To consider a drop of £10,000 in salary?

[redrose80]

I work in a public sector job where I earn £37,000pa. It is a secure job which I know I am lucky to have in this current climate. We are all WFH until at least the new year. I have good annual leave and flexi leave entitlement.

But I have been the victim of bullying and disability discrimination for years. I have had to get my union involved but my grievance has been on hold due to covid 19 (yes they could deal it anyway but they won't so I'm in limbo)

I've been actively searching for jobs over the past 3 years and despite multiple applications, have only had 2 interviews.

I believe my lack of application success is because a, my disabilities are off putting, even though I've worked full time since 16 so I'm not incapable and b, because my skills and experience are very niche. However, I have undertaken additional qualifications to expand my range of career options.

Anyway I have submitted an application to a university job that I could do with my eyes shut. Its one of the best matching jobs I've seen of all I have applied for. It is really ideal. The salary range was advertised as £33,000-£35,000. Lower than what I'm on but I felt it was manageable.

Only after applying did I realise it was an 0.9FTE job which I think means the starting salary could be £27,000.

Now I'm not sure whether to withdraw my application or not. Its a big drop and my DM says with all the qualifications and experience I have, I shouldn't have to take a drop in salary. DH says he wants me to be happy but the money would be an issue.

The university website salaries can be negotiated subject to experience and budget. In this current climate, would it be too optimistic of me to hope that I could start at a higher salary (if successful)?

So AIBU to apply or should I withdraw, stay in my shitty job, and keep looking even though I've had no luck these past 3 years?

Yes, it’s worth looking at pay increases etc. In my world, private sector, there have been no pay increases for a few years.

University finances are in dire straits. I would think about whether the job is one which wouldn't be likely to be cut anytime soon. How essential is it? Huge redudancies are likely coming in universities. Overseas students pay huge fees and aren't coming this year. I took a huge salary (more or less what you are talking about) drop due to hideous conditions in a finance job. I am much happier now but do miss using my brain and being seen as less able as in a junior role.

Sorry, I'm an idiot, I entered the salary scale wrong.

The salary scale for the role is £30,046 to £35,855 per annum

I'm rubbish at maths so I may have also worked out the 0.9FTE wrongly. What would it be? It also didn't occur to me that it could be applied to the higher end rather than the lower end as a PP said.

Yes I do live with someone as I said in my OP. My DH wants me to be happy but he is worried about the pay cut and managing our finances to accomodate that pay cut.

And yes I am also conscious that universities may be less willing to negotiate salaries in this climate. There are two positions advertised so I fear this may also make it unlikely as it could be unfair to the other applicant?

Its the same commute as my current job (the university is next door to my office) and my old work bestie now works at this university and says the benefits are better if not the salary.

I did apply for a position in a FE college and my application was withdrawn by them and the vacancy disappeared so Covid 19 is definitely having an impact.

Anyway, sorry for getting my figures wrong, can anyone help calculate the new 0.9 figure? I'm honestly rubbish at maths, but have 3 degrees in other areas lol

In a similar boat.. well paid job but bullying boss. I'm on the lookout for other things, have accepted this will probably entail a pay cut in these times but I'm not prepared to be bullied any more!

0.9 of your new figures would make the salary £27,041 to £32,269.

I left my job and took a significant pay drop (more than 10k). It was honestly the best thing I ever did.

I was miserable at my job. It was affecting my marriage, my friendships and my health. Once I left my whole life and outlook changed. I would make the same decision again in a heartbeat.
The change in income was difficult to begin with but that was well outweighed by the improvement to my life.

For me it would depend (a) what difference the job change would make to your life and (b) how much of an impact the money difference would make. Only you know the answer to that. I took a £35k pay cut once - I really wanted the new job and I could live with the change. No regrets at all. 100 per cent the right decision. The company paid less for understandable reasons, it wasn’t about skill and experience etc.

If you’ll be happier with less stress it would be well worth it in my book!

Anyway, sorry for getting my figures wrong, can anyone help calculate the new 0.9 figure?

Salary x 0.9. Really, it's that simple.

As it's 0.9 it's not really a 10k drop in pro rata salary. You're still labelled as "worth" 33-35, but will be working 4 and a half days per week instead of 5...

