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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider a job almost half my previous earnings?

52 replies

strictlymomdancing · 01/07/2021 16:27

Some background:

In 2020, after a year of sick leave brought on by a breakdown and two suicide attempts, I left the public sector employer where I was being bullied and discriminated against.

With legal help, I got a payout of £52,000 (after tax).

I haven't spent it yet and I don't want to. I'd like to keep that money as I want to send my DD to private school but that's another discussion.

I was fortunate to get a 9m FTC almost immediately . Due to covid its been WFH which suits me due to my disabilities. Everyone has been very nice but I'm bored stiff. There isn't enough work for me to do. I am 4 months into the contract.

I've seen, and applied for, another job with a disability charity I respect. I could do that job easily I think. Its a 12 m contract.

Here is my dilemna.

In the job I had a breakdown in, my salary was £38,000 and if I'd stayed, it would now be £40,000. The employer pension contributions were 21% and it was unionised (although my branch were useless). Lots of other non salary benefits too but no disability staff network (they had an LGBT and BAME staff network though).

In the job I'm in now, it is also public sector. I'm earning £30,000 and employer pension contributions are 19%. Unionised environment, lots of non salary benefits and a staff network for every equality group.

The job I've applied for is a large, national disability charity and I've been invited for interview and they've arranged adjustments for me for the interview without me even asking - a good sign.

My only worry is that the salary is £24,000 and the employer pension contributions are 5.5%. I don't know what the other non salary benefits are.

I just feel torn. On the one hand its a company I respect and are obviously disability aware. Its entirely remote working so good for managing my disabilities.

On the other hand, its almost half of what I used to earn and I can't shake that feeling that I am going backwards and not earning what I am worth. I have several degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

I've spoken to DH and to my DPs and they say do the job and keep job searching for other things. They say I can afford the drop.

I was also awarded PIP for the first time this year and that is over £500 a month tax free.

YABU - stay where you are and look for something better paid or permanent
YANBU - take this job if offered and keep looking whilst doing it

OP posts:
Obbydoo · 01/07/2021 21:48

Please don't take it on the basis that you'll leave as soon as you find something better. That's a pretty low thing to do even in the private sector but to do it to a charity is not, well, very charitable! Recruitment and induction processes are extremely expensive, you will be costing the charity a whole lot of money that they could be directing towards their cause.

baileys6904 · 01/07/2021 21:54

I did something pretty much the same. Came out of great job in IT, company card and credit card, enjoyable work but quite long hours which was a big stress with a young child and a broken relationship. Dropped my salary by about a third with minimal benefits working for a small local charity.

Plus side, extremely satisfying, fantastic team as all in it together. Money that comes in in spent the right way, ie our office is the tips, very 'worked in' and we are all in it for the right reason. Cons-less security, money etc.
Do I regret it? No I don't think I do. Life would have been easier with more money but due to the work, the camaraderie is exvellant and everything is flexible for school runs wfh etc.
Life's short, don't spend most of it miserable cos of a job unless u have to

IceLace100 · 01/07/2021 21:56

I worked in a job where I was significantly under paid. I did it to get into a new area. I did the job for 15 months then moved on, which was part of the plan: get some experience then ditch them when I had some relevant experience.

Even with this plan, the low salary GRATED on me every single month. It really got me down. It also made me put in minimum effort; they weren't paying me fairly so why the fuck should I give it my all?

I'm glad now I did it because the plan worked. But those 15 months were a slog.

IceLace100 · 01/07/2021 21:59

@Obbydoo

Please don't take it on the basis that you'll leave as soon as you find something better. That's a pretty low thing to do even in the private sector but to do it to a charity is not, well, very charitable! Recruitment and induction processes are extremely expensive, you will be costing the charity a whole lot of money that they could be directing towards their cause.

I really disagree with this. I understand what you're saying; it's not good form.

But understand this - a company will bin you off without regret if it's in their interest. Remember what happened in the financial crash? People who had worked decades in jobs were sacked overnight without a second thought.

Loyalty gets you nowhere.

ShrikeAttack · 01/07/2021 22:14

Err ok @Watchingyou2sleezes. Bit of a reach there.

Redwinestillfine · 01/07/2021 22:18

Stay and start a disability network. Change the organisation from within.

ShrikeAttack · 01/07/2021 22:23

I have to say OP, I wouldn't particularly want to work for a charity that only paid a 5.5% contributory pension. Depending on their size, I imagine they have endowments that give a bigger return. Seems a bit cheap.

MinnieJackson · 01/07/2021 22:28

Sorry but it's been asked already, but could you do anything to do with you're disabilities on the side, i.e therapys, being a buddy etc. So sorry for your breakdown. My husband had a highish paying job and had a breakdown from the stress, I'm disabled and now we're surviving on UC. it's not the best obviously, but he's so much happier now. We don't have any extra spends but he's sooo much happier.
If it was someone you love deliberating, and went through you did, what would you tell thwm? X

ShrikeAttack · 01/07/2021 22:44

Hmm, not sure I agree @MinnieJackson. Your partner may be happier at the moment now he's not employed in his stressful job (I'd be interested to know what his job was), but if you're disabled and are now living on UC, I'd wager that in the long-term life would be a lot less stressful if you had at least one wage coming in.

