Better the devil you know? Flexibility Vs more income...

[PercyJ]

I currently work 26 hours a week over 4 days, mainly from home, minimal office attendance, maybe 1-2 times and can always leave early to pick the kids up.

My manager is amazing, as is my team. If the children are ill, or a school event they are always happy for me to make the hours up another time. Always getting positive feedback, everything going really well. I've been at the company for 10+ years.

I've been offered a new role in another company, which would see me earning an extra £22000 a year - this would be 35 hours a week. I could fit the hours in and still pick the children up 3 times a week (2 days at grandparents) and husband would be able to take them to school.

Obviously the flexibility of the new company is unknown, I don't know if they are as understanding of working parents and trusting of their staff and I wouldn't really know untill I joined. The role is fully home working.

The pay increase is huge and quite life changing for us, but at the potential cost of flexibility and maybe happiness (if the manager isn't as great).

What would you do? Stick out the role im In as time and flexibility is priceless whilst the children are young - or go for the career progression and extra income?

Children are 5&7
Thanks for advice

Do you need the money? What would be the difference to your quality of life? Sounds like a no brainer to me if you can still do pick-ups

It's a massive increase for only 9 extra hours' work a week. £100 more per day? I would do it but I don't know what your finances are. Would it take you into a higher tax band or "not getting child benefit" territory? Do you need the extra money? Are your kids already set up with uni funds etc? If you're financially ok it may not be worth it.

I’ve recently been through a job change and compromised on the job role itself for flexibility/hours for my kids.

obviously all these things are factors such as the money and flexibility of course but do you actually want the new job? Does the role excite you more than your current one?

can you ask to see a copy of their flexible working policy? Some employers do not like children to be at home if you are the only adult caring for them at the time (even if you know they are no problem?!) so you could ask them about would there be flexibility to pick your kids up from school but tell them you have grandparents to look after them whilst you finish your working day??

Thank you for your replies.

Current financial situation - me and husband working - can afford all bills with ease and 2/3 holidays a year (we prioritise this) - don't eat out usually, shop budget supermarket etc. Have a few thousand in savings, nothing major.

The plan would be to use the extra to get into a better financial position, save more, overpay mortgage whilst we have a low interest rate.

I think you've really helped - looking at it like that an extra £100 a day and can still do the school pick up - it really is a no brainer! I think I'm just emotionally attached to my current job 😅

Thank you

How much would you be paid if you did 35 hours in your current job? What’s the pay difference at that?

It’s not really £100 more a day after tax though? Depending on your tax bracket it would be anywhere between £65-£75 per day without the extra 9 hours being accounted for. I don’t think you are in a bad position now. If you up your current job to 35 hours you’d not be a million miles away (post tax). Flexibility, trust and peace of mind are priceless.

Full time salary in my current role would be around £34000, and the new role is £46000... So still quite a jump.

Also agree peace of mind and flexibility is priceless which is what makes the decision a difficult one

That’s around £800 more per month (post tax) at full time. It’s a worthwhile jump to consider esp if fully remote. How soon/likely are you to get such a role/jump in your profession if you say No to this one? If it’s a rarity then I’d say jump at it. If it’s normal then perhaps wait..

I would accept the new job.

Any scope to go back to your current company if new job didn’t work out?