Who out there has felt compelled to take a lesser paying job with fewer or lowered responsibilities because of burnout? What happened once you made the decision to do so and in what way do you feel you made the right or wrong decision?

15 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 11:30AM UTC

   During the pandemic I retired. Once restrictions lifted I sought part-time work because I was bored, and there is no such thing as “extra” money. I report directly to a manager who has less experience than me and has never had an assistant. It is a nightmare, and I have quietly quit.

   I want to work part time only; she wants me to be available 5 days a week. I only want to work on-site. She frequently insists that I participate in meetings from home at odd hours. I have 38 years of successful trial experience; she wants to direct every question I ask. She needs secretarial support. I have rudimentary secretarial “skills” and stink at repetitive, non-creative tasks. She micromanages. I abhor being micromanaged.

   Every day that i report to work I remind myself that I’m being paid for every hour that I’m there.

   i may last another year or so.

2. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 12:24PM UTC

   It’s pretty clear if you were to spend that year finding another job you’d all be better off. That person deserves someone engaged and you deserve fulfillment. You could also look at it as a mentorship opportunity and engage in coaching that individual from your role. Your call BUT it’s also a consequence of your actions- good and bad.

3. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 12:44PM UTC

   I did. I had my own beauty brand where I was creative director, operations manager, CEO, only writer, formulator, etc. and got catastrophically burned out. I could make over 6 figures for executive roles in any of those things, but have chosen to go for lower-responsibility roles that pay less $$ for a while. But it's been 5 years now and my energy is back, so I'm about to jump back in and get paid as much as I can, to make up for lost income and build up savings. The difference will be that now I know how to take better care of myself and not get burned out.

4. Orlagh CostelloMay 23,2024 at 12:47PM UTC

   I took a paycut and a sideways rather than downwards move to get to my current role. It has the added benefit of pulling my commute from 90 mins to 42mins.

   I was getting burnt out but hadn't hit the wall as yet. Best move ever. I have more energy. I have more enthusiasm. I'm coming up with better ideas, etc, etc, etc. I'm far more effective and happy than I was with the longer commute. Work related stress levels are about the same, but I'm far better able to deal with with. Well worth the slight drop in pay.

5. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 12:50PM UTC

   I’ actually going through this right now - I’m struggling whether to retire or try and find a much lower-level role than what I’ve had in the past - but it’s hard finding a part-time role that doesn’t ask for the world. I can retire but I’m worried about boredom and I won’t work at Walmart so I’m having a tough time because any receptionist and administrative work is looked at as a why givin my years of past experiences- I’m pigeonholed!

6. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 8:54PM UTC

   A friend suggested I consider being an administrative sub in the local school districts if I want to work part-time after I retire. Would be perfect for me to have flexibility to travel and spend time with family and friends.

7. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 1:08PM UTC

   I did, when my company denied my intermittent leave request to help care for my father after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Long story, but I knew if I didn't spend that time with him I would regret it and hate my job and company, so I negotiated for a position that had been open for a while that reported to me for which the leave would not be an issue. I took a 10% pay cut and it was the best decision ever. Not only was I there for my mom and dad for the 2 months needed (intermittently) and when he passed, but my stress level dropped immediately. I ended up only staying in that position 4 years before moving on. Same issues others bring up - I was reporting to someone pretty inexperienced which was difficult, I was being asked to do more than others since I was still getting paid more than others for the job, and, other than from a workload perspective, I was not challenged. I don't regret it and would do it again if needed, though I am now in my dream position so I'll probably be here until I retire in 7 years.

8. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 2:40PM UTC

   I did once upon a time. Was not a well thought out move and I seriously regretted it in the end. Left after just over a year.

9. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 3:25PM UTC

   I did and it was a good decision. I love my job now. I thought I loved my previous job, but dropped 30 lbs in one month, had to have a blood transfusion, and it was all related to all the stress I was under without realizing it. They hired three people to do the job I was doing alone if that tells you anything!

10. TestE CullMay 24,2024 at 3:02PM UTC

    One of the things I look at when deciding to apply or to continue post-interview is whether or not the job is going to be stressful. I wont take one I believe to be. Call me lazy if you want but I am not about to do three people's jobs for one person's pay!

11. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 3:18PM UTC

    After a burnout I decreased working hours but to continued on my profession.

    I simply couldn't find anything else because I was overqualified.

    On one hand it was a good idea regarding better work-life balance. On the other hand I experienced similar stressful situations again and again that actually caused my burnout. Right now considering a completely new career.

12. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 7:19PM UTC

    I draft a plan to build a consulting business to give me complete control over my time and work load.

    It worked out beautifully and I wished I'd done it years prior.

13. Madam anon663May 25,2024 at 8:36AM UTC

    I took a substantial pay decrease to take a new job with less responsibility, less stress, and have felt so much better. I am almost 62, so I feel very fortunate to have this job, the culture is better, the people are better, and its just a great fit. There are good companies out there, honestly. And my mental health improvement is the greatest reason for taking this job. I don't regret it one bit.

14. AnonymousMay 25,2024 at 6:13PM UTC

    I'm not as ambitious as I once was. I'm a senior manager who makes the amount of money that I need to support my current lifestyle and save comfortably for retirement. That's enough. Climbing the ranks doesn't do it for me. So long as the lesser paying job will support you, enjoy.

15. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 8:55PM UTC

    I'm raising my hand. I'm burnt out and my parents are also aging quickly and having medical issues. I have one child in college, another that doesn't drive. At this point, I'll gladly take a pay cut for less responsibilities and medical insurance!