Many people view jobs as a way of making money. They aren’t wrong. However, most soon realise that there is so much more to the working life than that. In fact, many are now realising that there are other important aspects, beyond money, when it comes to a job.
Recently, a local woman shared how working as a lawyer in a firm nearly ruined her mental health. It led to her resigning. However, her company offered her a better pay just before she left. “I left anyway,” she explained. “My mental health is more important.”
The lady lawyer shared her story via the Malaysia Pay Gap on Instagram. Apparently, she was giving them an update after previously asking them for advice. “I was a lawyer for four years in a midsized firm and my last drawn salary was RM5K,” she started. While it was a salary most would be agreeable with, she had one problem with the job. There was no work-life balance.
“I always go back home (at) 11pm to 2am, and come back to the office before 9am. I spent my weekend doing work or feeling anxious about pending work,” she shared. In addition to that, her bosses were also a huge factor in her work-related stress. “The partners will promise the client the moon and stars and the lawyers have to deliver that. If we couldn’t deliver, (we would) get yelled at,” she said. “At one point, I considered going to therapy.”
As such, it wasn’t a surprise when she decided to resign. However, she was taken aback by the counter offer her company gave. “When I handed (in) my resignation, I received a huge counter offer with double increment and three months performance bonus,” she shared. “But I left anyway. My mental health is more important.”
In fact, the lady was happy to share that she was doing much better now as an Assistant Manager of the legal department in the banking industry. Currently, she’s earning RM6.5K after 10% salary adjustment. She shared that she leaves her job on time now, and doesn’t feel pressured to think about work on the weekend.
“(It’s) easy to get approval for annual leave,” she continued listing. “My immediate boss will take charge of the things that I have no experience handling. No more yelling culture. Decent salary, great medical benefits.” She is pretty happy, however, she did allude to having PTSD from her previous workplace.
“I love being a lawyer, but love alone won’t get me anywhere in the mental health department,” she shared, as a final bout of wisdom. “Sure, I will have the money to buy expensive stuff, but what is the use of expensive stuff if you do not have the time to actually enjoy it?”
Netizens agreed heavily with her mindset in the comments. Several expressed that they were happy she was in “a better place” with her job. Others shared their own experience in toxic workplaces. But, as one person succinctly put it: “Health (trumps) money every time.”
Source: Instagram
