To turn down a f/t job in favour of p/t in the current climate?

[needurgentadvice]

I have been offered 2 jobs in the past few weeks.

One was f/t and more money, the other was p/t and a lot less money.

The f/t offer came first and I accepted.

About a week later I was also offered the p/t (4 days week) position.

I thougt about it and decided to accept p/t job.

I told f/t employer I had changed my mind and declined. They are now trying to negotiate me back, possibly by reducing the hours.

I feel so guilty as I hate the thought of letting either down, but especially the p/t employer (charity) as they sounded so grateful to get me. I'm sorry if that sounds big-headed but I consider I am a good quality candidate, better than they possibly expected for the type of role they were recruiting for, and one who can bring lots of 'added value'.

Basically, to me, it comes down to ethics over money, so should be easy, and I thought I'd made the right decision, though a tiny part of me regretted having turned down about 50% more money for the f/t role. But my DH is in danger of being made redundant and I feel that perhaps money should overrule if I get a 2nd chance at the f/t job.

WWYD?

(Have also posted in Employment issues, sorry if bad form to post in 2 places, but need urgent advice as have to decide later today, or tomorrow at the latest.)

Personally I think you have to put you and yours first in this situation. You have to look after your family and be in a position to lighten the stress on your dh in the event he is made redundant. If he does take a while to find another job then things could get very stressful.

So I would take the f/t role, although I can feel your guilt at letting the charity down.

I'd go for the ft job in your situation, and especially in this economic climate. If they are willing to change hours later, then that would be a bonus (perhaps doing some flex hours so that you could work longer some days and have a day/afternoon off or somesuch).

It's a dreadful situation to be in. I know charity begins at home, but they are such a good cause. I feel dreadfully torn and guilty.

It is still just as important to be inspired by and enthusiastic about your job, even in the current climate.

BUT, if it's just the hours, and they would bring them down, then I might be tempted to go for the better paid option. If however, it's not just the hours, and the charity job is more interesting, then I'd go for that.

Difficult decision....I had similar when I had to go back to work after mat leave, as I really wanted to reduce my hours but my current employer wouldn't couldn't accommodate. DH's job wasn't secure so we decided that I'd find another role locally (which would reduce my hours by 20 hrs per wk alone!) After long talks with DH, I decided to go for p/t and was offered 2 roles...1 was 4 days and 1 was 3 days - finally I chose the 3 days and am very happy with my choice.
Would have to say that you have to go with your heart as practically it might make sense to go with the f/t role but you have to think about what you want and if doing something you really don't want to do...how will it make you feel ie you don't want to resent your family/DH at the end of it cos you're doing a job/more hours than you'd like. I always think that you survive on what you've got, so if we suddenly found ourselves with only 1 income then we would adjust our spending and make do.
You really must make the right decision for you and one that you'll be happy with.

Good luck whatever you decide!

I think I'd be considering which job excited me more. How I felt I would get on with my colleagues. What the journey would be like.

Normally I'd say go with your heart, which sounds like the P/T job, but in this current climate and your DH's precarious job position, I'd prob go for the F/T one.

Nice to be so popular right now though. There will be a lot of people happy to take whichever job you don't take though, and I'm sure they will be lovely people too.

Thanks for responses. It's not that the charity job is more interesting, but the opposite really, quite mundane. I could do it when asleep as one of my referees put it. But that's what I want. I don't do stress very well, and am liable to get stressed when working full time in a more high pressured environment/ with more responsibilities.

I left my previous role because althiygh my employer was willing to reduce my hours, I felt they would still have expected the same output, albeit in half the time, which would have been disastrous in terms of stress for me.

But then again - I get bored easily and like plenty of challenges and stimulation. But not sure how long I could sustain it now I have DS to content with. For example, today I have been up since 3am with him, and have still not showered etc.

contend

I think if you have to think about it, then you know the answer - I think stress is a big factor when choosing a job and if you have been up for the last 7 hours with your DS, then surely knowing you have a job 'you could do in your sleep' is a good thing?

the F/T job may be better paid now, but at what cost? surely better to coast along on slightly less money knowing you won't burn out, than possibly be in a situation where you are the main bread winner - adding more stress to an already more stressful role iyswim?

good luck with whatever you choose btw

If you get bored easily, then you will be really narked with a job that you could do in your sleep. It'll be much harder to motivate yourself to get up and out if you aren't excited by the job.

And when you have to be out of the house, you will - I know that I could easily still be in pyjamas now, but DS and I both had a bath this morning, breakfasted, put on a load of washing, dropped him at nursery, went to work, and have done 2 hours of work now

What will either of these roles do for you? I totally understand the ethical issue but it does sound like you are selling yourself very short - you will bring a lot to them, but what are they giving to you? Will you be thoroughly disillusioned in 3 months? Could you work for a charity in a few years time, maybe in a role that excited and stimulated you more? Ditto with the f/t role. How flexible can they be? Will things get easier with DS as he gets older? Also job turnover / progression is usually 1-2 years, so you really want to think about you and your situation in that timeframe