These perks are really valuable. Right?

[Anonymous]

At a phase where I'm starting to think about long term career progression, and sometimes think it's time to look into next steps. BUT I have significant non-financial perks at my current job, and would be curious as to how others would value the following:

-PT schedule, high level of flexibility in terms of both total hours and when they are worked
-ability to WFH
-mentally stimulating work that I enjoy
-constantly acquiring new skills that will (hopefully) be marketable down the road
-high level of control over how to do the work
-work colleagues I like

Basically the only real downside is that it would be nice to earn more money, but I'm not sure how much money would be necessary to make giving up the other perks worth it. This job may also not last indefinitely / is not secure long term. But I lean towards just riding it out for now.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Sounds good to me.

Have you tried asking for a raise ?

[Anonymous]

My dream job!

[Anonymous]

Yes, what do you do, OP?

[Anonymous]

Are you my cubemate? I also have unlimited vacation, awesome flex, etc and am also debating leaving for more money.

[Anonymous]

Well, there's no harm in looking around. I assume you're not going to just quit this job without something else lined up, so asking whether you should stay -- before you've checked out the alternatives -- is a little premature.

That said, if you want to stay PT and you can afford to make as little as you do, then IMO you should stay where you are. Lots of people want PT jobs (including me), so good, interesting, non-career-killing PT jobs are hard to find. Yours sounds awesome if you can afford it.

If you want to go full time to make more money, then you'll have more options.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat, though I'm kind of bored and it's not so stimulating. I'm doing some pro bono to see if that helps.

[Anonymous]

This is why I'm staying put!

[Anonymous]

Sounds great to me. This is a lousy market.

[Anonymous]

I am in a very very similar situation - very interesting work that is insanely flexible. My kids are little and this is absolute perfection. I would need to earn 3 times more to even consider leaving.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for the perspectives. I think I needed the reminder that a flexible job I enjoy is worth a LOT, especially in the parenting-young-childen phase of life. And that a more stress / more 'success' job would come with negative trade offs.

And to answer some of the PPs Qs: yes we can afford for me to not earn more; I work in web / database development.

[Anonymous]

I work for a very small non-profit and this could be me. My kids are older tweens and teens, but I still find the flexible work schedule really important since my DH has a tough job with no flexibility. He makes 5 times my salary, but I still feel the pull for a higher paying job for myself since I feel bad that he has all the pressure of making the most money. I still wouldn't be able to make as much as he does, but could make double or more if I found a job closer to what my master's degree is in. Now with college costs looming, I am thinking that even with the perks, it's time to start looking for more money too.

[Anonymous]

This could (mostly) be me - I work PT at a fed agency in non-litigation management. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and I wouldn't change this schedule for anything!

[Anonymous]

In a similar position to the OP but (a) I'm over 50, (b) I have a good pension, and (c) I just survived a reorg.

It is tempting to look elsewhere but I am leaning towards just riding it out.

[Anonymous]

OP, your description describes my job, except when there is a project with a deadline I sometimes have to work longer and "inflexible" hours. I too have thought about looking elsewhere for a variety of reasons over the years. My kids are older now -- one in high school -- and I usually am home when they get home from school -- I can't really put a price tag on how valuable this is.