How to Select Between Pay and Work-life Balance?

Have you ever considered what you would do if you were forced to choose between work-life balance and more pay?

Assume you've received two job offers from well-known companies you'd like to work for. On the other hand, one is giving Rs 35,000 per month for fixed work of 8 hours a day, five days a week. And the office is pretty close to your house. The other employment pays Rs 45,000 (a sum you highly value) every month for six working days per week and requires you to commute for 2 hours daily.

First and foremost, recognise that there is no clear yes or no answer to this difficulty. It all depends on what is more important. As a result, determine what can help your career and personal progress the most right now. Do you desire a raise, or do you want to better your work-life balance?

Isn't it a difficult decision to make?

To assist you in making an informed decision, we have outlined a few aspects to consider before choosing one over the other.

• Consider your previous experiences and expectations.

This is the moment to establish your priorities. Consider what genuinely motivated you to leave your previous employment, whether it was the long hours, the gruelling commute, or the low compensation structure. This will help you understand what is non-negotiable in your next job and what you can live with in the long run. If money has been an issue for you for a while, taking a job that needs you to go the extra mile won't harm you. However, if you know that a job that requires long work hours — no matter how well it pays — will interfere with your mental tranquillity, don't hesitate to reject it.

• Consider all of the conceivable 'what ifs'

Another method to avoid regret is to place yourself in hypothetical circumstances and examine the likely outcomes. Assume you accept a lower-paying job just because it promises flexible work hours. You later discover that money is a powerful incentive and that you should have taken the other job offer. This can affect your mental health and may cause you to quit within a few months. Similarly, what if, after accepting a higher-paying position, you experience burnout and the lines between your professional and personal lives begin to blur? Before you make a decision, consider all of the possible outcomes.

• Seek the advice of those who are close to you.

A new viewpoint on such situations might sometimes help you make a better judgement. Discuss the issue with your family members because your decision will immediately influence their lives. For example, spending extra hours at work can harm your relationship with them. Earning reduced pay, on the other hand, may allow you to meet your responsibilities to them.

You might also seek advice from your friends, who may have been in a similar circumstance. As a result, they may prevent you from making the same error. Finally, the opinions of your loved ones may be biassed or may not line well with your job goals, so seek expert advice from a career coach, mentor, or industry leader.

• Is there a job available that provides both?

If you are torn between two job offers, one of which promises a more excellent work-life balance and the other higher compensation, why not leave both and look for an opportunity that meets your requirements? It is not necessary to give up one to enjoy the other. Many firms support the entire well-being of their employees and place a high value on their capabilities. You only need to improve your search process.

Furthermore, you may constantly upskill yourself and expand your skill set to maximise your chances of finding an outstanding role.

We all want work-life balance, equal pay, and consistent personal and professional advancement. That is probably why choosing between these two will always take work. All you can do is determine which best fits your scenario before choosing.