To turn down a job that would pay 28% more than I currently get?

[Natsku]

I really don't know what to decide here, I'm so torn. I worked for Company A for a year, really loved it there, small company so everyone working there became close - cringy I know but they like family, helping each other out and things like that. I liked the work but some parts were stressful, and I wasn't keen on the paperwork but not too much of it anyway. We had BBQs and parties and sauna nights, generally tried to have fun as well as work. The investors pulled out suddenly so the company went bankrupt and we were all laid off.

So I got a job at Company B, which meant taking a paycut (a couple hundred less a month). Work is a bit different but I like it, less stressful and very little paperwork, its fairly repetitive at the moment but I won't always be doing the same thing as we swap around from time to time. Its a bigger company so I don't know everyone who works there but I get on well with a lot of people, we play cards on our coffee breaks and bake each other cakes and joke around. We have flexitime so can come in when we choose within certain time frames and we have a time bank system so can work longer hours some days and bank those extra hours to take time off later - works out really great for taking extra days off at Christmas for instance, or if I need an afternoon off for parent-teacher meetings or appointments. I've only earnt 2 weeks of holiday for this summer but I can use the time bank system to get a full 4 weeks off at once which is great. Get 200e a year for sports, culture and massage vouchers. Occupational healthcare is very basic, just check ups and treating basic illnesses that stop us going to work. Will be getting a payrise soon to about the same level I had at Company A to begin with, have asked if I could be a big bigger but I know it won't be as much as Company A is offering me now.

But now, Company A has been bought out by a bigger company that is doing very well, in an industry that is on the rise and likely to remain very important for quite some time. The new owners have offered us all our jobs back, with a 15% pay rise (which would be a 28% increase on what I currently earn) plus lunch and sports benefits but there will be no time bank system (used to have one, new owners don't want it to continue as it can cause a headache for management) so I would be losing a lot of flexibility, but not all, my old boss did say that some flexibility can be managed locally but it would mean making up the hours much closer, like within the same week so no saving up hours for a few days off but can take the odd afternoon off or even a day if I work very hard the rest of the week. Don't know yet what kind of healthcare they offer, old boss has asked for clarification from the new owners. Work will change but no one knows yet what will change, though for the time being I would be doing the same work that I used to do.

What would you choose in this situation? More money (which we do need as we're low income and I'm bringing in the lion's share of the money right now) but sacrificing flexibility and increasing stress somewhat (possibly a lot because who knows how the new owners will change things and affect working conditions?) and more chance of advancement as its a smaller workplace and at least one of our foremen isn't returning, or stick with the job I'm doing now with less money but a lot of flexibility and less stress but little chance of advancement (at least not anytime in the foreseeable future). Possibly a slightly higher pay rise than currently promised.

YABU - Move to Company A
YANBU - Stick with Company B

I'd stick with company B OP.
I always believe you move on for good reason & it sounds a solid option. I've tried both small and larger workplaces and definitely feel things are better in larger companies but that can be a personal preference I guess. I'm v introverted and don't want a close knit/family feel at work.

Go with your gut 👍 ask yourself where you want to be and don't think about it, just answer straight away.

If compay A hadnt gone bust and you were still there would you have looked for a new job?

I would be very conflicted not helpful to you OP but stress is a huge factor in poor health, which Im suffering with now, but then not having enough money is also stressful

How easy would it be to get another job if company A didn't work out? It's a significant pay rise and you might get another if you moved again in the future.

Company A will not be the same as ot was; you really need to view it as Company C. Not everyone will come back, you’ve already said the rules will change, and so the culture will be different. It will also be more risky as it’s effectively starting anew financially.
If i were you, I would evaluate it as company C vs B - forget about the old Company A it no longer exists.

Stay where you are or view other choice as c. A no longer exists.

I agree with this OP. Also, what are the pension options? Sick leave policies and other benefits etc.? As an example, I was just browsing jobs today and saw a job paying easily 30/40% than I make now but employer contributions are only 3% and benefits are nowhere near what I have now. I currently have a DB pension so the pension alone stops me applying.

Think about the whole package, but it is company C - it will not have the same culture as before.

