AIBU to stay in a flexible but extremely low-paid job that suits family life?

Sounds perfect to me OP. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Job market is tough at the minute so even if you wanted to move it might be difficult to find something that fits the bill.
£25k is a decent salary to bring in, I am an ex project manager on just over minimum wage in an admin role because I couldn’t find anything part time so I would say based on your flexibility you’re actually making a smart decision to stay.

I found this quite depressing to read as I work 4 full days a week for minimum wage, with a drive to and from work. I have a 2 year old, I would love to earn this amount. Just giving a different perspective, most people I work with are in a similar position.

I think it sounds great. Think about all the additional costs if you had an office job - wraparound, the car, clothes, etc. And the logistics around missing assemblies and such. If you can make it work and are happy and your family is happy I think you’re winning!

You don't need more money. You love your job. The hours give a really good work life balance. It seems a simple decision to me, I'd definitely stick with the job.

why are you even asking? strange one of your options is "start a riot and demand more pay" ? I hope that's a bad joke because that's a quick way to find yourself less valuable to the company!

Other issue with changing jobs apart from more work, less time etc is the lack of job security ... I've known several people who have moved to great jobs and found out very soon that the job will no longer exist soon, the company was aware they were restructuring when they employed them. Or you could just hate it

Higher paying, flexible, WFH project management jobs absolutely do exist. I work with lots of these folks in the public sector and most are being paid £50k+ full time.

Just depends on what your priorities are right now. It's completely ok to want to focus on your family life. Things might change in future. Equally, it's ok to try and find a new job with similar flexibility and higher pay.

We were sat in traffic at rush hour yesterday and my DH jokingly said this is when ‘normal people’ are coming home from work and I said nahhhh, not for me

Nothing stopping you from asking about a pay rise. Or more benefits in lieu.

That's 30k full time equivalent (37h)
Yes, not great but above the UK national average and sounds incredibly flexible.

The key questions are:
Do you need the money?
Are you unhappy?

If the answers are no, I really wouldn't upset the apple cart just for extra cash with a young school aged child.

For context I have accepted a promotion & gone FT from 4 days - life with a 10/12yo is just chaotic, I never stop. I'm happier on my work (which makes it worth it for me) but miss my 4 days so much.

Not the worst op and no commute. If its working well for you do it. My friend earns v good money its alot stress she on road early

If your worry is being seen to have stagnated, are there any other things you can do alongside the job to freshen up your CV a bit? Extra qualifications, volunteer committee role, that sort of stuff.

I’m in a similar ish position. I’m paid OK, but under what other people in similar roles elsewhere would be paid.

but there is no management in my office, I can come and go as I need (within reason) & there’s no drama if I need to be off with the children when they’re poorly etc. can also take my dog to work with me so the benefits for me outweigh the underpayment.

for me the extra pay would only go towards the cost of a dog walker/daycare, wraparound childcare etc. you’ll need to decide if the non financial benefits are worth more to you than the extra pay.

I’m in a similar position and the salary feels low but if I were in a better paid job, I’d be paying to commute, accounting for time on the road, paying for after-school care and not able to take 5 minutes out to do the laundry. I probably wouldn’t be any better off, or not enough to balance out the added stress.

If you can afford it I think the pay off of less stress is worth it temporarily.

You say a young child, are we talking nursery or primary age? I found the hardest age for working was mid to late primary when they all of a sudden seem to attend 50 different evening activities that all seem to start at 6!

I have other reasons both personal and for my children that mean part time work suits me better but it’s so individual. If you could get a job tomorrow that would bring you home an extra £1000 per month it’s a different question to if you would only be making an extra £300/400.

My children are older now so I will soon be looking to increase hours and responsibilities to mean an increase in income.

I would look at the overall picture OP.

What does your hourly rate come to?

How many days of A/L do you get and how does that compare to other companies? E.g. if you moved companies and got paid more but lost those extra two weeks, how would that affect you?

What about pension provision? Sickness benefits etc.?

So £16 g

you do 30 hours a week so yes if you increased your hours, you would get more money. I don’t think you are a bad wage for what you do.

I understand that. I earn an absolute pittance compared to one of my friends and i sometimes catch myself feeling envious of her. But then I remember that she is always stressed, always running to catch up and she works all the hours she possibly can, and barely takes her allocated annual leave either. Compared to that I am SO lucky.

That is not a pittance particularly.
By rights, a minimum wage job of only six hours a day and two weeks extra holiday would only just be over 19K. So you’re on a lot more than that.

Not really as you can be up front that you were working around your child.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t apply for anything else in the near future if you feel ready for it, as obviously your child is getting older (as they all do!)

But in terms of “what is this salary worth” it would be much more if pro rated.

It doesn’t sound like a pittance at all!

If you pro rate it to the actual hours worked - bearing in mind it’s probably a bit less than 9-3 with getting to and from school, you can fit in other tasks during the day, you get extra holiday.

Probably worth a lot more if you pro rate it