Has anyone got experience or tips for looking for jobs with work-life balance?

[rcx132]

I gave up my tech business a few years ago and was lucky to be recruited by a large consultancy that offers excellent work life balance. Their policy is that if someone is continuously doing overtime then theat project needs another resource. Overtime is pretty much optional and I've done no more than 2 hours in two years. They also offer 10 days optional (unpaid) leave meaning I get 37 days off, so plenty of family time. My productivity is still very high and they are happy with my work.

I'm now looking for a new job now but figuring out which companies offer work life balance is proving difficult. I just asked one potential employer if they optional leave and got a nasty response, basically asking me to justify it.

I'm considering contracting, so short contracts during which I can work hard and take breaks in between contracts. Apparently the contract market is booming again. Glassdoor gives some insight as well.

What are your experiences and tips?

 

[mike os]

im in a similar position... and im never even contemplating looking elsewhere

 

[Bullet2012]

Blimey, any jobs going at your place ?

 

[Blobber]

Dont take this the wrong way but im not quite sure what you expect, the job sounds perfect, 37 days off!!!! Im self employed so day off=no pay

 

[Nomad]

It sounds like your place is a lot better than most, any real reason why you would want to leave them ?

A friend works in consultancy. For many years she was either flying overseas, planning her return trip, or trying to unpack and organise ready for her next trip. She is now working-from-home and loves not having to travel every week. Talking to her last night she is looking forward to the end of her current contract so she can have a month off - and is already getting asked to jump straight into a different contract. Not fun.

I went self-employed many years ago as it suits my work / life balance. If you have managed to pay off a mortgage (your biggest monthly bill), you can reduce your regular outgoings and work a lot less, or keep working and enjoy a wild lifestyle - the key is it's your choice and if you want a couple of weeks quality time off with the family it's your choice.

Good luck, hope you find what you're looking for

 

[CompoSimmonite]

30 years ago I got 35 days paid leave a year ! There that was flexi time so you could then build up the surplus hours and take another 1.5 paid days a month

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

Worth remembering the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.

 

[rcx132]

Edit: it's actually 43 days leave, so yes, very good.

Reason for considering leaving is the crazy salaries being offered in tech.

I initially found it very difficult to find work as no enterprise was willing to risk employing someone who'd essentially been self employed their whole life. Part of the problem was nothing more than understanding stupid business lingo and processes. The consultancy who did employ me initially said they were not fussed as they could train me. They put me on my first project, where within two months I became the defacto lead technical architect as I was coming up with all the solutions. Turned out I didn't need any training. Turns out enterprises run ancient tech and work at super slow paces employing people of "mixed abilities". They later told me they assumed I'd either sink or thrive. I thrived. Unfortunately my salary is only two thirds of what my peers are getting. One guy they've just employed at two grades above me doesn't even have any tech skills, every time he's asked a technical question he gives the same answer: "yes, absolutely" is his answer to every question. It's a joke.

 

[4String.]

What are your experiences and tips?

My tip would be to give up with the "Poor me" routine.

There are a lot of people out there at this very minute working their fingers to the bone in God-awful conditions doing a job they hate that has no prospects and probably no holidays and getting paid minimum wage just to put food food on the table so I don't tend to have a whole lot of sympathy for folk who are well off but feel the need to whinge about it...

 

[TechnicAl]

Blimey, any jobs going at your place ?

might be one soon

 

[fizzy]

I gave up my tech business a few years ago and was lucky to be recruited by a large consultancy that offers excellent work life balance. Their policy is that if someone is continuously doing overtime then theat project needs another resource. Overtime is pretty much optional and I've done no more than 2 hours in two years. They also offer 10 days optional (unpaid) leave meaning I get 37 days off, so plenty of family time. My productivity is still very high and they are happy with my work.

I'm now looking for a new job now but figuring out which companies offer work life balance is proving difficult. I just asked one potential employer if they optional leave and got a nasty response, basically asking me to justify it.

I'm considering contracting, so short contracts during which I can work hard and take breaks in between contracts. Apparently the contract market is booming again. Glassdoor gives some insight as well.

What are your experiences and tips?

Watch out for IR35 - apparently being implemented with zeal now

 

[fizzy]

Oh and avoid logistics like the plague

 

[Moose McAlpine]

I think the main thing you need to look into is exactly what you want out of the balance, what you're willing to put in and what sacrifices you're willing to make.

By that i mean if you want more time off are you willing to work longer hours, sacrifice weekends and seeing family as frequently if you need to get stuff done quickly so you can take blocks of days off.

I'm in a situation looking at returning to a job i really don't want to do, doing long hours and OT, because it pays well and will afford me time off to spend abroad every so often.

 

[Bobupndown]

One guy they've just employed at two grades above me doesn't even have any tech skills

Are they not prepared to offer you a job at his grade if you have the qualifications and expertise?

 

[rcx132]

Are they not prepared to offer you a job at his grade if you have the qualifications and expertise?

They have rules and requirements I can't meet. For example they deploy me on my own to work with their clients but their rules say one of their own people have to see my work to move up a grade.

@4String. I don't get your gripe. We live in a supply and demand driven economy. Commy states were no better but instead of supply and demand making some people better off, corruption made select people rich and others poor. If enterprises have to digitally transform to complete and survive and are desperate for the right solution architects then f**k them, make them pay. Two years ago when my business failed none of them wanted to even look at me, I couldn't even get a minimum pay job in IT support which I tried in desperation to pay the mortgage and support my kids. I've given two years to the one company that did employ me, they've made literally huge profit on me because I know what they bill me out for but they pay me half of what they pay everyone else because of where I came from. Now I am looking around for someone who can pay something that resembles a fair market rate.

 

[MattF]

Reason for considering leaving is the crazy salaries being offered in tech. [...] Unfortunately my salary is only two thirds of what my peers are getting.

Do you *need* to earn more? Money isn't everything.

My job ****** me off no end of times, but I also realise that I'd be unlikely to find another job which suits me so well. It pays enough to cover the bills, & that's all I need.

 

[RWD3M]

I've only got a life balance. No work!

 

[MattF]

I've given two years to the one company that did employ me, they've made literally huge profit on me because I know what they bill me out for. Now I am looking around for someone who can pay something that resembles a fair market rate.

That's a bad path of logic to follow.

 

[rcx132]

That's a bad path of logic to follow.

You're right

 

[More Amps]

As a rule of thumb, I would suggest that if you're feeling undervalued in your current job, then speak to management (or someone with the power to make things happen/bend the rules if necessary). It's a lot easier to move up the ranks in your current known environment than to fall for a load of empty promises from someone who's trying to recruit you - and then six months later you find you've jumped into a toxic cesspit. If you're as good at your job as you think, then your bosses would be crazy not to look for evidence of your abilities in order to justify a promotion/raise.