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Options for flexible, well-paid jobs...!?

6 replies

Brush17 · 27/09/2023 15:50

I work in senior management for a small company, earning approx. £50k p.a. I have been there a long time and have flexibility to an extent: I condense my hours (4 long days) and am able to nip out for school runs here and there, and WFH a couple of days a week.

I have a lot of responsibility and stress at work - we have high profile clients and I head up a department of 26. The team are brilliant but obviously with that many people there are always fires to fight, and I'm the escalation point for all client issues too... which is a lot. I work 12-13 hour days four days a week, and I'm on call on my "day off". We have recently been through redundancies and I'm now doing some of the tasks which were picked up by others, with no additional pay to do that.

I am completely unsupported by my manager. I mean, at times he goes a week without speaking to me or acknowledging my emails/messages. I tried to raise this at a meeting with him and he was so nasty and defensive that he made me cry (in the toilet afterwards, thank god I held it together in the meeting). He doesn't have a boss to report to: just shareholders who don't give a shit about the running of the company. As long as the company makes money, that's all anyone above me cares about. Our HR person is lovely (and a friend) but also reports to the same manager. There's no one to complain to.

Here's the rub... I need a job which pays a decent wage. We live in a tiny two bed but our mortgage is still £1400 a month. With bills, nursery, food etc. our non-negotiable spending is in excess of £3400 a month. My husband works too but isn't well paid (no option for moving elsewhere tbh). Moreover, I need a job which gives me flexibility for the kids. DH works shifts which change regularly and I can't get ad hoc childcare to cover everything we need. I dream of just telling my boss to stuff his job up his arse, but I'm scared I wouldn't find anything else that would work for our family. I'm looking, but nothing so far.

I would be prepared and able to take a small pay cut: we could definitely cut our cloth a bit. However, I have worked hard to get to a senior level and I'd like to keep a similar level as I do enjoy a challenging role and the pay it attracts.

Are there any options for jobs which offer a decent salary and flexibility, or am I looking for glittery unicorn shit? I am burnt out and miserable... as you can probably tell. Help.

OP posts:
PinkRoses1245 · 27/09/2023 16:02

Have you looked at working at a university? Perhaps a bigger organisation would mean you're a smaller part of it and therefore less pressure. Generally good pay and benefits, and in my experience, a lot of flexibility.

Overthebow · 27/09/2023 16:04

Yes I’d have thought a bigger company would be a good bet. You’re on a low salary for a senior management role, but in a small company it’s not uncommon. You could go into a slightly more junior title in a big organisation and get a larger salary.

Brush17 · 27/09/2023 16:24

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that - I will look now. Like, right now 😆

OP posts:
user1846385927482658 · 27/09/2023 19:46

What industry?

Brush17 · 27/09/2023 19:48

my current role is in logistics/operational management for B2B computer systems. Yawn. 😂

OP posts:
FawltyTower · 27/09/2023 19:52

The Financial Ombudsman is taking on team managers op. Managing a team of 10 and overseeing decisions. £56k if I remember correctly and WFH. Might be worth a look.

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