Taking a new role which pays less is this crazy?

[isthismad89]

I've struggled for a while with not enjoying work, not feeling like I have enough headspace or enthusiasm to do the job properly and not being able to switch off from it and enjoy time with my kids.

I don't like my wider team who I find incredibly negative and quick to take offence at everything (not me specifically - just everything).

I line manage two people who are both poor performers, getting them to do anything is a real struggle. I didn't recruit them, they were moved to my team after I joined.

The hours are ok and I can't complain too much about that - the occasional late night but nothing unusual.

I've just had enough and I want to take a new job in a different department. I want something which is more task-based, with no line management, where having to try and 'inspire' people who couldn't care less is not my responsibility. A couple of roles have been advertised and I think I'd have a good shot at them.

However, it mean a pay cut and essentially a voluntary demotion. I'd be earning about 11k less than I do now. I've spoken to a couple of friends who think I am totally mad.

DH is really supportive but I think also thinks I've gone a bit crazy and that the grass might not be greener. We can afford to live on the lower salary but would obviously have less disposable income.

I just think I'd be so much happier but am I kidding myself? The hours would be exactly the same, if that makes a difference, and the commute would also be similar.

Should also add that the new roles are in a more interesting (to me) area and there would be opportunities to get promoted again in a few years once my kids are older, if I want to.

Not quite the same thing but I have friends who have given up employed work to start a business doing something they love. In one case a craft based business. They both say they work harder than before and certainly earned far less in the early stages of building their business. However they are doing something which they enjoy, gives them personal satisfaction and much more freedom to arrange their own schedule than when they were employed. I also found this myself as I began a business after retirement.

Money is not everything - if depends upon your family commitments and responsibilities. You will need to work out the financial implications carefully. If you can manage financially theres a lot to be said for doing something you enjoy and which fulfills your emotional needs - rather than being a wage slave doing something you hate.

I stepped off the career ladder in my mid 40s for a well paid job to return to education (and a much lower standard of life) so I dont think you are "crazy".

I am contemplating doing this myself so I shall be watching this thread with interest.
Nothing to add apart from saying I share your concerns but the alternative of staying in this job fills me with dread too.

Have done this. As long as you can afford it - do it!

@brefugee I've done a really detailed spreadsheet of costs and we can definitely do it. I just don't know if I'd feel guilty, like I'm not earning as much as I could potentially earn and will that impact my kids...does that make sense?

Do you ever think you might go back up to your old level? I'm only 35 so I keep thinking I can always go for promotion again in a few years but I don't know if I'm trying to justify it to myself too much.

I went part time and stepped down a bit a few years ago, took quite a big pay cut and would do it again in a heart beat. I’m saner and happier!!

OP is this time critical? Can you try living on the reduced salary and saving the difference and see how it is? Use that time as a last ditch attempt to feel better at work.

In general though of course it's not crazy. A signicant portion of your waking hours are spent at work so it definitely makes sense to prioritise a job you like over spending money.

£11k drop in salary is a lot for some, not so much for others. It really depends on how huge a difference this makes to your lives.

Is it possible to go in the opposite direction? Like could you try finding another management job either at the same level you're at now or at an even higher level? If its the people that's the problem then a different management role might resolve that issue.

I don't think it is crazy at all. There is a lot more to making life choices than maximising your salary. I have recently applied for jobs that pay less than earn now, because I think I will find them more interesting.

If you can afford it do it! No one lies on their death bed wishing they'd spent more time doing a job they don't like! Good luck to you enjoy your quality of life! 🌺🌼

I left a career in law and became an administrator. The administrator role is not always the easiest job but it's a lot easier than the last one and a lot less depressing. I don't get financial targets, I don't have to regularly cancel plans because I've received a 4 week old court order a day before a deadline, i don't have to go out "networking" in my free time, I don't have to constantly worry about making a mistake and losing my career. All in all, it's been worth it. I think the key is sitting down and thinking about the absolute worst parts of your job and making it non-negotiable that the new one doesn't have them. In a couple of years time when you're going crazy at your new job, remember to look at that list. Last year I had a really rough period when I had to keep redoing the same work over and over because management were moving the goal posts. My DH responded "well at least you don't have to get up at 6am tomorrow for the breakfast club then bill another £10k before 4pm".

I think the key is sitting down and thinking about the absolute worst parts of your job and making it non-negotiable that the new one doesn't have them.

I love this! This is exactly what I need to do. It's the only way I can work through the 'what if the grass isn't greener' worries.

For me, I think non-negotiables are:

• No line management. I don't think many people would enjoy managing my current direct reports but even in previous roles where I had excellent team members, I still didn't feel like I had enough headspace to manage them properly and just felt guilty all the time.
• Clear, task-based work. I'm so so sick of strategies and endless meetings about issues which are apparently incredibly complex and have lots of synergies and we need to endlessly consult stakeholders about them.

I will say this though... jobs typically get easier and more flexible the higher up the ladder you go (that's been my experience anyway). I don't think you really remove stress by taking lower paying jobs. I think you have a problem with specific people and the solution is just to find a different team rather than to give up what you have worked hard for.

I see now you're most recent message about just not wanting to manage anymore.. okay if that's the case that's the case. Just gotta move on and find something that suits you then.

I will say this though... jobs typically get easier and more flexible the higher up the ladder you go (that's been my experience anyway). I don't think you really remove stress by taking lower paying jobs. I think you have a problem with specific people and the solution is just to find a different team rather than to give up what you have worked hard for.

I do hear what you're saying and it's true that my current team is particularly awful (got placed here after mat leave as my previous role didn't exist anymore). I do need to be careful to separate out the issues in this team vs. the overall issues.

My DH also makes the argument that if you go up a level then you're usually managing managers, and as a general rule they do tend to be more engaged. Not always though I guess.

I had to take a huge cut a few years ago due to health and family reasons, and while it was tough financially I absolutely wouldn't go back to my previous (middle management) level of role (even if I could, which would take a few years at least). I may be poorer, and my "perceived social status" might be lower, but I'm much, much happier scrabbling a living together from bits and pieces of freelance and contract work, which at least is mainly pretty creative. It's really made me realise how utterly pointless and stupid so much of what I was expected to do in my old role really was, although it didn't help that I had an unmanageable workload that was twice what the previous postholder had to do, or that I had the line manager and manager's manager from Hell...when I left they replaced me with 2.5 people, so it wasn't just my imagination. I'm happier just being one of the foot soldiers, thanks, with enough energy to do the creative stuff and enjoy life - before, as COVID-19 has shown us all this last 18 months, it's too late.

I took a pay cut once, I was utterly miserable in higher paid role and so for me the money was not worth it.

Lower paid role turned out to be really interesting and within 4 months I'd been promoted and revived salary increase.

Work is often about more than money, it's about a sense of achievement, growth, new experiences and challenge. I'd look at the bigger picture and a pay cut might actually lead you to be happier

Work is often about more than money, it's about a sense of achievement, growth, new experiences and challenge.

This is very thought provoking. I think of my current job purely in terms of how much I earn, because I really don't enjoy it.

I'm an experienced primary teacher of almost 20 years but for about 4 years now I have been working as a HLTA, specialising in 1-1 support for children with significant need. I earn way under half of what I would do as a teacher but zero regrets. I don't see myself ever returning to teaching as I have my life back (as well as time with my own kids and family). Money is tight but I'm so much happier. I love my job.