I think it's such a personal decision. For me, less pay AND a worse commute really wouldn't cut it.

Run.

Question for OP - if you take the new job,do you have someone at your agency working to accept your resignation? Are you giving up back pay by taking this?

Will you get telework you don’t get at federal job? What about retirement contributions? Flexibility counts for a lot but a longer commute is not ideal.

Anonymous wrote:Just interested in whether others have faced this choice: I currently am at a highly politicized federal agency making a very good salary. The working conditions have been awful this year. I used to love every day at work, now I dread it. Within months it we t from being my dream job to being my nightmare. If I keep my head down my job is probably safe, but who knows. I have an opportunity to take a much less crazy (non federal) job with sane supervisors but it would be a 30% pay cut and my commute would be a half hour longer. We have been saving a lot so I could afford the pay cut but would save far less. Do I make the jump or try to tough it out for three more years?

I don’t think that’s given at all. I suspect this is new normal.

I don't know OP, it depends on how many years you have with the federal government and how close to retirement you are.

The one hour commute would be a bigger obstacle to me than anything else. If it were close with a 30% drop I would think about it.

Maybe give yourself permission to save less if it helps keep you sane in your job for a few years.

If it's truly a nightmare, I would try to move within fedgov to something that would make you less crazy before taking that kind of pay decrease and commute increase.

I have taken a 30% pay cut (twice actually— once for better hours and once for better job satisfaction) so if you can afford it that’s not the barrier in my head. The commute sounds bad though— that definitely cuts against improved QOL— and might make me try to stick it out for 3 years.

I did exactly this and posted a very similar question on this site. The general advice I got was to go for it. I did, and I’m very happy I left. To note, my commute got better, but it was a 30 percent pay cut.

Here’s some considerations -
- There is a big world outside the government. I didn’t realize how isolated and insular the government is. There is so much on the outside and you can still make a difference.
- I do miss my federal job and colleagues, but I miss my time pre-trump. The agency I loved is no longer there. And being a political pawn is no fun.
- my stress level is so much better. The past year as a fed has been brutal and really wore on me.
- I’m not at a large company, but it’s really freeing to not have so much bureaucracy and to be able to do what I think without 20 levels of clearance.
- I miss my federal benefits like so much vacation time, but my health insurance off the exchange is much cheaper than FedBCBS.

The longer commute alone would probably be a “no” from me. What would your total commute be at the new job?
As for the pay cut, is there promotion potential at the new place? If so, you might be able to get back to where you were in the next couple of years.

Take it, and keep looking. It will be easier to find what you want when you’re out.

Keep looking for something better, don’t count on things becoming tolerable in the federal government. I am facing the same ideas.

Tough it out. That's a huge pay cut and a huge commute

Just interested in whether others have faced this choice: I currently am at a highly politicized federal agency making a very good salary. The working conditions have been awful this year. I used to love every day at work, now I dread it. Within months it we t from being my dream job to being my nightmare. If I keep my head down my job is probably safe, but who knows. I have an opportunity to take a much less crazy (non federal) job with sane supervisors but it would be a 30% pay cut and my commute would be a half hour longer. We have been saving a lot so I could afford the pay cut but would save far less. Do I make the jump or try to tough it out for three more years?