WWYD - Stay or Go (work dilemma)

[MelCookie]

My job is being made redundant but I've been offered a more senior role (basically going from Head of Department to Regional Head).

If I don't want the more senior role, I will get an enhanced redundancy payment.

I'm mid 40s and this is only my second role. I've worked at my current organisation for 12 years. I'm not massively enthusiastic about the role I've been offered and I'm a bit fed up of the organisation.

If I'm honest, the new job has the potential to be a bit of a nightmare but I could do it if I put my mind to it. It would involve longer hours but good flexibility around when/where to work.

The redundancy payment would cover around 16 months of lost salary, plus I am very fortunate to have some additional financial buffer in case I don't find another job straight away.

Interested to know what you would do:

Take the money, have a year career break and hopefully find another job?

Play it safe and stay put?

take the redundancy

you seem utterly unenthused by the opportunity and the company

and this being your 2nd job in over twenty years… i’d jump ship just for the change alone

are single? children?

Married with 2 kids at secondary school. DH works full time.
I'm inclined to agree that I need a change - but frankly I'm a bit terrified!

as would i be if i’d only ever had two jobs

but this seems like perfect timing

what does your dh think?

is salary decent at least?

I’d take the money

Take the money, have a few months off. I did that when I was made redundant after 12 years (no offer of another post, though). Went to see DM in Australia and generally relax.

You've got a good financial buffer. Go for it, I say.

Put all this aside
if you were job hunting and saw this job advertised would you apply for it that will give you your answer

staying is safe easy and minimal risk so you will naturally gravitate to that by default

Good question @rwalker - I'm almost I certain wouldn't apply for this role.

Option 3 - take redundancy, but start looking for another job right away. 16 months' pay isn't much to tide you over

There’s your answer. Take your 16 months salary and go. Bear in mind that only the first £30k is tax free so it would be a good idea to put some of it into your pension.

I didn't get an enhanced package but as I'd been at the company over 15 years it was a good amount. I made my 3 months notice money and holiday pay last almost 6 months by cutting back and started a new job after 4 months of unemployment.

I've now got the rest of the money earning me some interest and one day I'll use it to treat myself.

How confident are you that you'll get the redundancy pay if you reject the role? Do you have a sufficiently 'good' reason for why it disadvantages you that your employer will accept?

@Flatleak - luckily it's all been agreed in writing, so I broadly know the terms of the package. Seems a great opportunity but the "what if" factor of ultimately looking for a few job next year scares me!