"Stuck" in a job? How do you manage?

[bjl584]

Anyone here feel handcuffed to a job because of high pay and good benefits? Besides those two factors, the rest of the job is unfulfilling, and the workplace is toxic. You are at the age where age discrimination could be a thing, and moving into a new career could mean a large cut in pay. You are still at least a few years off from retirement or financial independence, so what do you do? Just suck it up and keep plowing through? Make a leap of faith into a new career?

****full disclosure****
I am not in the above scenario. It is however a common discussion on many retirement discussion boards. I though that it could make for interesting conversation

[disneysteve]

That's a tough position, especially in a weakening labor market and struggling economy on top of the age issue.

I'd do some serious number crunching to see how much of a pay cut I could handle without significantly derailing my retirement plans. If a 10% or 20% drop would still let me retire on schedule but be happy for the final few years, I'd go for it. Even if it extended my retirement date by a year or maybe two, it might still be worth it. I'd also be looking at where we could tighten our belts to reduce spending so that a potential pay cut would be less impactful.

At the very least, I'd be exploring the job options that are out there. Maybe I'd be surprised and find something pretty comparable, or even better.

Another option is to think about adding a side gig, either instead of changing jobs or in addition to changing jobs. If you stay at the job, the side gig can provide some emotional relief giving you something else to give you satisfaction. If you leave the job, and especially if that involves a pay cut, the side gig could help buffer that.

[riverwed070707]

I was in that spot a few years ago. I kept holding on to the job thinking "once we just get past X project" or "I've already been here 15 years, it's not going to benefit me to switch employers now" even though I was absolutely miserable. I hit a breaking point and quit with nothing lined up in the fall of 2021. Ended up contracting part time giving me a needed recovery period, which eventually led to full time hours still contracting bringing me back to the pay I was making at my old job, and finally after a couple years they offered me a full time position and I'm now making 1.5x what I made at my old job with far less stress and responsibility. 100% worth it and my only regret was not making the shift sooner.

[ua_guy]

I've witnessed a lot of people in this very scenario, and I've also felt stuck in a job that was objectively miserable. But I'm not quite in that older age bracket where HR might worry about an age discrimination lawsuit if I were let go and replaced with a younger employee. I've always made a move to something different when I've been miserable, and I've also quit a job without anything else lined up. It's a little easier to do when you're younger.

Quite honestly, I've really come to value the experience, training, and stability that older employees can bring to jobs. Not just because I'm eclipsing mid-career myself, but because the incoming generation is such a wildcard and many of them have very specific needs/special needs. I don't want to crap on the young generation, but when you need something done and you don't have time to micro-manage it, older and experienced employees are worth their weight in gold -- so I always think there's a niche for them if they want to move or wiggle into a new job/career.

[kork13]

"When you don't like any of your options ... Find more options."

I'd tell such a person not to take a leap of faith, but rather make a deliberate, prepared step out. Start working to line up another job, or at least a side-gig that can bring in enough money to keep you fed with the lights on.

Once you have that next opportunity in place or a way to hold you over (a healthy EF works too), stepping out is alot less scary. I'd say it's always worthwhile to leave a bad situation.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think you decide if you can stick it out or just quit. If you can great run the numbers until freedom becomes possible. if not then go do something else. I know this is a risk but we've done it multiple iterations

[pacerob]

Balancing high pay and benefits with a toxic, unfulfilling job is tough, but integrating wellness strategies can help. AI-powered tools, like those on BetterMe, track mental health, engagement, and work-life balance in real time, offering insights to reduce stress and improve satisfaction, making it easier to navigate career decisions while maintaining well-being.

[amarowsky]

I've been out of the corporate world for about 5 years now.

Actually considering returning. Took the last 3+ years as a contractor part time, to be able to stay home to raise my 3 y.o. son.

I resigned as a corporate sales guy for an automotive supplier, really didn't enjoy the work or the hours. But now benefits are more important than ever, and there is a few clues that my wife's corporate job have dropped. Unfortunately they're pointing to possibly outsourcing her department to India .

I'll do whatever I need to make sure families covered, but not really looking forward to it.

Belated happy new year gang, I haven't been posted on here in a long time!

[GoodLiving]

I was in that position and about 3 years and was less than 2 years from from being able to begin phased retirement. I had worked there over 15 years. What kept me sane in the insanity was to remind myself I was choosing to stay, that I could make other decisions but I was choosing it. I also was really trying to add more enjoyment outside of my employment. One of my benefits was also to increase my education on my employer's dime which pushed me up on the pay scale. Two years ago, I was laid off and I had choices then, to find another job or "retrain" which led me to an adjacent position that I never intended to have. It's taken a lot out of me because I'm stretching and growing in ways I didn't intend to take but I've gotten passed my probation period and have submitted my phased retirement request and so I will go part time for 6 years beginning in mid May - 114 days to go.