5 ways to work less (move down the career ladder)

 

Maybe there's no point to this blog post since, theoretically, anybody can "work less" the way Beavis and Butthead do. ("Hey, Beavis! I just thought of something. I'm at work, but, like, I wasn't working. I just got paid to take a dump.")

Jon certainly can; he doesn't feel embarrassed about showing up at work late and taking naps in the toilet. But I'm too anxious to skive off like that. I'd be like Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment, unable to sleep. So until the day I lobotomise the Protestant work ethic from my brain, I would rather do things officially.

1. Voluntary demotion

Most moves up the career ladder suck. That's why they pay you more money, right? When I got promoted from writer to editor my life went downhill immediately. I stopped writing and started doing dreadful stuff like editing other people's drafts and going to multi-stakeholder meetings. Pfft, the extra money wasn't worth it. I'm sure it's the same in many other industries. How many people even prefer being a manager to doing real work?

If you accidentally stumbled into a high-ranking role and rue the day you accepted your promotion, the time has probably come for you to ask for a demotion. Most people will feel bad about it, like they're letting the team down. Don't! You'll be doing your colleagues a favour by freeing up the position for someone more management-minded. Also, it's no fun working for a bored and resentful boss (that's you).

It can be hard to have this conversation at work if your management is conservative. My suggestion is to cite a health- or family-related commitment. It's a pretty heartless workplace that won't accept these reasons. Nominate a successor and think about how to train them, if you must.

2. Fewer hours

I'm kind of a doormat at work. I don't really know how to negotiate a raise, even when I know I deserve one. But I have successfully asked for a 4-day work week in lieu of a raise. The key is to do this exactly the way you'd ask for a raise - have a look at all the negotiation literature out there.

You will most likely need to reassure your boss that your output will not be affected at all. To do this, you can implement an unofficial, unsanctioned 4-day-work-week trial and present the results. 

Many employers are suspicious about what you'll be doing during your free day so make sure you have a kosher-sounding alibi, such as pursuing further studies or writing a book. (Leisure for the sake of leisure is threatening to many people.)

In Singapore I think bosses aren't so fussed about your hours so much as the "optics" within the team. They don't want your coworkers to start asking why so-and-so gets special treatment. So you'll want to think about that from that point of view as well. A possible solution is to tell people you're working from home or "taking a course" on your days off.

3. Fewer hours (elsewhere)

It's a good idea to try #2 after you have researched the options in your job market for <40 hours/week or flexible work arrangements. In Singapore flexible work arrangements, although still nascent, are officially endorsed by the government; the official MyCareersFuture job search engine has a filter for Flexi-Work.

This can be your exit plan if your current employer is not willing to comply with your request.

4. Sabbatical

For something completely different, you can try to obtain a sabbatical. Not all companies and industries practise this, so your mileage may vary. 

If you're unsure about whether a sabbatical would be granted, my suggestion is to have an honest talk with your manager about possibly quitting. Employers are afraid of their talent leaving - it reflects badly on the boss/company and HR is usually concerned about staff retention - so they may float a sabbatical as an alternative. It is of course much more preferable for the suggestion to come from the manager's side than yours. 

Make sure you have enough money and a plan for your sabbatical though!

5. Consultant/freelancer

If you'd like to continue working with your present company but want more freedom, the last option I can think of is to become a consultant or freelancer. This strategy is high-risk though. As with the sabbatical idea, it's much better for the suggestion to come from the company's side. 

To maximise your chances of success, do this only when your skills and experience are still crucial to the company. There's no point if, say, your company has just laid off most of your team. Even so - unless you are bosom buddies with the CEO - expect to render your services for a limited time only. Companies usually prefer to hire their own staff.

Besides, being a freelancer also has its own set of perils. You may not actually be working less as a freelancer... but that's a post for another day.