To leave good job because I want the summer off

Can you negotiate. They obviously like you and from an employer point of view recruitment and training a new person will cost them. So say yes I’d like to commit to a 2 yr fixed term but would like a gap of 6 weeks between contracts. Happy to help train any temp cover (student?)

Could you negotiate a month off before starting the new contract?

I agree with others that giving up a secure income at the moment is very dangerous. If you and DH are happy that it won't be a problem financially if your summer off turns into three years and when you get another job it's on half of what you were earning before, then go for it.

If you need to have a job by the end of the summer then I wouldn't risk it.

Would your work and childcare arrangements allow you to work four long days and take a day off a week? Or nine slightly long days and take a day off a fortnight?

Why can’t you negotiate a start date with two month break on the new contract? Employer saves money on hiring costs and you protect your leave. Other option, just put an unpaid leave request through??

It certainly sounds great! In reality I wouldn’t do it - not if you need to work within a certain timeframe going forward. The job market is dire just now. If that doesn’t matter, then Hell Yeah!

If your husband can support you all then why not ?! Sounds like a lovely idea
make sure husband pays your NI and pension if you’re going to be a long term SAHM or if you don’t find or want work again-so you’ve no gaps.

Why can’t you just take unpaid parental leave for the summer and keep the job? I’m taking 3 weeks unpaid parental leave this summer and 2 weeks annual leave so I’ll have 5 weeks off. I could take more parental leave but happy with 5 weeks off.

Why not try to negotiate something first? Unpaid leave, 4-day week, part time over summer…?

You say you have been offered a new contract. I have previously delayed a contract starting twice due to having the summer off. Its a better position to be in than not knowing if you have a job after the summer.

I’d do it, and I did do it a couple of times when the kids were young. It was lovely having the summer off with them.

Why can’t you have both?

Can you request unpaid leave so you don't use up all your paid annual leave?

Apparently Employees in the UK are entitled to
18 weeks of unpaid parental leave per child, which can be taken up until the child’s 18th birthday, provided they have one year’s continuous service with their employer. Parents can take up to 4 weeks of leave per child per year, usually in full-week increments, for caring purposes like child arrangements, school, or hospital visits. So maybe you could do this and return to the job.

Taking parental leave seems much more sensible than just leaving the job. See how you feel about the job at the end of the summer?

I wouldn’t. I’d put that £5k into savings to help your kids go to college or uni. Or put it into my pension.

you are entitled to to 4 weeks parental leave (unpaid). Do that instead.

You could ask to negotiate some additional unpaid leave or similar as well as using parental leave.

I took voluntary severance one year although they didn’t want to give it to me, I had savings to cover , just lost my mum and though stuff it I’m having a summer with my boys and get back to something then, it was the best summer I’ve had with them and they still remember it now, if you can afford it and are confident you can get something else then I’d say go for it.
I also went on to find a better job and I felt ready and refreshed as I was burnt out from the constant grind of work, holiday clubs trying to deal with the kids being happy and me working, just wasn’t worth the hassle.

The work you describe doing sounds like you will be competing with hundreds of applicants for any future roles. The job market is brutal unless you have a niche/highly sought after skill. I know people that have been looking for admin/customer service roles for months with no luck. So if you can afford it all good, but go into it with eyes open that you could be out of work for quite some time afterwards.

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave

If you are happy not getting another job for 2-3 yeaes then go for it! Job market is very bad atm.

Life is far too short - if you can afford to do this then do it.

I won’t they whether it reasonable or unreasonable but given the job market right now please take the job. You can do it for another year and save a bit more and the market will improve in the meantime. Trust me your family will appreciate you less stressed next year when the market is easier. I hope you don’t mind me saying. Girl to girl advise given the market is all I am offering

For the sake of your kids and family, please choose financial security over a summer off….!

£5k won’t go far and once it’s gone you’re back out there in the Wild West of job hunting when you know you gave up a good position

Are you full time? Is there any way your employer would consider you doing part time? That way you’d still get some of the summer with your kids but won’t lose the security of a job. Best of both worlds.

This!

No one knows how employable you are, all the comments about the job market are sort of irrelevant because it’s totally dependant on your line of work.