Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
Hypothetical Question - sort of; mostly fluff
Topic Started: Apr 10 2018, 10:59 PM (1,032 Views)
jaybird
Member Avatar

I know someone going through this currently (not me!) and was curious what the peeps would choose for themselves personally. I just thought it would make an interesting topic.


You are changing positions within your company. You cannot stay in your current position. You have two choices. Move up or move down.

Move up to Position A - requires lots of paperwork - spreadsheets, forecasting, budgets, presentations, emails, etc., some meetings with top big-wigs, and overseeing departments that you currently have very little to do with (but also the one you are coming from, so know it like the back of your hand.) You currently do some of these things, albeit on a smaller scale (your department vs several departments.) This position pays $100,000/year. The caveat - you absolutely HATE doing all those things. Not just dislike intensely, but some things actually give you physical reactions. As in, can't eat, can't sleep, and, for lack of a better term, give you the nervous heebie-jeebies.

Move down to Position B - much more suited to you. It's what you used to do, and a part of what you currently do. it's what you do well, and it's the part of your current job you like the most. The down side is the position only pays $50,000/year.

You currently make closer to the higher wage, so that is what your lifestyle is based on. The lower wage is absolutely livable, with a few revisions to the personal budget.

The odds of moving up and out of this position are slim to none. It is unknown at this point if you could drop from Position A to Position B if A doesn't work out, but is probably unlikely.

Your children are grown and you have very little debt. You are 15 years from retirement.

What do you do? Why?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Crochet Lady
Member Avatar

Is there an option to look outside the company? Doing daily tasks you hate day in and day out is soul sucking. However, taking almost a 50k pay cut would seriously effect your retirement.

I think for my peace of mind, I would have to take the less stressful job, but I would have to look outside the company for a long term job to my retirement. I don't envy your friend their decision.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
TulipWorthy
Member Avatar
Happily dancing in the tulips
15 years is to long to stay at a job you hate, but a $50,000 pay cut will really effect your lifestyle and retirement. Look for a new job.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sarcastic Pants
Member Avatar
NO. I am sexy and pretty.
Start looking elsewhere.

Perhaps take job A in the meantime if it would help me get a job somewhere else at a similar salary that was less objectionable.

It might depend on how well I had saved for retirement, though. If I felt I could afford to take B I would.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dink
Member Avatar

Not worth doing a job that you not only hate, but causes physical reactions.
The lesson I learned was this: there was not enough money in the world to do a job that I hated.........especially for 15 years.
Nope. Just nope.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Terabethia
Member Avatar
~*~Terabeara~*~
A soul sucking job will put you into an early grave. Retirement won't matter if it kills you before you get there.

I wish I was joking... :'(



Ideally, I would take job A with the intent of immediately starting to look for other employment that is closer to my current salary range.

But if I knew I was the type of person who would stay with the company no matter what, I would take job B. Yes, it's less money but it's less stress and you just have to figure out how to make it happen.



You only get a small amount of time on this planet. Don't spend it being miserable.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kanye West
Member Avatar

Look for another job. Take A or B in the meantime, depending on stuff (how quickly I think I can find another job, how it would affect my career and job prospects, etc.). I would also see how many of the hated tasks I could delegate or reassign. If I’m now the boss, I get to make changes. I don’t have to keep doing things and assigning tasks the way it’s always been done.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
AquarianGrandma
Member Avatar
Purple Enchantress
A soul-sucking job would affect every other thing in life. If the undesirable tasks of Position A cannot be delegated to others as suggested above then I would take Position B and live with the lower salary or look for another job with a higher one.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
kinalikamom
Member Avatar

AquarianGrandma
Apr 11 2018, 05:27 AM
A soul-sucking job would affect every other thing in life. If the undesirable tasks of Position A cannot be delegated to others as suggested above then I would take Position B and live with the lower salary or look for another job with a higher one.
+1
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bballmom
Member Avatar

Take A and immediately start looking for another job outside of company.

But i know i can personally do anything if i have a plan for an end.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sfm

Up because that sihow iam eould quit entirelybefore Imvoed down.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
UFS.2
Member Avatar

the money 100K sounds good. 15 years to retirement is too long to be unhappy.
Can you look outside the company?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Nautilus
Member Avatar

I would definitely do B. I've experienced physical illness from job stress, and I never want that again.

Nautilus
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
jaybird
Member Avatar

Looking outside is on the table, however, staying in the same industry, it would still mean a pay decrease from current wages. Just not sure how much of a decrease. Going outside the industry is a crap shoot. The devil you know vs the devil you don't sort of thing.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
miss jojo
Member Avatar

I think I'd take A and look for another job in another company immediately. The older you get, the harder it is to find a new job. But I'm tired of being poor and I would want to make all of the money I can before I retire. You don't get that kind of money by being comfortable in your job, you have to decide what means the most to you.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sfm

If you move down are you willing/ able to either retire from that job or stay at the level til retirement, b/c moves down are rde flags, that may well mean youcan never move back up,maybe you donot care I would that is whyt I wouldmove up or out , never down.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rednek girl
Member Avatar

I would like to say I would take A and look for another position, but if it truly is that soul sucking, I wouldn’t have the physical or emotional energy to look for another job after 8+ hours of trying to survive. Plus I fear I would jump at another offer just to get away from it instead of a place that is a good fit.

