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

Ps fwiw , I think - based on what you've said & the fact that access to work may be utilised - that you should go for option 2 and I've voted accordingly ❎ . Do you have any gut feelings?
Good luck!

Job 2. The commute and the fact they can be flexible with hours would be the deciders for me.

@BintKeziah you’re a star thank you. Very kind and thanks for sharing your experience

@BintKeziah , gut always said two until I discovered trickier aspects to the job, plus discussions in real life everyone I’ve spoken to says go for the dollar!

@outherealone gut feeling really key!

That said don’t under estimate lack of support network, Tricky/ long commute and your existing fatigue / disabilities. Sounds like a potential recipe for disaster

You mentioned job 2, is lower than your current wage. Do you need to leave?

Yeah I have to leave. I was involved in an incident which has made me very unwell and I have to go to court as a witness and my job is directly related and almost responsible and I am a basket case in that environment now

@Myusername101 what are you gonna do?

I took job 2 three years ago and I've got to honest I'm feeling frustrated. However, I just keep reminding myself of the reasons I made the choice. I can pick my ds up from school, I have time to make a nice home for my family, and I have time to spend with Ds. DS won't always need me this much, but whilst he does I will be here.

It is a difficult decision to make, but as long as you can manage financially, time will always mean more to your DC than money, even if they don't realise it at the time.

@Canadianpancake thank you for your reply.
Why are you feeling frustrated?

I would also consider the long term view of the jobs. A lot of local governments are going through restructures where the role could be made redundant, is there a chance of that happening in job 1 or less so? Could you get another role quickly if you wereade redundant?

@outherealone my career seems to be on hold and I feel my workplace is getting an awful lot for their money due to my skill set. However, I used to do job 1 and ended up burning out, it took me about 2 years to get my mental and physical health back on track. Job 2 isn't want I WANT to be doing, but it's what I NEED to be doing right now. Good luck 😊

@PixiKitKat this role (job 2) is a brand new position based on increased spending in that department and scope for further funding for more people to do my role in future. It’s a growing area of need so should be very safe.

@Canadianpancake thank you for sharing. I’m currently burnt out. Money is not everything! Good luck with your future plans if you eventually move and hope you can make some peace with where you are now

Jobs aren't for life. I'd take job 2, but let job 1 know that you would love to work for them but your personal circumstances make it too difficult right now and you hadn't appreciated how tricky the commute would be until you tried it. Hopefully leaving the door open for you to reapply in the future (and you can always contact them speculatively).

Thanks @dropzoneone I think I will do this
EEEEEEKKK!!!
xx

I have made the decision!!!
Waaaaah!!!
Job 2!
Thanks everyone! X

@outherealone congrats! Good luck!

Good decision, OP.

I have mobility relatedl disabilities, too, and find even the shortest journeys painful and incredibly stressful & tiring. I'd pick job 2.
Job 2 have offered you the position knowing that you aren't fully experienced in some aspects of the work, so they must have confidence in your abilities to learn, but I know cognitive difficulties can make learning new things much harder, so I can appreciate your worries there. Do you think you can learn some new things? If so, I think job 2 would be better overall.

@SteelRiver I do actually really struggle to learn new things but I figure, once I’ve got it, it will be something I use on a daily basis and then I’ll be ok!

It’s very tricky to admit to cognitive issues in a new role. Every time I’ve done it colleagues/ managers look absolutely horrified!