Quitting a perfectly good job - am I mad?
Discussion
Hi all,
In brief, I was made redundant recently but secured an alternative role with the same firm. Decent enough job / salary and a friendly team. I’ve been doing the job for almost 4 weeks and.....I’m simply not enjoying it. I really can’t put my finger on it but try as I might a just don’t think it’s for me.
I am in a trial period that ends tomorrow, so I can still take the redundancy option (around the equivalent of 18 months net salary).
My head is saying stick it out, it’s a decent job and the world is about to become a very difficult place in which to secure good employment. There also isn’t any burning desire to ‘do something different’ so what next?
My heart is saying leave, you’re not happy, it’s not for you, you’ve no immediate money worries and your wife’s supportive of whatever option you choose. Next chapter and all that.
Heart v head. What to do?! Anyone experienced anything similar?
In brief, I was made redundant recently but secured an alternative role with the same firm. Decent enough job / salary and a friendly team. I’ve been doing the job for almost 4 weeks and.....I’m simply not enjoying it. I really can’t put my finger on it but try as I might a just don’t think it’s for me.
I am in a trial period that ends tomorrow, so I can still take the redundancy option (around the equivalent of 18 months net salary).
My head is saying stick it out, it’s a decent job and the world is about to become a very difficult place in which to secure good employment. There also isn’t any burning desire to ‘do something different’ so what next?
My heart is saying leave, you’re not happy, it’s not for you, you’ve no immediate money worries and your wife’s supportive of whatever option you choose. Next chapter and all that.
Heart v head. What to do?! Anyone experienced anything similar?
loskie said:
depends on a lot of other things:
Your commitments
Your age
Your employability
Your financial status/stability
How much £ redundancy
I'm almost 50 no wife ,kids, house(no Mortgage) reasonable savings I may go for it.
Yeah, understood. Wife earns a good income, kids, no mortgage/debt and good savings (ignoring redundancy). Probably main unknown is employability. Your commitments
Your age
Your employability
Your financial status/stability
How much £ redundancy
I'm almost 50 no wife ,kids, house(no Mortgage) reasonable savings I may go for it.
Heathwood said:
Hi all,
In brief, I was made redundant recently but secured an alternative role with the same firm. Decent enough job / salary and a friendly team. I’ve been doing the job for almost 4 weeks and.....I’m simply not enjoying it. I really can’t put my finger on it but try as I might a just don’t think it’s for me.
I am in a trial period that ends tomorrow, so I can still take the redundancy option (around the equivalent of 18 months net salary).
My head is saying stick it out, it’s a decent job and the world is about to become a very difficult place in which to secure good employment. There also isn’t any burning desire to ‘do something different’ so what next?
My heart is saying leave, you’re not happy, it’s not for you, you’ve no immediate money worries and your wife’s supportive of whatever option you choose. Next chapter and all that.
Heart v head. What to do?! Anyone experienced anything similar?
I've done it once before and never looked back. As long as you have the financial resources behind you and the support of your wife, then I'd advise you to do it.In brief, I was made redundant recently but secured an alternative role with the same firm. Decent enough job / salary and a friendly team. I’ve been doing the job for almost 4 weeks and.....I’m simply not enjoying it. I really can’t put my finger on it but try as I might a just don’t think it’s for me.
I am in a trial period that ends tomorrow, so I can still take the redundancy option (around the equivalent of 18 months net salary).
My head is saying stick it out, it’s a decent job and the world is about to become a very difficult place in which to secure good employment. There also isn’t any burning desire to ‘do something different’ so what next?
My heart is saying leave, you’re not happy, it’s not for you, you’ve no immediate money worries and your wife’s supportive of whatever option you choose. Next chapter and all that.
Heart v head. What to do?! Anyone experienced anything similar?
That said, it's important to have a plan for what you'll do in the medium to long term. If you think you'll just have a couple of years off and go back to what you were doing, that's unlikely. I'd be working towards a future business plan or gaining qualifications to use in future.
Last, but not least, I'd hang on until the spring. If there's any way to get the trial period extended until Easter, get your head down and grind it out. We're just entering the most miserable time of the year, and it's not the best time to be enjoying new found freedom. It's f
king dark, fking cold, and the economic news is unlikely to be good. Once the sun comes back again, things look a whole lot more positive.s2sol said:
I've done it once before and never looked back. As long as you have the financial resources behind you and the support of your wife, then I'd advise you to do it.
That said, it's important to have a plan for what you'll do in the medium to long term. If you think you'll just have a couple of years off and go back to what you were doing, that's unlikely. I'd be working towards a future business plan or gaining qualifications to use in future.