I would probably take position B and look for a higher paying position outside the company.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sfm

I could lok elsewhere despite the soul sucking job having lkes $ now is what wouldmake me jump for gthe next thing. I thnk relay this is something noone can answer for you, which maters to you (s) more will vary for each of us.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Roor
Member Avatar
bad hombre
Take Job A to earn more and possibly fast track retirement while actively looking for another job.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sew Birdy
Member Avatar
Good Tidings
Moving down is a red flag to prospective employers. So I would move up with the intention of leaving the company.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Lorelei
Member Avatar

It sounds like the current position is being eliminated? If that is the case, I would try to negotiate Option C - a severance package which would include a transitional time of continued employment to assist them with filling the A & B roles plus a period of severance pay at the end of employment to assist in your* personal transition to a new employer.

One of the problems with taking option B is that you would take a pay cut but it would be likely that you would still be called on to assist with the higher level tasks that you are currently doing and not getting the compensation for it. That would be a deal breaker for me.

(*I know this isn't "you" OP. Just trying to be concise.)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sugaree
Member Avatar

Honestly, I would take job A, but make the lifestyle changes needed to live on the salary from job B. Then stick the extra $50k a year into various retirement vehicles. That way I could retire earlier than 15 years even if I decided to take an outside job in the future.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sfm

i agree with sew birdy especialy if industry wide it is down an X is always lower than a Y from my world an attorney who become a para legal. If its that type of thing do A or s omethig entirely diferent if its down only in your company, you be able to finesse it.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
RealtorLady
Member Avatar
RealtorLady
If option a is that bad for you, then take b but start looking for another job.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Gills
Member Avatar
AssFish
I've taken a soul-sucking job because the money was far too good to pass up. I gave myself a year before I could start looking.

That was a long fucking year.

But I would do it again if the only other option was a demotion and decrease in salary.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bamafaith
Member Avatar

I would take A and look for another job.

Maybe job A won't be as bad as you think. plus, money is good. However, since I have worked a job I hated just for the paycheck---I wouldn't want to do this long term.

Taking Job B probably means you end up doing part of the work of Job A (or some other 'higher' job) and not getting any of the control or compensation. Screw that.

Also, when you DO go on the job market because you don't like the salary of Job B---potential employers are going to see red flags.

It's a much better story to potential employers to say "I took the new responsibility, etc, but it didn't work out".
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sfm

If you can finase B, youlearned a new skill etc, maybe that works, yes I took a decrease in pay but it was worth it becsue Idevolp X skill
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
jaybird
Member Avatar

I can tell you, I am SO glad I am not the one having to make this decision.

I don't know what I would do in that position. I know he really doesn't want to change companies, although he may rethink that now. In all honesty, he is not being forced out of his current position - it has just become way too stressful and time-consuming. He is simply burnt out.

At last check, he seems to be leaning towards Position A but nothing definite.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
NOMANNERSHERE
Member Avatar

B

Live-able wage without the headaches.

But also keep in mind my view of "selling yourself out" for $$$ doesn't fit my soul.
ANNNNNNNDDDDDDD I don't even make $50,000 myself and manage my life, budget, savings, wants and needs just dandy.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Roor
Member Avatar
bad hombre
jaybird
Apr 11 2018, 08:25 PM
I can tell you, I am SO glad I am not the one having to make this decision.

I don't know what I would do in that position. I know he really doesn't want to change companies, although he may rethink that now. In all honesty, he is not being forced out of his current position - it has just become way too stressful and time-consuming. He is simply burnt out.

At last check, he seems to be leaning towards Position A but nothing definite.
If he's already burnt out then step down. For one's own mental health.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Westtexasgirl
Member Avatar

I think it looks worse to move down but what do I know. I was transferred to another department when our contracts split and it’s not for me.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bets
Member Avatar

I agree with everyone who said to start putting in applications for a different job.

Though if job B was the persons dream job they absoulutly love,, then maybe consider making sacrifices or changes in their lifestyle so they can happily stay with that job.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sfm

I agree with Bets, fi person would want job B and wouldnot be looking elsewhere any way then do B or if there is a business related reason that will enable the person to adress the elephant why did you take a slary cut? I was able to learn a new skill, work with a differnt population etc maybe but otherwise moives down generally keep you down. if person does not care that's fine.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Very Serious Work Related Site · Next Topic »
Add Reply