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Work dilemma, wwyd?

26 replies

Smallorveryfaraway · 19/01/2026 23:47

I was up for redundancy late last year and successfully redeployed into a new role, different team, same business. I'm 2 weeks in and I hate it. I know part of that is just not knowing what the hell I'm doing, but I also can't find any inkling of joy in the job when I'm talking to my new colleagues. Seems like they are all just on automatic pilot and pulling long hours just to get through. Though weirdly most seem committed to this area as a career path, I can only think it's the potential salaries at senior level, I'll be subtly asking questions to find out.

My priority was redeployment to retain my salary level, but now I'm thinking that was a mistake. Redundancy would be 6 months worth of costs covered if I'm careful, and I can still opt for that for the next month. My original thinking was that I'd do the new job for 12-24 months and see what doors opened as a result, as it's a new area for me. Planned to work hard for the next five years and earn well to make headway on the mortgage and was then reduce hours or take a lower paid but easier role to see me into retirement. I felt really lucky to secure a redeployment. Now I feel very anxious and am already getting the Sunday night jitters. I just don't know if I can stick with the plan.

I'm the breadwinner, the mortgage and all bills are on me. DH has a life limiting cancer and does what he can when he can. I love my house but downsizing is an option as we've a fair amount of equity so could go mortgage free with a move and some compromises. Our fixed rate ends late this year so I'll need to remortgage anyway.

So what would you do? Try to stick with the original plan even though the job is awful, or take the redundancy and look for a new job in this hard market, knowing that I'm unlikely to find a new job at my current salary that isn't equally as hard and miserable, but if I take a lower salary for an easier work life that definitely means moving?

DH will be totally on board with whatever I decide but I know his preference is to stay in our current house. I'm in my early 50s and not planning to retire before 65.

OP posts:
Smallorveryfaraway · 16/02/2026 21:08

Thought I'd come back and give an update.
The promised structured plan did not happen and the workload ramped up again. I asked subtle questions of some team members trying to find out why they stay and battle on.
Discovered that there's been quite a lot of people who have joined and very quickly left again saying that it's just not for them, and the people left thrive on the frantic pace. It cemented my feeling that it's not for me, so I started pushing back where I could. That wasn't well received, but I'm good at standing my ground when I'm prepared to do so.

At the same time I'd been keeping an eye on our internal jobs board and spotted a different job that I considered myself to be qualified for. I know the manager who's recruiting so phoned for a chat, a few days later we had another chat and he asked me to apply (at my place we have to officially apply on the system for any role), so I did. At the same time I was really honest and said I was worried about how it would be perceived given that I'd only just joined this new team, he was pretty reassuring on that front too. Anyway, I got the job.

Broke the news to my boss today, she was very calm and professional about it. I'm transferring to the new role at the end of March. I'm half relieved as the end is in sight, and half antsy as I've still got 6 painful weeks to get through. No idea when she's going to break the news to the team.

There's still a future decision to be made about the house and the mortgage, this has woken me up to the reality of mortgage rates currently and what my finances might look like when my fixed rate ends. My tentative conclusion is that moving is the right choice, but I'd need to be really happy with the new house. I have to find one that compensates for giving up what I have here more than just financially. Could be a lovely area, good amenities, closer to family.. Something that will make me glad to move and happy to live there that's not about the money. So I'm not going to rush into it. We'll get the house ready for sale, keep an eye out for a new mortgage deal, and start exploring other areas, keeping an open mind to the possibility.

I've been very lucky to find an alternative job at my current firm, am really hoping this one works out.

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