Last, but not least, I'd hang on until the spring. If there's any way to get the trial period extended until Easter, get your head down and grind it out. We're just entering the most miserable time of the year, and it's not the best time to be enjoying new found freedom. It's fking dark, fking cold, and the economic news is unlikely to be good. Once the sun comes back again, things look a whole lot more positive.
Good advice, thank you. The last paragraph is, unfortunately, not an option. That said, it's important to have a plan for what you'll do in the medium to long term. If you think you'll just have a couple of years off and go back to what you were doing, that's unlikely. I'd be working towards a future business plan or gaining qualifications to use in future.
Last, but not least, I'd hang on until the spring. If there's any way to get the trial period extended until Easter, get your head down and grind it out. We're just entering the most miserable time of the year, and it's not the best time to be enjoying new found freedom. It's f
king dark, fking cold, and the economic news is unlikely to be good. Once the sun comes back again, things look a whole lot more positive.Am I the only person amazed you get 18 months pay for redundancy? I have worked nearly 14 years for the same company who are well established and earning big money for the investors/ owners however if I am made redundant it’s 12 weeks pay, how does that work? Am I being shafted?
Unfortunately I am not in a position of choice and will likely work into my 80’s being mid thirties now but if you are then I certainly would if affordable
Unfortunately I am not in a position of choice and will likely work into my 80’s being mid thirties now but if you are then I certainly would if affordable
It's always temptingly easy to tell others to make a hard leap when you don't have to do it yourself. But ... life is short, so don't stick at something if you know it's wrong, it won't get more right.
You have a decent financial buffer and a supportive wife. Things are undoubtedly going to get bloody, but you don't get too many opportunities to change direction in life and it sounds to me as though you have one now.
Make the most of it, and good luck.
You have a decent financial buffer and a supportive wife. Things are undoubtedly going to get bloody, but you don't get too many opportunities to change direction in life and it sounds to me as though you have one now.
Make the most of it, and good luck.
nick30 said:
Am I the only person amazed you get 18 months pay for redundancy? I have worked nearly 14 years for the same company who are well established and earning big money for the investors/ owners however if I am made redundant it’s 12 weeks pay, how does that work? Am I being shafted?
Unfortunately I am not in a position of choice and will likely work into my 80’s being mid thirties now but if you are then I certainly would if affordable
Absolutely, I think I'm in a similar place to the op and if I was offered 18 months I'd be gone tomorrow. Reality is I'd be lucky to get any more than what they are legally obliged to give me.Unfortunately I am not in a position of choice and will likely work into my 80’s being mid thirties now but if you are then I certainly would if affordable
4 weeks isn't a long time to get to grips with a new job. I'd say stick with it. Strange that you have a trial period if with same employer. Normally that's just a redeployee and you carry on terms built up from ongoing service.
I'd not like to be unemployed at the moment despite what redundancy offer is made. Think of the new skills & experience you can gain in the new job. Only jump if the perfect job is waiting elsewhere.
I'd not like to be unemployed at the moment despite what redundancy offer is made. Think of the new skills & experience you can gain in the new job. Only jump if the perfect job is waiting elsewhere.
jurbie said:
Absolutely, I think I'm in a similar place to the op and if I was offered 18 months I'd be gone tomorrow. Reality is I'd be lucky to get any more than what they are legally obliged to give me.
I took 18 months pay in January. A bloke I used to work with has just “volunteered” for compulsory terms and got 2 years pay.CrgT16 said:
18 months redundancy? Take it now if you don’t like te job.
Worst case scenario you have 18 months on full pay to find your next job. And free time to enjoy your family, etc.
Depends on future employability, your age, etc but if I was unhappy and with that offer I would take it.
Agree with this, sounds a good deal if you're not enjoying it, however how employable are you/how is your industry?Worst case scenario you have 18 months on full pay to find your next job. And free time to enjoy your family, etc.
Depends on future employability, your age, etc but if I was unhappy and with that offer I would take it.
T1547 said:
CrgT16 said:
18 months redundancy? Take it now if you don’t like te job.
Worst case scenario you have 18 months on full pay to find your next job. And free time to enjoy your family, etc.
Depends on future employability, your age, etc but if I was unhappy and with that offer I would take it.
Agree with this, sounds a good deal if you're not enjoying it, however how employable are you/how is your industry?Worst case scenario you have 18 months on full pay to find your next job. And free time to enjoy your family, etc.
Depends on future employability, your age, etc but if I was unhappy and with that offer I would take it.
Looks like an opportunity to do something the op enjoys if they can work out what it is. I’m envious.
nick30 said:
Am I the only person amazed you get 18 months pay for redundancy? I have worked nearly 14 years for the same company who are well established and earning big money for the investors/ owners however if I am made redundant it’s 12 weeks pay, how does that work? Am I being shafted?