I can't imagine it's shits and giggles on disability benefits + UC.

MinnieJackson · 02/07/2021 00:29

@ShrikeAttack thanks. Do you feel better now? My husband and I have both worked since we've left education. Both been employed, paid taxes and had fucking fun.
Yes, it really is shits and giggles being disabled and literally living week to week. My husband was a paramedic, then moved to a medical company and did R&D if it matters so much to you Confused

ThinWomansBrain · 02/07/2021 00:39

Twenty years ago after successful roles in banking and some fairly hard nosed commercial organisations, I had a contract in the education sector and loved it.
I moved to the NFP sector, mostly contracting; I've had some shit jobs and some really good ones that I've loved - but my salary has rarely matched the salary I had as a commercial finance director more than twenty years ago - and that's in actual money, not in real terms.

ShrikeAttack · 02/07/2021 00:55

@MinnieJackson, that's not what I meant or said!

I do think it's poor advice to advocate a sole-eaener in a household giving up their job and go on UC because it's 'less stressful'.

My point was, a life on UC is bare-bones and stressful in itself. Particularly if one of the couple has a long-term disability.

I wasn't denigrating UC or disability claimants.

I see that being a paramedic is a high stress environment.

Why can't your husband work in R&D now? Maybe the particular company he worked for had a poor workplace environment, but not everywhere does

MinnieJackson · 02/07/2021 01:20

Yes obviously, you know a lot more about my husband's work place than us. He's got CPTSD from his paramedic job, and would have to go into meetings in his new job(a medical company) that showed injured children, which was a huge trigger from being first on the scene, and the first point of call and whatnot, he fainted 3 times, went to the hospital twice and to be honest was unreachable at home. I was still working then, he got signed off with stress etc. Honestly, I know you're coming from a nice place, and I would never ever advocate a life on benefits to anyone.
I'm sorry I came across so defensive Flowers, we never imagined ourselves in this situation, when you've both worked full time it really is hard to fathom being on benefits, and I'll admit that I did judge people on them, completely wrongly...sometimes I guess!
But my husband is so much happier now, I hope he can find another job because he still has a lot to give and so much knowledge! He's completely lost his confidence after the fainting in board rooms etc.
Anyway sorry again for being defensive! And sorry it's so long lol.

ShrikeAttack · 02/07/2021 01:31

@MinnieJackson, I apologise too. I was possibly being a bit of an arse.

I wish the best to you and your DH.

You sound like a really tight couple. It's very easy to be a massive twat over the interweb!

Apologies.

MinnieJackson · 02/07/2021 01:40

Haha don't worry honestly! Flowers

Mipapapequenaa · 02/07/2021 02:05

I'd take the job that would provide you with the most happiness. Money is less important than happiness and you can definitely survive off of that wage.

I did a degree and masters in business and computing. Within a couple of years I had a verrrrrrry heavy workload in a high up job in project management that paid me £32k. Had a nervous break down... and was off sick for over a year, and then did flexible ad hoc working for 3 years, probably earning only £7k a year in that time. It was hard, but it was what I needed, and I got DLA for support for my mental illnesses. I now work 28hrs a week and work as a carer in peoples homes, people who have disabilities. I get about £16k a year when night shifts are considered... And I've never, ever been happier in my life!

newnortherner111 · 02/07/2021 07:02

If you think the FTC will end and not be extended, and the job you are considering is going to be long-term, then go for it.

Original poster
strictlymomdancing · 02/07/2021 08:11

the job I'm in is a FTC ending at the end of November. it won't be extended, they made that clear, no funding to extend it.

This other job is a 12m contract and will probably end September 2022

So I'm thinking it would keep me in employment longer.

OP posts:
Original poster
strictlymomdancing · 02/07/2021 09:14

the job I had my breakdown in, I was spending £120pm on parking and £30pm on petrol (often more if driving to another location).

1 hr - 1.5 hrs commuting each way.

This role I'm in now, is WFH but that will likely end before my contract is over and will also have a commute and parking costs.

This new role is entirely home based so no commute or parking costs.

I'm trying to think of all the pros and cons.

OP posts:
Original poster
strictlymomdancing · 02/07/2021 09:15

I'm not able to drive anymore either due to health

OP posts:
Markesmithh · 02/07/2021 12:13

You really sound like you want to do the new job, personally I don't think you would be unreasonable too. It's what is right for you right now, nothing has to be forever. Good luck Smile

Markesmithh · 02/07/2021 12:14

To

Dozer · 02/07/2021 12:20

Lower paid roles are often not less stressful/challenging than well paid ones. Would keep looking.

Hankunamatata · 02/07/2021 12:22

Never mind the salary. Surely the permanent wfh is the deciding factor? Sounds like you would struggle with a commute so taking the wfh job is a no brainer.

Merryoldgoat · 02/07/2021 12:27

@Dozer

Lower paid roles are often not less stressful/challenging than well paid ones. Would keep looking.
I agree wholeheartedly with this.