Would I be stupid to leave my job?

[Dunrovi]

I have a part time job which has worked fantastically for me for the last few years while my kids were young. It's rather a sideline to the main business of the company, so it's a very small team (me, basically!), something which the company owner continues to run because he loves it (as do I, think along the lines of a shared interest) rather than it being a big money earner for him.

My terms of employment have been great, I have no fixed days, just need to be flexible to work the number of hours to get the job done, (and can do this from home some of the time). Another benefit is that it's a "proper" job on the payroll of his larger company so I have reasonably good pay, good employment rights and get a (small) pension etc. I've been in post for 9 years so my niche product knowledge is excellent (in the sense it wouldn't be that easy for him to replace me).

Since Covid however, I've felt very bored and uninspired. I've been mainly working from home during the pandemic as my workload has been lighter. I can't decide if I feel bored because it's been less demanding and I've had little to focus on, or because Covid has been such a time of change for everyone and I've simply been too long in a role which, realistically, is going nowhere. I also feel that my little department has been ignored as it's so much of a sideline to the main business of the company and the boss has been concentrating on other things. I'm questioning the worth of what I do, and finding it hard to drum up the enthusiasm to remarket my product in a new way for the post Covid world (and with very little input from the boss or anyone else). I just feel so tired of it and of life right now.

The idea of getting a local job, in a shop or something, working 9-5 and not have any of the ongoing responsibility for strategic planning is so appealing. Turn up, do an honest day's work, go home, get paid. But I'd very likely be giving up a pension, my term time hours (not such an issue now the kids are older teenagers) and my flexible working conditions - and I know it's likely that I'd have to work 3 or 4 days to match the income I currently make from working two. And I might hate it! I know makes no sense to leave but I'm really uninspired and fed up with my current job which is making me not do it as well as I should be.

If you've managed to get through to the end of all this - thank you! I would be so grateful for some outside input. I can't speak to DH as he is in a stressful job he hates but can't give up because he's well qualified and our main wage earner.

I would stick it out if it works for you just now.

We're all feeling it just now. I'm wfh, supposed to be 39 hours, never less than 48 in reality but I know it's just the situation. I've almost quit a few times but I also know I'd be lucky to get an employer as good as I currently have. Benefits far outweigh the negatives.

I'd give yourself a year to see if it improves or changes.

I'd be Inclined to stay but speak to the guy about how you're feeling

Is there anything you can do to help increase the market? It sounds like you are being reactive now rather than proactive.

@JasonMomoasgirlfriend

I'd be Inclined to stay but speak to the guy about how you're feeling

Is there anything you can do to help increase the market? It sounds like you are being reactive now rather than proactive.

I'm completely being reactive, I agree. I need more proactivity, but just can't summon the enthusiasm for it. Maybe I just need to get back in there and to force myself to get on with it, but the thought is so depressing

I think you are doing what many do, which is dreaming of the simple life, but the problem with the simple life is it ends up being boring very quickly. It is nice to look at a role which involves little responsibility, where you do not have to come up with ideas, but the reality is that if you are capable of that it is almost impossible to sit back and just follow orders, knowing there is a better, more efficient way, feeling your mental ability being wasted.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things and working from home can be a motivation sapper for some, especially when you are used to sharing ideas. Even for the companies who have not had sales negatively impacted the management have often lost focus on new ideas and have just focused on keeping things running for the last eighteen months.

If you don't mind suggestions I would do a few things in your position. Firstly stay in the job, at least for now, don't make a decision you will regret in a few months. Secondly focus on what you might want to do and what parts of the job you really hate, see if things can be changed slightly. Thirdly, look at qualifications/training that might be relevant to your role, an external course ideally, but something you can used to refocus yourself and getting it will hopefully give you new ideas to take back into your role. Finally work out what you want your targets to be and if you think you can market your product, drive your department forward, then go to the boss and say "I want to do X, and to do it I need Y", see if you can make this job what you want it to be. If all that fails then think about walking away, but reading your post I see someone who has a job that they like, but are just going through a blah patch, think of what you could do in those extra days you do not work, or what you might spend the money on if you added more hours in the future (eg. does adding a third day in this role mean you can have an extra holiday every year).

Give or take a few details I practically could have written that post. I can completely relate to what you are saying. I am giving a total career change some thought but am looking into the study requirements while staying in my job. I am feeling more motivated in my job now that I am taking some steps in my free time to see if a career change is right for me. The pandemic has changed some jobs and ways of working and if you are feeling demotivated I agree with the previous post, give some options consideration without doing anything drastic that you might regret. Could you do some volunteering elsewhere to gain some new skills or just get out and about more?

Not sure why you’d give all that up for a dead end minimum wage job that will be hard to get out of/change when you get bored of it (you will!)

My job is very different to yours with different issues (too much work amongst other things) but bits of your post chimed with me. I'm feeling under appreciated, bored and weary. On reflection I don't think things would be better elsewhere and part of the issue is my life outside work, which has also been a bit flat post COVID. I have decided to stick it out at work and try to reframe my thinking. Also I'm working on my social life, hobbies etc so work is less dominating.

If you are feeling unfulfilled and bored, you really need challenge in your work life. You talk about no career progression. I'm not sure a 'stress free' job is going to give you what you need, especially if you have to work more hours.

The thing is, wherever you work you always have peaks and troughs.so even if you leave you will feel the same again at some point.