Should I....should I not

[Pixie921]

Does anyone else find it impossible to make a difficult decision....

I was made redundant from a job I loved earlier this year, I was lucky enough to secure a role where is currently am which is completely working from home. An opportunity came up at a company I had wanted to work for so applied, interviewed and have learnt today I was successful.

But I'm struggling on whether I should take the job or not....and they need to know by tomorrow.

• I recently had a MC, we are now TTC
• current role WFH, new role is permanently office based
• The new role is 4K more than I earn now, this increases by another 2K after 12 months
• new role has no parking so this will be an additional cost
• we now have a dog and I wouldn't want to leave her for so long each day

I'm a massive people pleaser and struggle with the feeling of letting people down. Having a nightmare 🤯

How much will parking and travel and potential dog care cost you annually? Which job is better for career progression? It’s a difficult decision, I’d go for the best career progression personally.

For me the decision would be simple - stay in current job, because:

The 6k increase will be more like 4k after tax

Then deduct parking and travelling costs - say that leaves you with 3k

An additional £250 per month would not be worth the hassle of getting into the office when I think about juggling pick up and drop offs with childcare

Why did you apply for this job? Do you dislike your current role?

What’s the general progression like in both roles? I’d be leaning toward staying though….

How long do you have to be in post before you qualify for any maternity benefits?

I wouldn't take it, simply because of your dog.

@PizzaBreath @JaffaRaf - progression is a lot better at the other company, where I am now people tend to stay in post for 10+ years and really only move when someone retires.

I've calculated it's going to cost somewhat around £100 per month for parking a typical month, plus the cost of petrol. Dog care again will be pricey so I think 200. If I conceived before a year was up I don't think I would be entitled to the pay increase until I was back at work?

@Asiama I applied for a different role at the same company and was unsuccessful, they had contacted me saying another role came up and would be better suited to me. I applied back in July prior to any pregnancy / MC. I think had this not have happened I would be swaying more towards moving. I wouldn't say I dislike my current role but I have found it very challenging to learn the role and 5 months down the line I feel WFH means a much slower learning growth.

@2tired2bewitty in my current role I would now qualify for the benefits. However in new role I have no idea as can't find this information anywhere.

@PennyWus

I wouldn't take it, simply because of your dog.

100% this.

Unless OP you put your dog in to dog daycare everyday which gets expensive.

Take it. You can't plan your life around something that hasn't happened yet. And you really can't base your career around a dog. You could take a year to conceive and then you'll be on a better pay whilst on maternity leave. And the dog could drop dead tomorrow.

Take the job. It might take you years to conceive (if ever... sorry, but for some people it does take a very long time). As you've said, there is no career progression in your current company and this won't change, there was a fundamental reason you were looking for a new role in the first place.

You can't base your career around your dog. Potentially in 10 years time you could be in a position where dog has now died (after a long and happy life obviously...) and you are still where you were 10 years back, same company, same job, no pay rise, no progression.

Is there any chance that new company might be open for 1 day a week wfh? Can your partner do 1 day a week wfh as well to help with the dog care costs?

I would take it. I think that especially as winter is coming and there is news of a potential Covid "firebreak" in October, we should expect a wfh directive at some point over the winter and you can use that as your jumping off point to suggest alternative arrangements if you want a day or 2 wfh each week. People will stay home with the sniffles this winter if it's possible. It won't be quite as full on as before.

I have a similar dilemma. I'm interviewing for a new role and there are lots of reasons not to leave my current workplace as it's not the perfect time - but it is the right job, and to me that will make the difference that I'd take it if I got it.

No advice either way but I am exactly the same and also a people pleaser. It's hard!