Anyone regretted a promotion?

[Peony87]

I've got a good chance of getting a big promotion soon. It would be to the cliched Big Job, running a department, with a big team and very senior.

I'm currently one down the pecking order, running a smaller team in a job that I've done for yonks. I enjoy it but could do it with my eyes shut.

I have a one year old and I'm hoping to have no2 next year.

In my heart I really want the new job. In my head I'm worried about longer hours, more stress, and pissing them off by going on mat leave soonish afterwards.

DH is supportive of whatever I do.

WWYD?

Go for it!

Do it - you have to take these opportunities when they come up!

Honestly, I did this and hated it. I stepped back down because I hated it so much.

Go for it. I’m director level and on mat leave - you’re entitled to take it however senior you are and also entitled to work life balance. I took a promotion when my DD was almost 2 and it was a great move. Some additional stress but the benefits more than outweighed it.

Don’t be afraid to take the role and then set boundaries that are an example to the rest of the team around the importance of home life and family commitments. Also, assuming DH is supportive means he shares the mental load/childcare? My DH has had to step in to do the majority of household admin and pick ups etc so that I can focus on work more.

I'd take it if it means your maternity pay will increase

No problem about child number 2 I don't think - totally within your right! But I was same position as you work wise and took the promotion whilst on mat leave - I left after a year as I just couldn't cope with the two aspects. At another time I would have relished the opportunity and could have done a great job but I just couldn't balance that with a young family. I wish I'd have stuck it out for a bit longer in my middle management position where I was known and respected so could have carried on doing that part of life 'with my eyes closed'. Not to say this would be the case for you - have had plenty of friends climb the career ladder effortlessly whilst having their families (though I do not know how they do it!!) but just my experience

I find it interesting that some of you who have done something similar have regretted it. I tend to give a knee jerk 'go for it' type of advice when I'm asked these kinds of questions, but I do think it's different when it's a very senior job. Ultimately, the buck would stop with me whether or not DD was sick or whatever.

Anyway, I've decided to pitch to the CEO that I should do the job, with one of the functions being given to another department. I'm also going to make it very clear that I'd want a work life balance if I do it.

That might rule me out of it, but if so, I've dodged a bullet 🤞

I did it, not with young children mine were 6,8,10 when I did it. I'm currently regretting it. I am buckling under the pressure and I hate the 'buck stops with me' aspect of senior management. I think I would probably be struggling regardless of whether I had a family or not, but the endless guilt at not being there for them enough doesn't help. Pre menopausal loss of confidence and brain fog really isn't helping either .

I'm not saying don't do it, everyone is different. But in my case I wish I'd stopped at middle management.

I don’t understand why you would want the the extra responsibility, the stress and longer hours when you intend to have a baby in 12 months. I think it would be promotion or a second baby. Not both. But I expect most people will say go for the job.