To turn down a 3x salary job?

[Fressia123]

I'm really really torn. Earlier in the year I got offered a job that pays £60k. I couldn't take it as it required relocation. They just got back to me to say they're happy to offer same role, different location but within commuting distance (1 hour drive). My current job pays £21k. I love what I'm building with it but I seriously doubt it will ever get beyond £30k. So it's between loving my company/job and the £££s. I'm absolutely torn.

Why are you so wedded to this particular area of the country OP? If there’s not much of your kind of work around?

Long story short, I love here with my exH, worked remotely for 4-5 years. Divorced, met my partner, got made redundant. We both have children from our previous marriages.

Go for it! Well done OP! Do you have other reservations, such as DC and current job suits their schedule/childcare more? Think of the lovely new car you could be doing that commute in on that salary!

Hope the meeting this morning is a positive one and it helps with making a very tough decision.
Can you get everything in writing that is discussed so they can't back track a year down the line?

Your current company don't value you and use excuses like internal policies not to pay you properly. They also dangle carrotts of extra pay at some vague point in the future if you jump through many many hoops now and take extra responsibilities without paying you properly for your role.
They are taking advantage of you and know they can because of your dedication to and love of the industry you're in.
If you turn down a job paying three times what they pay you for a company like Amazon, they will never pay you properly because they know they have your loyalty and that you are willing to undervalue yourself to remain in your current industry.

Personally speaking I'd lay my cards on the table, tell them make their best offer now and you'll consider staying. Do not settle for promises of future roles and remuneration, they've played you for a fool for long enough with those tactics.
I'm amazed that your eyes were open to the CEO and his demands but your manager managed to persuade you otherwise. It honestly sounds like you're been gas lighted.

Maybe salary wise they haven't been the most splendid, but they've shown their appreciation in other ways. I was paid contractual Maternity Pay when I didn't even qualify for SMP (which ended up being super beneficial). I'm also the only one in the whole company who has fully flexible hours. I can work whenever I like as long as I get it done.

You seem to have made your decision to stay with your current employer. I hope your loyalty and trust is rewarded and they aren't dangling a carrot. From your precious post you have already been treated unfairly so I'm not sure sure I would be as trusting.

Most people would think an hour's commute is reasonable. Especially for a well paying job.

It's not so much the commute but rather working nights

Definitely do it. 3x your salary, do it for a handful of years. Save like mad and live as though you were still earning 21k and then go back and do a role you truly love when your finances look strong

@Fressia123

Maybe salary wise they haven't been the most splendid, but they've shown their appreciation in other ways. I was paid contractual Maternity Pay when I didn't even qualify for SMP (which ended up being super beneficial). I'm also the only one in the whole company who has fully flexible hours. I can work whenever I like as long as I get it done.

Even if you are the only person with fully flexible hours and they paid you contractual maternity - they are still taking the piss. Your skills, which are clearly transferable, have been valued by one of the world's biggest companies as being worth nearly £40K more.

Maternity pay and flexible working are loose change in financial terms. The ROI for your employer is significant. If you're comfortable with that then OK but I'd be wanting any further promises in writing, with clearly timescales set our for career progression.

What you waiting for?

I have a bit more of info for the future. So it looks like the timeline is one year and then I'll have my new role/title. No idea about salaries but will have a chat with CEO about it.

I think you're being fleeced here @Fressia123. They're stringing you along and just using you for your skills.

Stop 'thinking' with your heart and use your head instead! And get tough with them. If you're so valuable then they should be paying you for that.

Yeah. Jam tomorrow.

@Fressia123

I have a bit more of info for the future. So it looks like the timeline is one year and then I'll have my new role/title. No idea about salaries but will have a chat with CEO about it.

OP you have had so much good advice on this thread about making your current employer recognise your value and you don't seem to want to act on any of it. If that's really how you feel, then thats fine but PLEASE ask yourself this - what incentive are you giving them to ever sort this out for you, if you're prepared to take wishy-washy vague statements about things that might happen in a year or so, and continue to accept being significantly underpaid for the work you do?

You need something in writing from them, or you are wasting your time staying. I've been there before and been burnt.

I would take it in a heartbeat. That kind of money is life-changing. If you now live off of 20k a year you could save 100k in 2.5 years!

I'm afraid from this thread and previous ones I remember it seems clear your current employer is dangling the possible promotion / payrise as a carrot and aren't necessarily going to follow it through.

Your loyalty to them, while positive sounding to an extent, is clouding your judgement here a bit I feel.

They could have given you a 3/4/5k payrise at some point during the last few months if they were very serious about keeping you. They are underpaying at the moment, you are obviously very good at your job, so it would make good business sense for them to spend a few grand on retaining you.

The fact they haven't done this as a gesture leads me to believe they will try to keep on as low a salary as possible for as long as possible.

They may value you but they don't sound like particularly good business people if they are undervaluing you as an asset and therefore risking losing you.

I wouldn't want to work for a company that showed they undervalue solid, capable workers to the point they are underpaying them to the extent they are you. It would make me think they weren't especially efficient business people as they should be trying to retain great staff at the moment but seem very green in risking you leaving.

And that leads me to question that maybe rather than them being green or inexperienced, they are just confident you won't leave and don't believe you'll jump ship. That wouldn't be attractive to me as an employee either.

You're getting nothing concrete from your current employer. You're mad if you pass up a 60k juicy role for a vague possibility of development and earning 30k at some unspecified point in the future.

I've read the full thread but for me it still comes down to advice I was given about decisions, that I found v helpful: if it's not a yes then it's a no.
You are deliberating a lot and have said many things on both sides. To me that sounds exactly like it is not a yes. So it's a no.

Success! I've spoken to my CEO and have a timeline, base salary (which reached my expectations) and commission on top. And I got it all in writing!!

Oh come on. What possible reason do they have to do anything for you that they’ve “promised”? Because currently they’re lucky to have you and you’re cheap, why on earth would they actually pay you more in a year’s time? They’re dangling the carrot big style. I know how hard it is to see it, I’ve been there too. Unless you’ve got anything whatsoever in writing- and I mean concrete offer of a deadline for your promotion- then it’s worthless. What’s to stop them turning round in a year and saying that they can’t justify a promotion because of business finances? Or making you redundant? Literally nothing at all. And then you’d have missed out on £60k for no gain whatsoever.

@Fressia123

Success! I've spoken to my CEO and have a timeline, base salary (which reached my expectations) and commission on top. And I got it all in writing!!

How long a period has he said there will be until the definite payrise and promotion?

I’d say you are in a strong negotiation position here. Is it the kind of job that could be done from home? If so I’d start off by asking for 2 days a week from home and end up agreeing on one ( but 2 if operationally possible or for particular project work etc)
I would also negotiate on annual leave. Commuting 2 hours a day does take it out of you.
Good luck!

@Fressia123

Success! I've spoken to my CEO and have a timeline, base salary (which reached my expectations) and commission on top. And I got it all in writing!!

I think that sounds like a positive start, and having things in writing that you are happy with from your current CEO is helpful.

I think it sounds as though you definitely would like to stay put and that is where your gut feeling seems to lead you.

I certainly understand why you wouldn’t want to work mostly night shifts. I know that I couldn’t do that and have had to specify it on every single job search I have ever made. You really couldn’t pay me in diamonds to work nights. I admire people who do, but I am simply not cut out for it at all.