More people are trading salary for time. New surveys show most workers would happily earn less if it meant a better life. Two Irish women share how they made the leap, and what experts say you should check before you do the same.
Quick Take
- 52% of adults would take a 20% pay cut for better quality of life (Ford Trends, 2024, 16,086 people surveyed)
- 78.5% would earn less for more flexibility (EmployFlex, 2026, 300 adults surveyed)
- Meath mum Sarah Flynn dropped to a four-day week and took a 20% pay cut
- HR director Elaine Connolly quit her job in Spain after working up to 80 hours a week
- Experts say plan your budget first, and think about pensions and career growth too
Real Stories, Real Pay Cuts
Sarah Flynn, 29, from Meath, tried cutting her hours once before. It didn't go well. She quit her office job at 20 to start a business after having her first child. She had no savings, so money got tight fast.
This time, after having her second child, she did it smarter. She moved to a four-day work week instead of quitting. Her income dropped 20%. She sold the family's second car and uses her day off to cook meals and do chores, so weekends are free for family time.
Elaine Connolly, 39, moved to Spain with her husband for the sunshine. But her HR director job kept her working up to 80 hours a week for a US company.
"The moment I realised something had to change was when my eight-year-old son complained that he never saw me," Connolly says.
She quit in July. Now she works part-time on HR projects, trades stocks, and is training in social media management. Her income dropped a lot. But she says she's finally living the way she wants.
Why People Are Choosing Less Money
Career coach Patricia Tiernan says health problems push many people to step back. She describes one client who stayed in a financial-services job she hated for years, until stress-related sick leave forced her out.
Others get promoted into roles full of office politics or people-management they hate, Tiernan says. But the biggest reason she hears? People want more time with their families.
How to Do It Without Wrecking Your Finances
Denise Conlon, head of financial services at sysfinancial.ie, says a pay cut isn't automatically a bad move. It depends on your full picture.
She recommends figuring out your bare-minimum monthly costs first — rent or mortgage, bills, childcare, food, transport. Then test-drive the lower salary for two to three months before making it permanent.
| Step | What to Check |
|---|---|
| 1 | Total essential monthly expenses |
| 2 | Whether new salary covers them comfortably |
| 3 | Impact on pension and health insurance |
| 4 | Effect on future promotions |
Conlon also warns that stepping back can mean getting passed over for promotions later. Weigh that against the benefits before deciding.
Making the Decision
Tiernan asks clients four questions before a big change: What's the worst that could happen, and how do you avoid it? What's the best outcome, and how do you set up for it? What's most likely to happen? And which choice would you regret more?
Flynn made sure her budget could stretch and had an honest talk with her employer about staying on track for future promotions. Connolly realized she could live happily on far less money once she saw what her time was actually worth.
What's Next
More companies may need to offer four-day weeks or flexible hours as workers push back against long hours. If you're considering a pay cut, start with the numbers, test it for a few months, and talk openly with your employer before you leap.
