To take a lower level, lower paid job?

[Kenclucky]

After a WWYD...

I'm lucky enough to be in a stable job, on really good £ and it suits my lifestyle very well in terms of wfh and hours.

But I am so so unhappy. The hours and pressure are insane. The culture is toxic. It has literally taken over my life, I feel depressed all the time and can't take holidays or enjoy anything. I end up working all weekends and evenings and I constantly feel like a failure.

I have the chance to take another job which would be much lower pressure but far less money. Think almost a whole salary less money. And it's much less senior too so probably career suicide on my CV. The people all seem really nice and the set up is flexible.

Would it be stupid to take it?

If you can afford to live on the lower salary then go for it! Health and happiness is more important than having lots of money in my opinion.

Life is short - if you can afford to do it - go for it.

No, you wouldn't be stupid at all! If you can make the lower salary work, then you should consider it. Your MH and physical health are too important to stay in a job that pressurises you so much.
Portfolio careers are well accepted now; people go up and down the 'career ladder', gaining experience and experiencing other work cultures, etc.
Go for it! Life is too short to drwad work and too long in a job you hate.
Good luck!

OMG why wouldn't you if you can manage on a lower salary?

It depends on your circumstances and what the consequences would be eg do you have DC or would you lose your house?

I'd say absolutely leave the toxic one. That sounds ridiculously awful . I've been in that position and it d say you don't really even realise just how much shit you put up with, until you're back in a reasonable role with decent people.
Having said that - there's a whole world out there - does it have to be such a step down career wise? Could you not look around a bit? At least if you're going to take a huge pay cut, make sure that the trade-offs are all worth it. I did it to be home based rather than commute. Make sure you get everything you want in your next move - or as much as possible.

Work to live or live to work?

Do it! If you can manage on less money, why wouldn't you be happy.

I'm currently looking for another job just like this. In the meantime I have temporarily reduced my hours in toxic job to get used to a lower salary. However I am VERY boundaried on my working time, as in I am uncontactable if not logged in, so this wouldn't work for everyone.

It's not that much the money, but going down seniority ladder can be incredibly frustrating. I'd say leave the toxic workplace but find something more in line with your level of experience.

I would. If it was doable financially. It sounds unsustainable and life is miserable lived like this. If you can, do.

Will you find the lower level job fulfilling? I do think there is no point in staying in a toxic culture for the money. But my experience of recruiting people who are over qualified - and being in jobs which gave me no stretch is - people get bored and bitter and act out a bit. It isn't as bad as overwork and toxic culture but it isn't great either.

Would there be an opportunity to move up in new role? might be worth it

Is there a third way, where you don’t lose all your seniority, and so much salary? Maybe reducing days, or getting a job in a different organisation, or moving sideways to a slightly different role in the same organisation or a different organisation?

Or could you take an unpaid sabbatical for a period, to have a bit of a re-set?

Do you feel comfortable saying which areas these jobs are in?

Type of training you did to get there etc

I'm confused!

You said 'I'm lucky enough to be in a stable job, on really good £ and it suits my lifestyle very well in terms of wfh and hours.' Then went on to say the hours are insane - how can insane hours suit your lifestyle?

Can you reduce your hours? 3 or 4 days instead of 5? I think you'll be resentful of the lower pay and will be bored in a less demanding, less senior role. (Once worked with an assistant manager who had been an area manager and it was awful - they were always trying to do things their way and pick and choose what work they did leaving a hot mess for the rest of us to deal with. Not saying you'd be like that but you might!)

Yeah do it OP. What does a higher salary really get except more expensive versions of the same stuff anyway? I'd rather have stressfree time.

I swapped my teaching job for tutoring when and where I like and a pt nursery job. I can't believe people get paid for what I essentially have so much fun doing.

I've just taken a 30k pay cut to move to a new org and leave a senior exec role. It wasn't toxic but I was bored/frustrated and not bought into the mission.

New job is a leadership role in a team. Org is much bigger and purpose is clearer and more my thing.

I'm not missing the cash, had good savings and am still a pretty good earner.

I'd absolutely do it if the money is workable.

How much salary drop would people consider if another job was better for their wellbeing?

Thanks all. I'm in a job where there's a real lack of roles around at the moment so no guarantee I'll find something better suited that's more of a middle ground sadly. I'd love to work in a senior role still but a nice small little family company, even if it did pay less. Those are really hard to find.

I have literally had the same thoughts and acted on it by applying for a minimum wage role this week. Same as you too, there are not many similar roles around locally doing what I currently do either.

Not stupid - I have done this. I worked at a lower level for about a year and then started moving up again. My mistake was then I got promoted to same level again after a few years and got fed up again. I don’t think these things are career suicide, they can be explained in many ways. I know what it is like to feel fed up in your work, life is way, way too short! Be brave!

I dropped 25% because I thought I would enjoy the job more and I did. But that was a while back. Given crazy expenses now it is much harder