Would you take a paycut in salary to be happy?

[HipChick]

My old company just offered me a job, however I'll be taking a paycut in doing so..I'm working with a ego manic jerk whose purpose is to make my life hell..he has trouble with everyone so I'm not taking it personally, but is so high up in the company,he continues to get away with being a corporate bully.I've been taking a look at the job market,and its rough out there..I feel like its time to cut and run..I'm freakin miserable everyday..I did talk to my old company, to see if they could get me more money...but also I dont want to lose the offer..

[rug]

1. I took a 30% cut once. I still wasn't happy, just less annoyed.

[Tripper11]

2. Can your budget handle the pay cut?

I mean, can you swing the old job until something better comes along? Things are slowly turning, but is any amount of misery worth a few extra $$$ in the long run?

[HipChick]

3. That's what I'm thinking...things are so bad

even the guys I work with keep telling me I need to stay and file a HR complaint against him..I just want out...

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. Yes and I did

Probably added ten years to my life. Money isn't everything.

[Red State Rebel]

5. Yes! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

My budget is tighter but I love going to work and the people I work with. It's been a year and a half and I've never regretted it and it was a big cut.

[nickinSTL]

6. depends on the financial situation

right now, if I had to take a pay cut, I wouldn't be able to pay my bills, so I'd be stuck (fortunately, I like the people I work with and the work I do).

however, if I were miserable and could take the cut in pay, then, probably yes.

[triguy46]

7. Yes. Just be sure you'll be happy.

I took a 20% cut in a lateral move that a) eliminated a 75 minute commute; b) allowed me to go to the kids plays, little league games. However, I can understand how for some, money has to be a primary consideration.

[hippywife]

8. I have.

When I met my soon to be husband on the internet, I had a high profile national account rep job, a fairly new condo and a new car. Was doing great financially. I left all that behind to live far away in the boonies in a tiny house that he designed and built himself. I have not taken anymore high profile jobs because I wanted to be home evenings and weekends with him and not have to travel for work anymore. Am making way less than I was. Never been happier with a decision in my life and have never looked back.

It's good to be employed but not under the circumstances you describe. If you can manage it on less, go for it. Your health is at stake, not just your happiness.

[HipChick]

9. thank you..the stress I have been under...

is not worth it..

[FlyingTiger]

13. That's a great story.

I'm in the stage of life that has me fighting for a "career" of some sort, but it's always inspiring to hear about someone who said no to a particular job because said job wasn't the only thing that made her/him happy... I hope to be in such an advantageous situation within the next few years.

[hippywife]

14. I'm not saying it's been easy.

It was a complete change of lifestyle, but in hindsight, it was a change for the better on so many levels other than just the happiness of being married to the love of my life.

:hi:

[astral]

10. Been there, done that, it's worth it.

How about actually looking forward to going to work instead of dreading it?

Hey, whether you are rich or poor or you "die with all the marbles" ----


Life is still short!

[Lil Missy]

11. Yes, and it was a great decision.

[Lindsey]

12. I would definitely take the cut (as long as you can pay your bills

and at least have a little left over). I'm in the same situation -not happy where I am -and I would take the cut. In fact, I'm looking now, and I'm looking for positions where I can be happy even if the money's less. Dreading work is a miserable existence. Good luck.

[av8rdave]

15. I've done it a couple of times, so yes.

Took a 45% paycut in the late 90s to avoid commuting and not lose any time with my kids.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. How much is the cut? It may be the best move.

It doesn't hurt to ask the old company for more money, just don't expect much of an answer.

I did sort of the same, but stayed with the company, just bailed out from a management job that was making me sick (through nobody else's fault). I guess I like a job where I can tell if I had a good day or not. Management jobs are not so clear. It worked well for me.

Best wishes on your decision.

[dropkickpa]

17. Yep, and I did

I was in retail management, and fucking hated it. I now earn roughly half of what i was earning, but I don't dread going to work everyday. I was going to school while working and quit my job when I finished school for an entry level job in my current field with no regrets. Scary as hell, but I felt so damn happy to be leaving retail hell behind! For me, my happiness was well worth it.

[HipChick]

18. Update..

My old company called today, they are going to match what I make now...Resigning Monday...yeehaw!

