least 10-15.

So they took on more than 10%
and then laid off 10%?

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:29

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:27

“New wave of recruits”

oh I didn’t realise they’d been hiring lots?

Yes, when I joined there was a massive wave of recruitment, I want to say at least 10-15.

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Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:28

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:26

The insurance is 65% gross, equating to £2500 a month (gross?).

if you are the higher earner and you have kids… can you afford a reduction to £2.5?

No the £2500 is net. My husband’s salary covers all of our basic expenses, we really just need the car payment, so we’d be fine.

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Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:27

“New wave of recruits”

oh I didn’t realise they’d been hiring lots?

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:26

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:26

That I do know, as the contracts I’ve secured are 2x+ my salary.

Yes, of course there’s running costs etc…. But of the new wave of recruits I’m the only one who’s brought money in.

So I meant… you can’t be sure your job is secure
not in a company that has very recently slashed 10% of work force

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:26

The insurance is 65% gross, equating to £2500 a month (gross?).

if you are the higher earner and you have kids… can you afford a reduction to £2.5?

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:26

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:23

That you don’t know about
You’re only 7 months

That I do know, as the contracts I’ve secured are 2x+ my salary.

Yes, of course there’s running costs etc…. But of the new wave of recruits I’m the only one who’s brought money in.

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Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:23

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:07

No, I’m an IC and I have already brought in twice my salary in revenue, so I’m “profitable” and thus not at imminent risk.

That you don’t know about
You’re only 7 months

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 15:07

Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:01

I wouldn’t describe 10% of the workforce as a a few quiet redundancies. This is serious.

Are you middle management?

No, I’m an IC and I have already brought in twice my salary in revenue, so I’m “profitable” and thus not at imminent risk.

OP posts:
Camerich · 28/01/2026 15:01

I wouldn’t describe 10% of the workforce as a a few quiet redundancies. This is serious.

Are you middle management?

watchingthishtread · 28/01/2026 11:41

The "bird in hand" sounds like it's in the end stages of bird flu.

Cut your losses.

Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 11:36

dicentra365 · 28/01/2026 11:26

Regardless of the redundancy situation, I would take the new job. It sounds better than your current situation and is in your area of expertise. It seems like a bit of a no-brainer. I understand you have the redundancy policy, but I don’t know why you would put yourself into a tenuous situation when you seem to have a good offer on the table.

Yeah you’re right! The only “downside” is that it’s a lateral move (plus potentially my ex colleagues). Still more £££ though.

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dicentra365 · 28/01/2026 11:26

Regardless of the redundancy situation, I would take the new job. It sounds better than your current situation and is in your area of expertise. It seems like a bit of a no-brainer. I understand you have the redundancy policy, but I don’t know why you would put yourself into a tenuous situation when you seem to have a good offer on the table.

MyBoldFish · 28/01/2026 11:25

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Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 11:22

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I actually do have enough work, so I’m not necessarily fearful for my immediate future. However, the environment is still not very nice. Plus the uncertainty of “how long do I have?” I feel I have 6 months give or take (or longer), with no room for growth.

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MyBoldFish · 28/01/2026 11:11

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Undecidedthiswinter · 28/01/2026 10:45

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Just to clarify the poor performance was not of the established employees. There are two separate groups.

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MyBoldFish · 28/01/2026 10:44

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MyBoldFish · 28/01/2026 10:43

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