What would you do? Reference job

[gingajewel]

So this may be a long one but I don’t want to drip feed so am going to try and get it all down:

I work part time school hours at the moment for a brilliant company, so flexible, perfect hours and just a really nice company to work for. I have two primary age children who for one reason and another are at different primary schools. The only problem with where I work now is the Money is terrible, even though I am only part time the hourly rate is just above nmw, no progression and I have just got a masters in my chosen field.
I went for a job interview this morning, I didn’t think I would get the job, I got the job!!! It is actually double my salary now but due to various deductions and now having to pay for childcare I will only be about £400 a month better off, my children will both have to go to breakfast and after school club and the new role is completely inflexible so I can’t go in late etc if my children have an assembly or something like that.
My oh’s role is completely inflexible to just add that to the mix.
So what would you do? Is it worth loosing your flexibility and decent job for £400 a month? Being able to take your kids to school and back?? I am so stuck and feel so anxious trying to make a desicion!
Please give me some opinions!!

The question is ,what is four hundred quid with to you and your family finances ?

Is there an opportunity for progression in the new company? You could take leave for plays. Once they are at secondary the costs will go down further.

£400 is quite a lot (to me). How much of a difference will it make to you? It’s nearly £5k a year
how much longer do your children have in primary? How much difference will it make in say, 10 years when you have progressed in the new company and your children are in secondary or beyond?
Do you think you will be happy at the new job irrespective of everything else?
If you stay in current job will you get a similar opportunity in the future? Or will you be deskilled

£400 is loads of money to us, for a million reasons we pay over £700 in debt off every month so this extra money would be amazing for us.
My eldest dd is in year five so has a year and a half left and my little one is in nursery but does the government 30 hours (she is three)
I really worry about loosing my flexibility and being able to see the kids doing things at school, the new role is also 6 days less holiday per year than I get now.
I have been in my role now six years, there is no chance of progression at all in the company, I am unsure about progression progress in my new role but it is in local government so potentially good exposure.

I'd absolutely take the new role. Sounds like a great opportunity. And once you are established you be able to gauge leave/flexibility better. Once your children have left primary and are more independent, it will be so much easier

Does the new role offer flexi time? I'm central government and on full flexi but even those with set shift patterns have a degree of being able to build and use some flexi time. Might allow you to build up 1/2 days here and there to use for school things.

It is no flexi time, it is 8-4 Monday to Friday and only 21 days holiday, where as my job now is full flexibility and 26 days holiday.

I'd take it. If £400 is a lot of extra money that can pay off debts quicker then do it. Yes, you will lose flexibility and yes you wont be able to go to as many kids things/do pick ups etc but you should be able to afford to have nice days out/better quality of living? It's swings and roundabouts and you did your masters for a reason surely...why bother if you are going to turn down the job!

Kids adjust to things quickly.

And 8-4 for £400 extra a month sounds really good! They are good hours to work still. You don't say how long your commute is? Will you be home by 4:30? My daughter does breakfast club at school (loves it!) and then childminder picks her up for an hour after school.

Minimum holiday entitlement is 28 days for full time staff.

It is 28 days sorry, 8bank holidays and 20 days holiday, at the moment I get 34!
The commute is literally ten minutes, it’s not far at all! I work 9-3 now. I guess what it comes down to is flexibility versus money!

@FreezingMySocksOff, that’s what I keep saying to myself, I did my masters to get a better job, however I’m finding it so hard to make a decision due to the kids and there needs!

Ok so the commute is nothing and it is only an extra 2 hours on your day for £400 a month. The holiday may improve as you work your way up but it's still not that bad considering the pay rise. Many jobs are 9-5 or 9-6 so 8-4 is still desirable.

I do understand your need to be flexible but it really doesn't sound like your children are going to suffer from this change. Perhaps you just aren't ready, rather than the kids. And that's ok! But I think long term thinking I would jump at this. Especially as you weren't sure you would get the job.

I would write a list of pros and cons and take it from there.

I would go for it.

You might find that once you've settled in, they may well allow a degree of flexibility for things like afternoon assemblies etc. Plus as your eldest is not too far from going to secondary, you are likely to find that there are far fewer of those occasions once she's out of primary and you've only got your youngest in.

It sounds like the additional £400 will make a real difference to the family finances which will benefit the children too.

Plus presumably better pension etc and it sounds like a step up career wise.

I think one of the factors to consider is which job you will enjoy more. I know it's more money but losing time with your kids for a job that is boring/stressful/ or unenjoyable in any way makes it that bit harder. Iv learnt over the years that money isn't really worth it for your kids to see you tired or stressed or unhappy. Sets a better example to see you happy going to work even if it means breakfast clubs etc, so I'd consider that too x

400 a month is a lot. However I'm sticking in a lower paid but flexible but interesting role whilst my kids are small. The jobs will still be there in the future. BUT I do think yours sounds like a good opportunity

Id factor in whether these roles come up frequently. If you don’t take this is it unlikely to be there again for 3 months, 6 months, years? (And of course no guarantee to get any new vacancy).

Do you have any other family/friends who can help if your children are ill or maybe go to assembly if you can’t?

I have total understanding and totally get your difficult decision.

I have faced an almost identical one recently.

My old job was the best job I've ever had, such a nice place, both such flexibility and two minutes from school. I did it while both my boys progressed through primary.

I've now moved to a job where whilst I am working 8 till 4, which is great hours as other posters have said, but there is zero flexibility and actually quite an unpleasant toxic environment.

So, I would think very carefully.

Plus I'm a totally different stage: my youngest is just about to finish primary, whereas your oldest is finishing primary, but your youngest is just about to start the whole school thing!

yes it's different when they're at secondary, there is practically no parental involvement during the day, you only have to go to in, Year 7 or Year 10 evening meetings, which is totally different.

but if your youngest is just about to go through the whole school system then you will want the flexibility: if they're ill, you need to pick up, or a Christmas assemblies and sports days etc.

so I think this needs very careful thought.

Having £700 debt payments a month would render me sleepless and I would have already been working max hours without hesitation.

I’d certainly take the job, that much debt compared to the odd school assembly is nothing. You can use annual leave if it’s absoly Essential to attend as could your DH.

Are you sure you have the holiday right?

Are you also sure you have the flexibility right ? Ie is it a job where the role content means you simply can't flex (ie you're in front of patients or the sole
Person on reception). If not, it's a bit unusual for their to be NO flexibility (even if there isn't formal flexi time) for things like school plays etc (or for those without kids other reasons too!). Time can be made up at lunch times/ working later/ working from home (where possible). I'd be concerned if my new employer didn't trust its staff with things like this.

Go for it. You will still be picking your kids up from school, all be it a little bit later and the three of you will be home by about 4.30. That’s not bad for an extra £100 a week.
You will only have 5 terms of paying for after school care for your y5 child (assuming she can’t walk home by herself)

If you got this job you’ve clearly got what it takes. I’d hold out for a better paid job with the holiday and a bit more flexibility.

Would it be worth asking your current employer if they could match it?

Can you negotiate any flexibility at all with the new job before you accept it? Now would be the time to push, if they want you they may be able to accommodate you in some way.

I've been in your position and took the leap. You don't know that your current job will always stay the same, changes can happen wherever you are. This is an opportunity to progress and build a career for when your DC are less dependant. I say go for it.