Hypothetical work related

[outherealone]

Question:

What would you do if you had to choose from two job offers.
Background, I am single mum with disabilities. I struggle with fatigue and mobility as well as some cognitive stuff.

Job 1.
Much more money than current job, considerable distance from home,
tricky journey which adds time to my working day and means a struggle to collect kids in time from childcare.
job needs commitment to office hours and doesn’t offer much flexibility.
Environment is very much set up for people with disabilities and very understanding and supportive.
I have all the experience required to do the job.

Job 2.
Less money than current role.
Very close to home, straightforward journey.
Would cut an hour off my current day and give more time to me and the kids.
Environment is warm and welcoming but the physical set up is not great and very much in need of upgrade.
I have perfect experience for the role, background fits but there’s aspects of the job I have limited / no experience in.
Very flexible and supportive of the needs of parents in terms of time out for kids and flexibile working.

Please vote

Aibu: job 1

Yanbu: job 2

Thank you

I think it depends how much you need the money. Money is not everything so if you an afford to take the job that allows you to spend more time with your kids then do it

Also important is which job you would enjoy and get career fulfilment from, if that is important to you

I think you need to take into account the journey for job one and how much it will cost you to get to work and back and how much time would it cost you? Does it still equate to more money than job 2?

Also need to consider what support is available if your child went sick from school, would you have to make that long journey back or would you have support from friends/family's for them situations?

Both jobs sound good, but I think this is one you need to decided on your own OP.

Thank you @reeri I really need money! I could tighten purse strings if I had to I’m sure!
I think I’d get fulfilment from both. I really wanted job one and applied before job 2 was advertised.
They’ve both been on my list of desired workplaces for some considerable time.

Is the difference in commute massive? I know someone who took a pay cut however, as the commute was much less expensive they ended up with more money each month.

@pregantandengaged I have little in the way of f&f.
Job 2 is very close to their school.
I have very big difficulties making decisions due to my disability and nobody at home to help with stuff like this hence posting on here, I’m very drawn to job 2 but the salary of job one is a dream salary for me and my skills and my part of the country! Would make us more comfortable...

Very complex re commute. Job two would cost zero to travel to.
Job one would be further than my current commute which leaves me shattered and home so late I rarely cook a proper dinner and we live off packet food or take out and occasional pub food.
In theory job 2 would give me time to consider proper cooking and also save food money.

And job 2 would give more funding for not cooking properly!

Personally I would take job 2, so long as I could afford my monthly outgoings of essential bills I would rather have less "fun money" and more time with my children and the time I was with them be more present and less running around.

I say this as someone who took job 1 about 8 weeks ago and seriously regret it, I miss my child and feel like when I am with her I'm constantly going come on we are going to be late/have a bath/go to bed/go shopping or mummy can't play becauseshe has got 1000 jobs to do.

This might be a totally stupid suggestion but could you move closer to job one? If you have few friends and family in the area? Just wondered if there was a way of the dream job better money and less stress. Wishing you luck

Take Job 2. Your less commute is worth it but would you not be able to negotaiate better pay or even match your current salaray ? Seems strange that they are not even matching it

I'd go for job 2 if I could afford it. Work should fit around life and not vice versa in my opinion.

Job 1 will fuck your life with that commute. The money isn't worth losing your marbles over.

Job 2 no contest

Job 2 will save you money from the commute. It will also give you MUCH more time and headspace for sorting out the children, running the home, and generally doing life. If you can manage on the salary, I would definitely say job 2. Job 1 sounds like it would be unsustainable given your disabilities and family situation.

Job 1. Commuting is so knackering and stressful, even when everything runs to plan. When you factor in all the things that ca go wrong (strikes, accidents, bad weather etc), there'll a fair few times when it takes much longer.

And it's expensive.

Ooops, typo - I meant Job 2!

Thank you beautiful peeps! Both are not definite yet, offers being considered!

Definitely job 2.

The stress of the commute in job 1 will drain you in weeks.

Have you asked if they'd be any options at all to work from home a few days a week with job 1? If not right away, after say 6 months?

What about pension? Sickness pay, holidays?

Meant to say that % into pension can make quite a difference to monthly pay, for sometimes the same benefit, so do look into this if you haven't yet.

I lost 5 jobs in the first 5 years after becoming disabled. All due to not having the right environment, the employer unwilling to make simple, no cost changes and employer attitudes. Eg why should we move a pot plant for you? It's not in anyone else's way. Simple stuff.

I'd choose the right environment ever time.

Are employee benefits similar ? Pension healthcare dental etc. Getting your time back less stress, lower fuel costs, closer proximity to school and less travel stress make me think job 2 tbh, unless it's a private versus public pension scheme.

There will be no wfh options on job 1 or 2 although 2 will be slightly more flexible. 2 have offered it me on the top rate which is good but not as much as job 1.
Job 1 is charity job 2 is local government so more potential for leave in future but no more pay rise other than incremental...
Not sure re employee benefits think it will be usual govt stuff.
Job 2 has some aspects I don’t like as much, am not as confident or experienced in whereas job 1 is very much my experience and knowledge but no job flexibility as front facing for a lot of the role whereas job 2 is much more behind the scenes admin

@whatnow40 that’s really interesting. I have really struggled with disability at work and previously lost jobs for it. Job 1 is very much set up for people with disabilities I think it would be very easy to get my physical needs met (not a euphemism).

Wish I had a crystal ball. Where’s the bogus tarot reader when you need her?