Unfortunately I am not in a position of choice and will likely work into my 80’s being mid thirties now but if you are then I certainly would if affordable
Yes it’s not all ‘redundancy pay’ in fairness. Includes 3 months pilon, pro-rata bonus, retention bonus and holiday pay. Unfortunately I am not in a position of choice and will likely work into my 80’s being mid thirties now but if you are then I certainly would if affordable
If you're not happy, you're not happy. You're entirely right to question your best future.
I was in your position last year after a couple of choppy years of employment. I left. I had the feeling that I'd had enough of my industry, was in good financial shape and was prepared to roll the dice on finding 'something' at much lower pay that floated my boat. I'm working now but even during a few months of employment and uncertainty I never regretted leaving.
Sorry if that makes it sounds like I'm drawing attention to myself in your thread but it's more a case of helping you ask the questions of yourself that I asked myself.
It's a question of weighing up you own contentment in life vs present and future financial commitments. Your wife's support sounds like a change is what's best for you.
Can you find work you're happy with elsewhere in your industry?
Do you have skills from work or hobbies that are transferrable?
Are you prepared/looking to downshift?
Are you financially secure enough to downshift, even weather possible months of unemployment in the current situation?
Work to live, not live to work.
I was in your position last year after a couple of choppy years of employment. I left. I had the feeling that I'd had enough of my industry, was in good financial shape and was prepared to roll the dice on finding 'something' at much lower pay that floated my boat. I'm working now but even during a few months of employment and uncertainty I never regretted leaving.
Sorry if that makes it sounds like I'm drawing attention to myself in your thread but it's more a case of helping you ask the questions of yourself that I asked myself.
It's a question of weighing up you own contentment in life vs present and future financial commitments. Your wife's support sounds like a change is what's best for you.
Can you find work you're happy with elsewhere in your industry?
Do you have skills from work or hobbies that are transferrable?
Are you prepared/looking to downshift?
Are you financially secure enough to downshift, even weather possible months of unemployment in the current situation?
Work to live, not live to work.
DWDarkWheels said:
If you're not happy, you're not happy. You're entirely right to question your best future.
I was in your position last year after a couple of choppy years of employment. I left. I had the feeling that I'd had enough of my industry, was in good financial shape and was prepared to roll the dice on finding 'something' at much lower pay that floated my boat. I'm working now but even during a few months of employment and uncertainty I never regretted leaving.
Sorry if that makes it sounds like I'm drawing attention to myself in your thread but it's more a case of helping you ask the questions of yourself that I asked myself.
It's a question of weighing up you own contentment in life vs present and future financial commitments. Your wife's support sounds like a change is what's best for you.
Can you find work you're happy with elsewhere in your industry?
Do you have skills from work or hobbies that are transferrable?
Are you prepared/looking to downshift?
Are you financially secure enough to downshift, even weather possible months of unemployment in the current situation?
Work to live, not live to work.
Thank you! Good to hear some real life accounts of people in not dissimilar situations. And I didn’t take it at all that you were drawing attention to yourself :-)I was in your position last year after a couple of choppy years of employment. I left. I had the feeling that I'd had enough of my industry, was in good financial shape and was prepared to roll the dice on finding 'something' at much lower pay that floated my boat. I'm working now but even during a few months of employment and uncertainty I never regretted leaving.
Sorry if that makes it sounds like I'm drawing attention to myself in your thread but it's more a case of helping you ask the questions of yourself that I asked myself.
It's a question of weighing up you own contentment in life vs present and future financial commitments. Your wife's support sounds like a change is what's best for you.
Can you find work you're happy with elsewhere in your industry?
Do you have skills from work or hobbies that are transferrable?
Are you prepared/looking to downshift?
Are you financially secure enough to downshift, even weather possible months of unemployment in the current situation?
Work to live, not live to work.
stevemcs said:
So you don't like the job but could take 18 months salary and walk, i would walk, you can effectively take 18 months off and be no worse off, or you could still walk, have 6 months off, find something new and have 12 months in the bank.
I really don't see what you have to lose.
^^^^^I really don't see what you have to lose.
This is my opinion.
OP, I'd leave the job and take redundancy.
xx99xx said:
4 weeks isn't a long time to get to grips with a new job. I'd say stick with it. Strange that you have a trial period if with same employer. Normally that's just a redeployee and you carry on terms built up from ongoing service.
Standard procedure in redundancy scenarios; gives the employee the opportunity to test the water to make sure they're happy with such a sudden change before making a final decision to stay or go. Technically if you turn down a suitable alternative role an employer can deny you redundancy pay, but many companies don't enforce this. OP I would go; if you're not happy now you'll never be happy with it by the sounds of it.
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