[hippywife]

19. Congratulations!

I hope this is a really great move for you, and that you truly will find the happiness you seek. :D

[HipChick]

20. Thank You...you have no idea how relieved I am..

especially as things took a turn for the worst today..

[hippywife]

22. Sorry to hear THAT!

Hopefully whatever it was is work related at the current job and you can leave it behind you. :hug:

[flvegan]

21. Wow, what great news.

Congrats!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. That is wonderful news!

Congratulations!

:fistbump:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

27. You are being way nice

Under the circumstance, I might not give the current company the courtesy of a resignation. I might just stop showing up and let them wonder.

No point in burning bridges, though.

Congratulations on not being stuck in this old job.

:hi:

[HipChick]

31. There are an at-will company for both Employer and Employee

so technically I could show up Monday and make that my last day..

[david13]

24. I have and I do on a regular basis. dc

[elocs]

25. I've never stay at a job where I wasn't happy and I've quit some damn good jobs.

Life it to short to spend so much time at a place where you are unhappy. Currently I am technically living in poverty, but I am very content. I make little money, but I have lots of time.

I have also never confused who I am as a person with what I do to make money. Fortunately I only have me to worry about so that makes it much more simple.

[PassingFair]

33. I have children to provide for.

I never stayed in crappy jobs either. Now,
I am trapped.

The only thing worse than my job would be
LOSING my job.

Greetings from Michigan.

[Dappleganger]

26. If it paid the bills and gave you peace, sure! nt

[haele]

28. A couple other things to consider. Job security is far more important that pay-cut. and -

a non-hostile work environment is equally important to Job Security.
Ask yourself a few questions -
1. How safe is your current job? If your jerk boss is high enough up the chain, how easy is it for him to get rid of you as things are going south? Are you more on his "cut" radar than the others in your shop?
2. Does the new job have long term prospects? If the new job at the old company can be a stepping stone to something better within that company, or lead to increased training or experience that can help your career, a couple years "starting over" might be a good investment.
3. Is the environment in the current job affecting your health, your off time, and your attitude about your work? If you don't regularly come to work with a sense of value and accomplishment because of the jerk, if his attitude towards you is affecting your mood when you have time off, then he's a toxic boss that will eventually cause you to lose more money than taking a pay-cut for a job where you leave work in at least a better mood every day.

Working for a kiss-up, kick down bully at best screws with your resume and at worse shortens your life.
If you absolutely need to work with the bully (as in, you can't make your mortgage and pay your critical bills if you take the pay cut, even paring your budget down to the bone - or even more critical, you need the health care with the original job), then you're stuck until something better comes around. But don't hang around if you're just waiting to be vested, or if you can transfer your discomfort to your own planning and control by living lean for a few years.
From experience, part of your misery with your job is that you don't know when the other shoe is ever going to drop with the jerk. Put your "misery" under your control by living with less but having a more comfortable job if you need to, and you'll quickly find you're not miserable like you thought would be.
In most cases, you will find you and your family can live with less (unless, of course, health care is on the line). The only other problem you'd end up with is if you have a teenager with an over-inflated sense of privilege. And that kid will have to just suck it up, the bank of Dad and Mom's ATM will have to be changing policy due to the economy, just like all the other financial institutions in this country....

Good luck on your choice.

Haele

[HipChick]

30. Nope..its just me...and I work in a field where job security is as long as a project lasts

I know of at least 10 really talented people that have left because of the 'bully'..he's been officially disciplined at least once that I was informed of..there's no real career path where I'm at as long as I am under him...people higher up than him are 'aware' of the situation..instead of doing something about him, people just leave and he gets a fresh wave of victims everytime there's a new hire - seems like a waste for the company if you ask me. I've worked with some diverse management styles over the years, like another manager described him the other day - This guy has a defect, a serious one..

[haele]

32. I read above about the good news with the offer -

Congratulations!
And hopefully, the new company will have follow-on projects for you to continue on (I work for a company that does contractor "projects" myself, and know what that's like...)

Haele

[lunatica]

29. Well I just took a paycut (furlough) and it hasn't made me happy at all

But if the condition was that it would make me happy, well hell(!), I'd quit my job entirely!

[liberaltrucker]

34. Already did

I voluntarily took a HUGE pay cut when I left trucking
and started working in retail. I'm definitely poorer
but very happy and less stressed out.

:woohoo: