Time For A Change

[Estrella]

Congratulations, Neuf! It sounds like for you it could be the perfect opportunity.

[nineseven]

I thought I'd made a decision last night but this morning I'm still finding it hard to choose between three shifts a week and four.

The pay for three shifts is still more than I was paid in my last full-time role, and more than I earned freelancing for that company in last tax year. Four shifts is even more, obviously, but I'd be sacrificing more evenings and weekends.

[AshleyX]

It sounds great, Nine! Could you start with three and see how you go? I'd imagine going up a day would be easier than dropping one if you change your mind in the future. Three sounds plenty, really, given you have other work (and a life!).

[Squirrel]

It sounds great, Nine! Could you start with three and see how you go? I'd imagine going up a day would be easier than dropping one if you change your mind in the future. Three sounds plenty, really, given you have other work (and a life!).

This is what I thought too, word for word .

Well done nine! It sounds excellent.

[AshleyX]

It’s clearly the right answer.

[Montana]

I agree. A three day for (what was formerly) full time pay is the dream - and after a certain level of pay it's diminishing returns on net pay. And more flexibility to do your freelance work as and when you choose.

[nineseven]

I've just accepted the job at three days a week I got confirmation that I can still do freelance shifts for them too so I might do two a month. My freelance clients have all also confirmed they want to carry on working with me for the foreseeable future.

Thanks all.

[wendy james]

Congratulations nine, sounds like an excellent fit!

[nineseven]

Thanks! I'm starting on July 1st and I'm waiting for my contract.

I already had a holiday booked which they know about, so I'll do a month then swan off to France

[Dutchie]

Sounds absolutely brilliant Neuf! Congratulations!

[Annabella]

Many congratulations Nine - sounds fantastic.

[Luce]

Congrats, Nine - I was just coming to say that I've always thought that a 3 day week is the perfect life balance if you've ever got the opportunity to do it (freelance work notwithstanding). I also totally get those hours, it's so cool to find a job with hours that work with your actual body/personality rather than the standard 9-5!

[nineseven]

Thank you! It does seem very civilised and it's hardly like I'm out socialising seven nights a week these days.

[nineseven]

I'm feeling really positive about the job I was in the office yesterday and lots of people said nice things. And someone pointed out that I could never leave if I want to as there's a policy of no compulsory redundancy

I've also had it confirmed I can still do some freelance shifts if I need to top up my pay, and one section with 10am-6pm slots is keen to still use me.

[Epponnee Rae]

That is really good to hear, nince! Especially flexibility to pick up more work IF you want it, and not starting off feeling overburdened.

So I’m still in the midst of my quandary. I only received an offer with a salary number last night, so now it’s counter offer & decision time. If anything the wait over the last couple of weeks has meant I’ve been able to chat about it with my mum and some friends. There is still general umbrage about effectively giving up my permanent job, but I can’t really sit with that feeling. Either I accept the scenario and negotiate or reject the offer and stay put. I chatted with my Director about it earlier this week too, and he reiterated that it is my choice and staying in my role would not be considered in anyway detrimental from his POV, but also that he’d expect me to leave it within a couple of years anyway (probably true).

I’ve tried to take a step back and remind myself what I wanted this time last year (and before), as well as the job goals I wanted to realise in the near future. All of them would be achieved to some degree by taking the offer. Moving back home - if I can get a relocation package approved (this bit isn’t definite yet. I am a bit concerned that they might decline and insist I shoulder the cost/admin of moving myself, which frankly I’m not sure I would do). Changing my job focus to a technical/program role - the reason I applied in the first place. Getting a salary increase which I have been offered for the short term role (about 15% uplift), although I think with UK tax I would effectively not be any better off in terms of take home pay And I am not sure there is much room to negotiate that higher. Technically I’d lose my unlimited holidays benefit, though I think my new manager would turn a blind eye.

The only shitter is obviously losing job security. Whatever I did after this, outside of my current organization, would also be a definite pay cut. Most people know this when they leave so I’d be facing it sooner or later. The other bit is how fast I’d have to move - MUCH faster than I had been thinking and having just finished unpacking my flat in Seattle, that is giving me a bit of stress!

I am at the point in my current job where although the hours can be long, I can do most of it pretty easily. I don’t get as much intellectual challenge as I’d like, and motivation isn’t as high as it used to be On the other hand, I increasingly want an easier life when I’m not flat out most of the year and oscillating between burnout and trying to recover to I can go again.

[nineseven]

I hope you come to a decision that suits you soon, Epp!

My "onboarding" process has been hideous so far. They've outsource the checks to a very "computer says no" company, so I'm being asked for documents that don't exist, such as:

Please provide documentation verifying start date of employment and documentation confirming the current status of your employment with Freelance. Please note the documentation should include your name, company name and dates of employment. Acceptable documentation: copy of signed contract; contract annex, appendix, addendum; reference letter, pay slips, tax documents, employment/experience letter; salary certificate. For the current status of your employment please provide the documents issued within the last 3 months (e.g payslip , P60). Please obscure any personal information that you consider to be confidential or that is not relevant to the performance of this verification. Documentation covering start date of employment should be issued +/- 3 months from the said date.

I'm a sole trader!

They also needed my degree certificate which I hadn't laid eyes on for 22 years, so today I had to have a long rummage in the loft and fortunately found it. Because I graduated pre-digital it would have taken my uni up to 25 working days to send me a copy. This is despite me filling in a form for them to verify my degree directly with the university.

[Disco]

I had a similar onboarding thing when I joined my company, 12 years ago. I was only going for a part time job at the time - 12 hours a week - and it took three months to go though everything with the external company.

[nineseven]

It's mental. Thankfully HR seem quite relaxed and see no reason why I can't still start on 1st July.

[Disco]

Oh that's good then!

[nineseven]

For a while I was worried they'd want my GCSE certificates