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Original poster

Husband applying for low paid jobs - advice please

29 replies

Custardandnoodle · 29/06/2021 18:38

Can someone give me some advice how to talk to my hubby as he's really sensitive at the moment. He got made redundant last year. The company redeployed him on a maternity cover at a lower level but same pay.

This is coming to an end he's currently applying for lower level jobs in the company on much lower pay as his confidence is low. He's got loads of experience. We can't afford a decent quality of life on a just above minimum wage salary and it's putting extra pressure on me in my job as I'll be the main bread winner.

I'm worried he'll take one of these lower paid jobs and never make a move up the ladder again. His redundancy is substantial so he'll never leave (as he'll lose redundancy) and just be stuck. I don't need him to be a career-focused striver but selfishly we'll never be able to afford 'nice' things or go on holiday on that level of income.

I'm secretly hoping none of the internal jobs come off as I think he'd be better off in a new company now. He's scared to start again.

Any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
Blankspace4 · 29/06/2021 18:41

Wouldn’t he get a pay off if made redundant?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 29/06/2021 18:42

So did he get redundancy last year?

TeddingtonTrashbag · 29/06/2021 18:46

Redundancy is terrifying but oeiple durvuve snd thrive. Thanks f I hadnotbern made redundant I would not have career chand and the job I fo now that I love. He should be applying for jobs in other companies. Contact headhunters/recruitment agencies. They do the legwork and hustling and will get your DH a job at the best salary they can negotiate and they are good at negotiation!

CinnabarRed · 29/06/2021 18:49

Why does he lose his redundancy if he leaves? That’s not how it works.

Garraty47 · 29/06/2021 18:58

Depend on how low it is. Is it minimum wage?

Original poster
Custardandnoodle · 29/06/2021 18:58

Sorry didn't explain properly. His role was made redundant last year. The company redeployed him in a lower scale job covering a maternity leave (on protected pay). This is coming to an end.

He'll get redundancy at the end of this of he leaves, but there are jobs coming up internally on lower scales. I want him to take the pay out and leave and find a new job on the same pay scale.

He wants to stay with the co. on a lower paid job (protected pay will end).

Hope that makes sense!

OP posts:
youvegottenminuteslynn · 29/06/2021 19:04

It's difficult OP because while you say you dread being the breadwinner, maybe he doesn't feel he can take the strain of being that anymore either? Do you work currently? Are there kids involved?

Wavypurple · 29/06/2021 19:06

How low paid are we talking?
Do you have children?
Sorry for the questions if they seem intrusive, I’m just thinking maybe his previous position caused him a lot of stress and he hasn’t spoken about that perhaps. I know nothing about the situation obviously but maybe worth asking.

DGFB · 29/06/2021 19:07

He should leave and not take a lower paid job. Could counselling help him get his confidence back? The issue with taking a much lower paid job is that it could take years to get back to where he was pay-wise. And there is really no need for him to do this. He could leave and look for jobs on his old pay scale.
Also he just realise the effect on a family of not being able to afford a holiday

Wavypurple · 29/06/2021 19:07

Sorry - just read about the maternity leave! :)

DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo · 29/06/2021 19:11

Hi OP,

That's a really difficult situation.

What help has he has for his confidence?

GoWalkabout · 29/06/2021 19:15

I don't think pressure to aim higher will help but you could encourage him to value himself and his skills and at least look elsewhere, or maybe speak to a career coach. However, if he is earning and contributing I think that's good enough and anything else is the cherry on the top.

Janaih · 29/06/2021 19:16

If he takes redundancy in future I think it will be calculated on his current salary? So that might be a consideration if he takes a lower role.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 29/06/2021 19:17

Ah ok.

Yeah he should take the pay off!!

He can always take a month off then apply for lower roles with his old employer or similar.

Catlover77 · 29/06/2021 19:18

He should leave and take the redundancy pay. If he wants to take a lower level job he can do that in a new company (with the security of the redundancy package in the bank).

Dragonfly101 · 29/06/2021 19:20

My H was made redundant a few years ago and it really knocked his confidence and was very vague for a while figuring out what to do. What changed was when he consulted with a professional CV writer and an outsider was able to build his confidence about his experience. I hadn't wanted to spend the money at the time but was so worth it in the end.

Floralnomad · 29/06/2021 19:20

I suppose it depends whether the type of role he does is something he could get easily if he leaves , the way he sees it a lower paid job is probably better than no job . Are there not any more suitable roles he could do at the current company on his current pay scale .

Original poster
Custardandnoodle · 29/06/2021 19:25

Thanks all. He liked his old job, and the redundancy was a massive shock. It's totally knocked his confidence. I think we should bank the redundancy and he can take a lower paid job elsewhere if needed.

I think it's a confidence thing which is really hard as I think he's amazing! The lower scale role is 10k less than what he's on now.
I'll look at CV/career coach as I think he just needs some positive reassurance he has marketable skills xx

OP posts:
CoralSparkles · 29/06/2021 19:26

What is the salary for the new job he is applying for?

caringcarer · 29/06/2021 19:26

He should take the redundancy pay out. That will cover him for several months and he will get paid off at higher rate. Help him sort out his CV and start applying for jobs at his current grade. Better a few months home than years on a low salary and once you work at lower level for very long you lose skills and get perceived internally at lower grade.

autumnboys · 29/06/2021 19:28

My husband really benefitted from some coaching after a redundancy.

Original poster
Custardandnoodle · 29/06/2021 19:37

Sorry to answer some more questions, our salaries are similar circa £34k and we have two kids. We live in an expensive area so a salary drop will really affect us.

@caringcarer my thoughts exactly about the perception of lower skills and the years on a lower wage. Thank you, I was struggling to articulate that bit!

OP posts:
filka · 29/06/2021 19:50

I would take the redundancy. When applying for a new job it's easier to explain that you were made redundant than why you are now applying for a job waaay above your current salary.

Brefugee · 03/07/2021 18:47

if he takes the redundancy he may end up taking a lower paid job anyway without the security of long service in the company.

Can you apply for higher paying jobs to take the pressure off him for a while? Do you earn the same right now?

horselover1987 · 03/07/2021 23:24

what about customer service? they pay quite well they pay about the min salary I'm talking £9-£10 an hour and 20 to 30K and upwards per annum depends on his experience. my advice would be to sit down and chat with him, to find out what he's looking for. and if he's got a CV run through it and make sure, its up to date. if he wants to look for a new Job I recommend indeed, and linkedin or Total Jobs. to name a few of them. with the sites I've given all he needs to do is to create an account and upload his CV if he has got one. Best of luck.

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