To leave my current job for a new role and accept a 11k paycut?

[Indu29]

Hi all,
I'm in a job that I hate at the moment. I'm not sure if you read my previous post but it is quite toxic.
My current role is overpaying me I believe, therefore when I was job hunting I seriously struggled to find another job that pays as well as my current role.
I have managed to find a job within the public sector, which is a WFH role but I would have to accept a 11k paycut.
I also managed to find another role that is also public sector, but will pay my current rate if I do nightshifts, which isnt really feasible as I have family commitments.
I am so miserable and so lost, please let me know what to do

If you can manage on that pay cut, as in, you’ve properly looked at all the numbers then I say go for it. However if it’ll be a struggle then I’d try and hang on a bit longer and look around more.

It’s not as simple as yes or no.

Can you afford the wage cut? Is there another adult that needs to be sort of the discussion. What difference will it make in take home when you factor in a commute (assuming you committed now)?

Is there a reason you aren’t looking for jobs that are a promotion from where you are? That would help get something more like the wage you are on now or more.

Is it just your job that’s making you miserable?

Can you afford it?

Only you know if you can afford it or not.

no amount of money is worth your mental health.

Go for it. Money isn't everything. Even with lower take home pay, your long term benefits are probably better, as public sector usually has better pension provision, enhanced sick/maternity pay, etc. Also consider if the new offer has more convenient commute, flexible working, home working options, etc. As I say money isn't everything.

I took a massive pay cut and also came down the career ladder by a few rungs from being a finance director in a manufacturing company, back down to being a "worker bee" in an accountancy practice. Not only huge loss of wages, also loss of a company car, loss of employer pension contributions, and loss of status. Best thing I ever did. I got my life back. Much less stress, fixed office hours instead of sometimes having to work weekends and evenings. Far shorter commute (10 minutes rather than 90 minutes each way).

Never regretted the move for a single minute!

Well it sort of depends
If you are on £150k 11 shouldnt be a problem
If you are on £22k it might be!!!

Can you manage on an 11k pay cut?

WFH can increase some costs and reduce others so you need to do the sums, but if you feel you will be happier overall then it is worth considering.

If you really like the look of the new job or it has plusses over other options (you mention WFH, but maybe also predictable working hours, shorter commute, chance or more time with kids, good pension, chances of promotion etc) AND you can manage right now with a salary cut then Yes, why not. There's more to life than money.

I can manage my essential bills even with this paycut for now. But I have loans, which need paying off within the next 2 years. So I have some time.
The lower paid job is essential a WFH job so I dont need to think about a commute. But the other role is 90mins away (1 journey).
I have tried looking for promotional opportunities, I have spoken to my line manager and she said that there are no promotional opportunities until 2026 and even then, someone else in my team is more likely to be selected as I took 1 year off due to having my baby. I'm the only mother in my team, so obvs they are thinking I'm always going to prioritize family over work.
Tried looking at other departments but when liaising with HR they are not helpful, when I asked them about a new vacancy I was interested in, she looked at my message on teams and ignored me!
Yes it's the team and the role. I'm getting bored, stagnant and the manager doesnt give a shit about the wellbeing of her team

Sorry guys just realised its 9k pay cut not 11k. Current role is 48k, wfh role is 39k. Nightshift role would also match my current salary

What I meant about the commute is, do you commute now? If you do and you won’t have to commute, in the new role you may find the commute savings lower the gap between your wage now and your wage in the new (lower paid role’.

And I didn’t just mean promotion at your current employer. I mean looking at other employers and looking at roles which would be a step up. Internal promotion isn’t the only way.

and affording esssential bills? Is that just essential bills? Is there another adult earning in the household? Earning enough to cover essentials bills but not much else is very difficult, especially with children.

Yes I commute every day for work. My current employment does not support WFH.
I know that's why I'm so deflated.
I think I will have to accept this role, turn down the nightshift role and in the meantime keep applying.

I have spoken to my line manager and she said that there are no promotional opportunities until 2026 and even then, someone else in my team is more likely to be selected as I took 1 year off due to having my baby did she actually say that?

Follow that up in an email and ask her to clarify.

Then go to a solicitor

As long as you don't end up a tiny bit happier and a lot poorer. Has to be worth £11k. If you believe it will be then I'd take the gamble.

I took a 5K cut a year ago and haven't regretted it. I'm so much happier and look forward to going to work again.

If you can afford it then do it. Life is too short to be miserable for 8 hours a day x

Are you currently in the public sector? Worth noting their pension benefits are substantially better than private sector contributions, along with flexi time and generally more holidays. As a package it might be quite similar to your current pay

If you can afford it, and you think you'll be happy in the new role, do it.

I've just accepted a role that's half the salary, a lot less responsibility, and less again because it's just three days a week - I can't wait. Less stress, get my life back no more 50-60 hours a week and wasting the weekend thinking I ought to be getting on with work tasks, or how dreadful the next week is going to be...
and hardly any tax.

I am not in the public sector at all, this will be my first opportunity

You may qualify for UC if you're a single parent, might not get much but it could entitle you to other help to bridge the gap.

I'm not wasting my energy on that crappy company, rather spend my time finding somewhere better. I'm dreading Monday mornings 😔

Not eligible for any benefits except child benefit- yes I have already checked

So a loss of £6480 after tax and national insurance. Are you also paying off student debt and would have lower contributions? You'd save a little working from home, especially if you buy fewer and cheaper clothes - but not enough to bridge that gap. Any side hustle you could do with the saving of commuting time?

If you carry on in your current job your physical health may suffer as well as your mental health and then you could be out of work anyway. If there is a way to make it work I'd go for it.

& when looking at the 'can I afford it' look at the net position - if your paying 40% tax - and maybe even a student loan, the £11k drop is a lot less when you look at your take home pay.
listentotaxman.com is a good site to look at to calculate the net impact

Also which country is the OP in. It'll be less than £6480 difference in net earnings if she's in Scotland, due to the lower threshold for higher rate tax.

OP, you should work out the ££ after tax, student loans and commuting costs, because that (rather than £11k) is the important number.

The commuting costs and extra pension payments with it being a public sector role may mean there's not much difference overall. Have you done those sums?