Has anyone taken a big step back at work whilst staying with the same company?

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I have a board level post which involved overseeing 120 staff, including 20 direct line reports and 5 different strands of responsibility.

I used to love it, jugglinging conflicting priorities was what I thrived on.

To cut a long story very short, multiple challenges in my personal life have left me without anywhere near enough headspace to manage it any more. Work now what's been going on and have been largely supportive, but people below me are frustrated by what they see as me not pulling my weight. I don't think it's been that bad, i let peoep done k ine particualr aspect, which inhave apologised for, but have more or less kept all the other balls in the air. I am definitely less engaged though.

Anyway, it's all come to a head and the knives are out for me. I think my boss will near with me, but the staff are making things very unpleasant, they feel I'm not pulling my weight and whilst boss does get it, she obviously can't afford an unhappy workforce.

One of their jobs has come up. I could do it with my eyes closed. In the past I'd have considered it boring (I did, when I did it about 8 years ago) but atm boring is just what I need.

I had got to the point where I'd just resign and manage on savings until I can take my pension (2.5 years) but now I'm thinking actually I'd be fine on this lower salary until then. (Salary is about half)

But I'd be working alongside the people who have driven me to this. I do understand their position, but they know what I've been through and it seems those in charge aren't due any of the considerations they expect from us! Also, I suspect the board would still come to me for a lot of the expertise they'd no longer be paying for, but maybe that would be OK if I didn't have the responsibility alongside?

I would leave and find a Board level position in a smaller firm.

It's hard to be specific about the personal stuff without being outing, but it involves 4 deaths in 2 years, including DH, my son's serious illness and now a parent with cancer and another in failing health. I really have /do have a lot on.

I've put a few applications in. Until I turned 50 I got interviews every time I applied for anything. It's not happening now. I don't know if its my age or something else, but it feels like it's my age. Plus I don't know if I've got the capacity to take on another big job.

I did this to a degree after I returned from maternity leave. During the time I was gone, the organisation changed significantly (structure and mandate) and this opened up a window for me to return at a much higher level (and with all the associated additional responsibilities that would come with that) I made the very conscious decision not to take that opportunity and returned from mat leave to a position that I had held for a few years and could do with my eyes closed. It worked for a while, but I did start to feel quite bored quite quickly (and if I'm honest, felt a bit cheesed off that people that were once junior to me, weren't any longer - even though this was my choice)

It sounds like a good idea because it's a short term solution and gives you some money before retirement. It sounds as if the board position has been beyond you for a while and you may need to acknowledge the staff have a point. It would be hard to get a job elsewhere if it were obvious you were of retirement age. It depends how much you want to still provide your board level expertise for reducing pay. "Maybe" you say that will be alright. It could be you are getting stress without pay.

I did exactly this at a previous employer some years ago however whilst I was considered senior I was not board level. I took a less demanding role whilst a family member was ill so that I could help provide support. Yes it fitted in with my life and I had less responsibility but it allowed some colleagues (who I was later told were jealous of the position I’d held in the company) to belittle me in my new role. I left within a year. If I had to make the same decision again I would have just left rather than taking the lower level job. I was good at what I did and had a great network, found another job easily. I do appreciate though it seems harder to make these big decisions when you’re older and working towards retirement (I’m in the same boat!). Hope it works out for you whatever you decide.

Given you're so close to retirement and your work know the issues I'd chat to them to see if there is a compromise solution.

Some companies do a sliding part time to retirement.

They might be able to split your role and reduce it slightly

Perhaps they could create an expert role for you that allows you to use your knowledge but without the additional responsibilities you don't want.

There are lots of options you could take here as you're at the top of the tree.

I did it. For similar reasons to you.
Everyone was kind, but I regret it now and wish I’d just left. There is no career progression for me now, no opportunities.
Some of my issues were with the company not just due to my personal issues. I just couldn’t see the wood for the trees at the time.
As you are so close to retirement I would ask for a sideways move. Will a lower paid role impact on your pension?

The company might agree to PT, but that won't solve the dissatisfaction in the staff, it might even make it worse, with jealousy over the reduced hours but still good salary iyswim

It will have an impact on pension, in that these last few years will accrue at a lower rate, but it's an average salary scheme, so what I have "banked" will be unaffected.

I had a career change at 41 and started liberally right at the bottom in this field, so actually most of my pension provision is from a previous career.

It is your age (re interviews). It's so bloody frustrating isn't it. One of the issues with all the menopause publicity is that a lot of men now think all women over 50 are useless. I noticed a drop off in interview rates coinciding with this but it may well be coincidental...

I did similar but did find everyone came to me for any major issue. I think it would work better if you were totally out of the department. You may find your new boss is v hard on you deliberately!

I ended up taking the same role (as my board level role) in a smaller company and I'm loving it. I was lucky enough to be recommended for the job by someone I knew. So I would recommend upping all your networking in the interim.

I'm so sorry for your losses.

Although I've never been anywhere near as senior as you, I went down a grade when DS was younger due to a chronic health condition and wanting to work properly part time.

I found it wonderful for the first 6-12 months, a little bit trying after the second year, and got myself promoted back up around year 3.

In your case where you've only got a couple of years left and the alternative is walking away - or would they maybe give you a settlement to leave ? - then I'd be tempted to give it a go.

Well I can't go on like this. An equal colleague just asked me how I am and from my response took me into a private room where he could give me a hug. He and I both the least huggy people you've ever met!

I'm so sorry.

Talk to the big boss. It's clear they know something is going on and they need to support you.

Perhaps if there is budget they could 'downgrade' your role to remove the people management side and upgrade someone else's role to include it. They can look at it as succession planning for your retirement.

I have spoken to big boss recently. As I said to nice colleague, everyone was great to begin with but it feels like they've all lost patience with me now and I need a bit more patience.

Do you have any independent support you can access through work ? We can speak to counsellors if needed and I've used it a few times.
Or do you just need to be signed off for a bit ? But your clear headed analysis of the situation shows you're still on the ball.

I really like @Twizbe idea of positioning a change to your role as succession planning.

I suspect if you go to your boss with any semi decent proposal he'll bite your hand off.

I've had some counselling through work. I didn't find it especially helpful, but I think that was maybe because I did it too early. "Everyone's" response to any concerns was to suggest counselling, so I did it to shut them up iyswim

I sent a heartfelt online referral to my GP because I couldn't face the day on the phone trying to get through and they've already called offering me an appointment tomorrow. I don't really know what to ask for though.

If you're struggling to get through the day without crying, then maybe you need to be asked to be signed off.

I don't say that lightly and I don't think I've ever said that to anyone before.

It sounds like you need some headspace to figure out what you want and how much you can cope with over the next couple of years.

I did at the same time as going part time, but it was only one level back (basically giving up the team leading part of my job) and didn't involve a drop in fte pay as the scales overlapped (although I'm very close to the top so unlikely to get a payrise unless that changes). I'm happy to stay at this level for a few years as fits well with family life and there's opportunities to move sideways.

Could you become a self employed consultant?

Job share in your current role? Creating a new role as an advisor/ consultant to your company, as they transition to your retirement? SIgned-off for a bit?
Worth thinking laterally as I think you will find it hard to go down the ladder in the same organisation.

The vacancy closes today We did have no decent applicants, but there's been a bit of a rush, some quality applications. I'm not sure I'd even get the job 😆