Tell B you’ve been offered job with higher pay and see if they can increase your pay rise slightly

I would not have left if it hadn't gone bust. Even when we were given our two week layoff warning and told we didn't need to work those two weeks as there was no money to pay us I still went in nearly every day, as did quite a few others as we liked our work and we wanted to get the prototype finished. Even after I started at Company B I occasionally went in after work to help out with things. I had planned to immediately go back if it got back in business, as most people who worked there have done, even the ones who got new jobs, but I didn't expect to like my new job so much!

Difficult. The job market is really bad in my country right now, and with my foreign name its even more difficult for me as many employers won't even look at applications from people with foreign names (I have citizenship but that won't necessarily stop the discrimination). I was lucky to get another job so easily and that was because a work mate consulted at Company B so talked me up to the boss then told me to call and ask for a job.

It is a big pay rise, way above the usual payscale in my industry for my level of experience (which is very little). The new owners seem very keen to get the old staff back.

Yeah viewing it as Company C does make more sense, it won't be the same, can't be the same as we will eventually need to make a different product.

Pension is the same as Company B, all employers and employees pay into work pensions at the same rate in my country and Company A/C has not mentioned paying into any supplementary pension or pension insurance so likely they don't (as surely they'd mention that as its a big draw), though the extra money would allow me to put away for my own supplementary pension in an investment account. Both companies are part of the same collective agreement (I think, at least that's what the other employees said when I went to have a chat with them) so same sick leave policies etc. Benefits might be better at C, B gives us 200 euros a month for sports, cultural and massage use, C has at least sports and lunch benefits but I don't know the amount. I really need to know what the healthcare situation is, Company A had a really good insurance policy that covered specialists and private surgeries even for sports and free time injuries but don't know what it has now. Company B is really basic, not even specialists except in special cases so can't get my gastro issues dealt with via it, have to use public and pay.

Did that yesterday. Told my manager what I've been offered and he's going to talk to the boss. I know they don't want to lose me, manager has said that repeatedly, and they won't want more people moving there (both companies are literally next door so the temptation will be great I imagine, once A/C starts looking for more staff). Waiting to see what my boss says.

So if this big pay rise is unusual, I wonder how realistic it is and how sustainable?

You dont want to have a repeat performace where they go bust again

I assume the new owners offered such a big pay rise to try and get as many of the staff to come back as possible as buying a company with no staff would not be great as anyone new they brought in would not know what to do with the current project without any of us to train them. Or perhaps it was part of the deal my old boss negotiated. I am very afraid of the company going bust again, though I suppose in this case it wouldn't be going bust, the new owners might just decide its not profitable enough and close it down. If I could wait a year or so and decide then I'd feel much more comfortable but I doubt they'll keep this offer open for a year.

I find it strange that they have offered you a role at company A/C without actually being able to give you any idea about your full remuneration package. The fact that you still have so many unanswered questions would be a red flag for me. It would make me think they’re either winging it or have not even considered it.

Tbh I didn't think of a lot of questions until after the meeting when I was driving home, when he said what benefits I just didn't think to ask how much of them. But it is concerning that even my old boss doesn't know what kind of healthcare they've got.
I did look briefly at someone else's contract last week but it wasn't like job contracts normally are here which are usually brief and to the point but this was so full of legalese that I read it without really understanding it because I was rushing.
Going to wait and see what my boss says about my pay rise, hopefully it'll be enough that I don't need to consider changing.

Has company A been taken over by and American company?
Is Company B American owned?
In what country are you based?

I'm asking to establish the.mployment law you will be subject to as well as the type of management in place. All that would guide me in a decision.

Based in Finland, both companies are Finnish so both are under the same employment law and if I understood right both fall under the same collective agreement which means basic work conditions are the same but there can be some local variation which I need to find out about.

Spoken to my boss, not able to increase my pay above others doing the same work as it wouldn't be fair and equal but there's an opportunity to change roles and get a decent payrise that way. Seems like the perfect solution so long as the new role isn't too boring.
Plus I visited company A and just got a gut feeling I wouldn't be as happy there as I was before.