My Company Makes it Hard to Work with a Young Family. Should I Look for a New Job?

I enjoy my job, but my company is making it harder to combine work with a young family. Should I look for a new job?

We often think of vocation as our paid work, but a job is also a business contract. Furthermore, vocation is more than our jobs: God calls us to faithfulness in every area of life. While your current job might have been a good fit for a long time, it now seems to limit your ability to be present with your family.

Looking for a new job is indeed one option. This could give you more freedom to negotiate when, where, and how much you work, including flexibility around paid or unpaid time off. However, a job search takes time and energy you might not have, and it assumes there are job openings and room to negotiate.

Before taking that step, I recommend first praying, seeking to understand what fears, desires, and loves are shaping your thinking. Then try to understand why the recent decisions were made and whether there might be room for an exception, even a temporary one. Start by talking with your family about what would help most, including whether fewer hours or unpaid leave are feasible. If you have good relationships with coworkers, ask how recent changes have affected them and how they might be affected if you asked for an exception. Try to understand your workplace’s and supervisors’ values, such as collegiality, productivity, professionalism, independence, and/or profit, and use this knowledge to shape your request. When you speak with your supervisor, be honest about what you believe is best for you, while listening carefully to their concerns. Try to respond without getting defensive and ask others to pray that you speak wisely and graciously.

If changes related to your job aren’t possible, talk with friends and family about what adjustments might be made in the rest of life to help you care for your family. This might include asking for help with childcare from your church or community, paying others to take care of household tasks, or simplifying meals. It might also mean setting aside work opportunities or extra activities for a season.

This is a lot, and there are no easy choices. As you look ahead, consider what you would most regret not doing in this season. Trust that God will give you wisdom, strength, and courage as you seek to be faithful in your whole life.