It's only a salary drop to the full time salary in CV terms.

It depends whether you want the half day off per week and whether the terms and conditions (holiday, job security or whatever) make it worth while.

The actual 0.9 salary only matters if you'll struggle financially. On a self esteem note it's important to remember that it's not much of a drop per hour.

I wouldn’t take that much of a salary drop. You may come to resent it, especially if the job doesn’t turn out to be that great.

Oh yes I also hope it's not a maths or accounting role :)

33 x 0.9 is 29.7
35 x 0.9 is 31.5

@blue25

I wouldn’t take that much of a salary drop. You may come to resent it, especially if the job doesn’t turn out to be that great.

That's what my DM fears.

I have worked so hard to get my qualifications and skills that she says it "Isn't fair" that I'm being forced into considering lower paid roles.

But she also agrees I need a change for my mental wellbeing.

I work in finance for a Uni who were doing extremely well pre-COVID.

We have already been told our pay is frozen. There's no way they'll be recruiting on anything apart from the bottom of the scale. Sorry

Just go for it, if you're offered negotiate then decide. Personally MH is worth tens of thousands in salary...

As it's a 0.9 role you might want to ask how that's structured. You could suggest doing 4 longer days to do the hours and having Fridays off for example. Might save some commuting costs, or give you an opportunity to start a small business/take in ironing (), do the housework or Netflix all day...!

0.9 of 33 is not 27.

I obviously don't know what kind of role it is but I'd also be wary of you actually being able to work 0.9 easily. If it's not front facing then you might find you end up working FT for less money.

it is a student support role.

It is not a Russell group university.

I do not think it attracts as many oversea students as the others in our city. The degrees they offer are very vocational and work based and are mainly around health care, sports and teaching.

I did similar, in fact very similar to what you are considering. I was working in a rotten place, I was at breaking point. I left and took a new position with a £5000 pay drop. I haven't struggled with the money at all but we have just been told that there will be no increases.
Before Covid I had begun to look again as I'm not happy in my new job. It's very monotonous and I came in following a big review/audit period and the atmosphere is not great. But that's life! There is no way to know exactly what something will be like...
A relative had a go at me for "stepping back" in my career but I have enough stress in my life, I dont need work to add to it. I'm disappointed that the job didnt turn out how I thought, but i am a bit stuck now as covid means there is no recruitment anywhere.

@bakedcrisps
The OP got the original salaries wrong. The starting salary is a fraction over 30k. So 0.9 makes it 27k.

Go for it provided you can be reasonably sure the job is stable. If they’re recruiting two posts it suggests the roles are needed. Generally speaking, universities are quite progressive employers and are actively supportive of adjusting work to support people with disabilities and have the systems in place that enable them to do so as a matter of routine. Also, once you’re in you may be able to change your hours to full time. The other thing is that if you like learning you may be eligible for free or discounted courses (fancy a PhD?!) or given you have 3 degrees you might get to do some associate lecturing if you fancy it. There are lots of opportunities for growth at unis if you want to take them, though sadly they don’t often come with pay rises!

You haven’t said much about the financial impact.
10K that’s paying for a fancy car - meh, I’d ditch that in favour of being happy.
10K that’s paying off heavy levels of debt - more of a problem to lose.
Is that 10K really needed? And if it’s more wanted - is it you or your husband that wants it?
Tbh, if I were your partner, assuming bills could be paid, I would mind about the money. But I WOULD be very concerned about leaving a secure job for one in university sector right now.

*wouldn’t mind about the money!

apply and negotiate. Would you be happy with £35k?

yes I'd be fine with £32000 upwards. Anything lower is tricky.

I've tried asking my DH and he just umms and aaaahs. We don't have any savings as we have not long paid off debt from when he was made redundant a few years ago.

He is now in a secure job and is on track for promotion in about 3 years once his manager retires. He's been told the job will be more or less his and his manager is going to put him through an MBA. DH is currently on £38,000. His manager's job is about £50,000.

If he got promoted, that could offset my pay cut maybe but I'm a bit worried that his promotion may not happen and DH is getting his hopes up too much although he did show me the email exchanges which look positive.