Time or money?

[PoliteSquid]

I work in state sector education for context. I was a teacher for 20ish years and I left the classroom just after Covid.

My current role is very flexible, but low pay for the level of responsibility (£41k). I get 26 days annual leave and permanent WFH. No one checks what I’m up to as long as I am doing all the things I’m meant to do,

I have been offered (yesterday) a leadership job in a school. 40 mile round trip, full time but obviously with school holidays although my kids are 14 & 18 so no childcare required. Pay is £54k. There is zero chance of WFH for obvious reasons!

So, time or money? I have to decide today!

You haven’t said how you feel about the new job, or whether you enjoy your current job. Do you miss working in a school? That level of daily interaction will be miles away from WFH every day.

My current role has similar pay and flexibility to yours, also primarily WFH, but I’m looking for something else because it’s so dull!

We don’t ‘need’ the money although it’s always nice! I applied because of the higher salary and it’s a new school so starting from scratch which is exciting. However, I stepped away from the classroom for good reasons!!!!

Yesterday was exhausting, and it was a relief this morning when I realised I only have to go to my study. Time is winning over the salary…

The new commute is long… easily an hour and that’s relying on the traffic behaving itself!

My current role involves lots of travel but I’m in charge of when and how often. Also all my costs are paid by work. I really like my freedom too…

Think you have answered your own question 😄

New role would certainly be a challenge! Even the interview day was exhausting… could I go back to 5 days a week in school, knowing exactly how long until the next holiday… I’m not sure I could actually! Maybe I’m getting a bit lazy in my middle age.

Time but it's not even just a time vs money here I don't think, the added stress of the job etc. I would definitley stay where you are. Also if you take off the costs of the commute and tax etc the pay gap is probably not as big as you think.

you're not selling it ... LOL

Long commute, 40 mile round trip, stressful ....

I’ve done the sums and realised what looks like a decent pay rise actually isn’t! And I don’t want to give up my WFH!!

Decision made, some one else can have that new job!!

While I think you've made the right decision, you probably should have considered all that before applying, and not wasted everyone's time!

I thought perhaps you'd been head hunted or something but from your reference to the 'interview' sounds as if you would have been fully aware of the salary and distance from the start, and still decided to apply. Given your previous experience you know how much work, time and money goes into a full hiring process, from sifting to interview stage. They could have interviewed a candidate who actually wanted the job!

Would need to be a much bigger pay jump for me to consider giving up wfh

You won’t have much extra money and you’ll have much less time during term time because of the commute.

How much of the extra school holiday time would actually be your own if you would be in a leadership position? Most SLT I know need to work during holidays for various reasons.

Time to start looking for a better paid job closer to home.

In schools the process is short. It’s all very exciting in the run up, and the day itself is busy with not much time to think. I was lucky they allowed me to think about it overnight! I’ve had loads of times when someone verbally accepts and then gets a counter offer from the original school and they decide to stay.