I've been in my current job for 3 years, following redundancy. It's a very specialised job and I love the work, but it's the worst company I've ever worked for by a long shot. A new job has come up that I'm possibly quite likely to get, but I'm scared of giving my short commute and flexibility of the job... I suffer quite badly with anxiety and have adhd (medicated but I'm not sure it's working very well) and the step just feels huge.
Current job - good bits - short commute and very flexible (I can swap hours and take time off for the kids very easily), hours fit in with school hours. The pay is reasonable and the actual job (when my boss isn't there) is wonderful and would be my dream job if it wasn't for the below.
Bad bits - Toxic workplace culture with no HR and my line manager (who owns the business) is a micromanager who knows very little about the technical roles of the people who work here. He is also a bully although not to me. He finds my work most interesting out of everyone and he often sits with me and I have to give a running commentary on what I'm doing, which is stressful and makes it difficult to concentrate.There are a lot of unrealistic demands (see above about knowing very little) and I've never worked somewhere with such a high turnover of staff - in the top role in a related department, I think we've had 6 people since I've been there. There is the minimal workplace pension, minimal holiday, no sick pay or other benefits. A lot of my colleagues are lovely but everyone agrees that it's an awful company to work for.
Potential new job - local authority. Very similar payscale, obviously great pension, and benefits. The work would be interesting, but slightly more responsibility than I have now, including line management (which I've done before but don't enjoy). And the work wouldn't be as interesting, although I'd still enjoy it. I'd like to work with other professionals in my field again, although I find the idea of working in a more professional environment quite scary. And there could be room for promotion and development.
Bad bits - an hour commute into the nearest city (possibly more on a bad day) so no more school runs on work days. Would have to use breakfast clubs in the mornings and my husband would have to run home from work for collection. It's advertised full time but open to requests - I'd have to do full days though, so I'd be out of the house from 8-6 (not 9-3 like now). I'd ask for 3 days, as I currently do.
Financially we'd be slightly better off but probably not much after petrol. The sick pay benefits would be useful (I'm currently spending today at work to make up for being sick as statutory sick pay isn't really enough, although we could survive if we had to as our mortgage is low).
I feel like I should go for it, and I want to. But I'm also worried as once I lose this flexibility I may never get it back. My kids start secondary school in the next few years so that's a whole new ballgame and I don't know whether it will become easier to work more hours then. Jobs come up rarely and most other jobs in my specialism will involve a commute.