To ask if you'd take this job?

[PermanentlyWorried]

I've been freelance for five years. Generally, it's gone well, but 2020 was a hell of a year... I had to stop promoting myself because of a stalker, Covid wiped out my industry, and then I got pregnant. Recovering from it all has been slow, but this Summer has been great, and I'll make £78k this year. I do work a LOT, though. I've only had four full days off since May. I even worked half days on holiday.

One of the companies I work with has offered me a role. It's not my dream role; it's not in the area that I love, but a nice enough job. They'll still allow me to work mostly remotely; it's a good team, and the income would be stable. I'd get paid time off. If we had another child, I'd get paid maternity leave. But the salary is £55k, which is a pretty big drop... And they would expect me to wind up my business and not compete with them.

I've gone back to negotiate the salary, and they're happy to allow me to be flexible with working hours, and potentially condense into four days sometimes...

Would you accept?

I'm worried about the money. About giving up my business; as the only breadwinner. It's something I'm SO proud of... I just haven't managed to push myself to promote myself recently, and it needs that.

But at this stage, even saying no would have consequences, as I presume my role with them would stop... And it'd be nice to have stability, and some time off.

Will there be a clause to prevent you leaving and going free lance straight away if you’re not happy? Some contracts prevent you doing this for a minimum period.

A PAYE role is generally always going to pay less than a freelance role
You have to look at the overall package. I'm assuming there is a pension, possible bonus? Sick pay, holiday pay etc
Earning more is great but not if you can barely take a day off and can't ever be ill

Nah, I'd keep working for yourself and just do a less of it. You could do less work for the same money. Self employment particularly when freelancing comes in peaks and troughs, but you can't make hay all the time the sunshines. Be kinder to yourself as your own boss.

It sounds like fairly good job but you don’t seem very enticed by it. As we don’t know all the details is very hard to assess, I think ask your partner what he thinks…

one thing I will say is that we often treat career changes and decisions as a forever/definitive choice. You can politely turn it down for now and maintain a good relationship with the company, explaining that you are enjoying your freelance work at the minute but would definitely consider working for the them in the future. Alternatively, you can work for them and alway quit if you decide it isn’t a perfect fit! Definitely check the terms about the non-compete ect.

Can I ask why you're the only earner? That would make a difference for me

Can you afford the drop in salary?

Would their contribution to Pension, NI maternity, sock pay and annual leave make up for difference in salary. Two days off since May doesn’t seem
worth it.

Unless you think your business will dry up I wouldn’t, just because you sound like you don’t want to.

I’d try and pay people to do some things so I got more time off and had more energy to grow the business, and save up for May leave.

Thanks all.

DH has a minor disability. He was made redundant during Covid, but didn’t get much as it was a new job. Then he had scheduled surgery; and he’s not yet found a job. A mix of nerves on his part and finding someone happy with his disability, I think. I’m hoping that changes soon; but for now, I am the only earner. Until this point, he’s been a SAHD for DS, but DS started nursery a couple of mornings a week recently and absolutely loves it. It’s so expensive; though 😵‍💫

I haven’t had details of the overall package yet; the offer was on the phone. They mentioned a good pension, good maternity pay, annual pay reviews, but I’ve got no figures for any of those.

A bit of me feels that it’s silly to turn down stable work with a company I really enjoy working with. Another bit feels that it’s not the work I love (it’s much more client-facing than strategic, which is where I excel), it looks like some of the benefits of what I do won’t apply (like travel; I can do a decent amount of that on some projects now and love if, but this role is too senior and they’d expect me to send a team member), and I have to give up my whole business…

But it would give some time off; and the ability to switch off sometimes, and no anxiety about finding work…

Just be careful of any non compete clause in your contract in the event you terminate, and want to go back freelancing.

I’d take the job. I say this a former freelancer.