Would you take a demotion for flexibility

[MetroFly]

I'm currently contracting and my department is going through a total restructure and my whole team is being changed regarding duties and responsibilities.

At the moment I have great flexibility, am paid well and not much stress, but my experience is recognised and utilized but the new role will be pretty junior.

I work from home 2 days and go into the office 2 days, I really don't want to give that up.

My manager has said we can work on progressing me to a more senior role after the restructure but realistically that's probably 12 months away.

Would you continue in the role or go elsewhere and definitely lose the flexibility but keep career trajectory?

If I neeed the flexibility for childcare and less so the money I’d stay. If I didn’t need the flexibility, just liked it, or I needed the money, I would go. I wouldn’t worry too much about being at the same level in my career if it was only 12 months or so. Mine was pretty much stagnant and boring for about eight years when mine were small, because it suited me.

Thanks maybe, I would much prefer flexibility at this time but I'm wondering how I will actually feel being mentored (as the new structure will be like) by colleagues who have less experience than me and taking direction from them.

It's not a 'stay at the same level' move but a geniune move backwards.

Personally, I would go for the better work/life balance.

Is it an option to trial the new role for a few months and then decide?

I think an actual demotion doesn't work. I have taken a lesser job for flexibility although even that I somewhat regret it as I feel stuck the flexibility is great so it's hard to leave but going backwards in the same setting would not appeal / does not work imo.

As a contractor I can just trial it I and see, which is how I planned to approach it but wondered what others would think/do in this situation.

My hourly rate wouldn't change from what it is now, but I suppose I wonder if I'll feel less motivated? There is still a lot of juggling to do with regards to family life on the days I'm in the office.

This might be a test of who I am...could my ego take it

If the hourly rate stays the same, is it a real demotion? Less hassle and responsibility for same money - I'd go for it!

If you need the flexibility right now I'd stick with that option. 12 months isn't long, I don't think you'll be too annoyed by the whole thing within that time and then you'll be well placed to progress into the more senior position. Play the long game rather than making a reactionary decision! Also use that time to explore other options and see if you can get similar flexibility coupled with the career progression you want.

I've just escaped from a job I kept at because of the unbelievable flexibility but was bored out of my mind/sick of the politics etc. I decided to move on recently and got an equally flexible position in another organisation - I worked out what was going to work logistically for me and made sure I negotiated it before I accepted. I also told the new employer I couldn't accept if this wasn't agreed. Maybe I got lucky but it wasn't a problem!

Do you need the flexibility or do you just want it?

I think I'd feel the same as you on this. I'd value the flexibility but I'd feel demotivated and my ego would be bruised by the demotion so I'd be inclined to look elsewhere.

I could cope with stagnating but not stepping backwards; I think.

Isleepinahedgefund that's great for you! I've been having discussions with other organisations as I've been getting tapped on the shoulder a bit as my experience is specialised where I live now so i know that this flexibility isn't really readily available (I'm in demand but flexibility hasn't caught up with this market 🙄)

And I'm tempted by the apparent easy life jackparlabane, but there's always a downside somewhere, right?!

I just keep swinging from my ego saying I'm way above this to, don't be a fool.

As usual I'm just over thinking it and probably should just go with it for a while. If I don't like it I either quit now or a bit later.

Would you actually be working at the lower level though? In my experience, i can imagine you'd be lower paid, keep your flexibility, but still have the same practical responsibility that you have now because " that's what you've always done". And I mean that from the pov of your colleagues, not management (but potentially that too!)

Last thing you want is to be paid less for the same responsibility as now.

Although, I'm not sure my pride would let me anyway... (Not necessarily a good thing )

I stayed in a job at the same level for a very long time as it gave me loads of flexibility, which we needed as DH's job means working shifts, being on call and having to stay at work if things need completing.

It's set my career back loads but we couldn't see any other way around it, apart from an au pair maybe

No it's definitely less responsibility for the same money! It's not less work, just not as senior (so a lot less stress)

A lot of my perm colleagues really are quite upset about the changes and I don't blame them. It doesn't affect me the same way it does them obviously, but some of them have worked hard in their current roles to take the next step up but will be now taking a step back.