askST Jobs: Should I turn down a promotion to protect my work-life balance?

The Straits Times featured Mr Don Leow, Human Resources Director at the National Institute of Education, in an article examining whether employees should give up higher pay and career progression for better work-life balance.

Mr Leow explained that while promotions are often associated with ambition and professional success, accepting every opportunity may not always be the best career decision. Employees’ priorities can change at different stages of life, particularly when family, caregiving responsibilities or personal commitments become more important. Choosing to decline or defer a promotion therefore does not necessarily reflect a lack of ambition, as careers are long and individuals need not progress at the same pace throughout their working lives.

Before making a decision, employees should understand what the new role entails, including its responsibilities, workload, flexibility, resources and organisational support. A larger role may involve greater accountability and more complex decision-making without necessarily requiring longer working hours. However, if it brings significantly more work and pressure without adequate authority or support, the trade-off may not be worthwhile.

Although higher pay can support family commitments and long-term financial goals, Mr Leow cautioned that an unsustainable role could eventually affect an employee’s health, relationships and performance. He encouraged employees to discuss workload, travel, flexibility, resources and even the timing of a promotion with their employers.

Mr Leow added that supporting such conversations is part of good talent management, as promoting capable employees into roles that lead to burnout also carries a cost for organisations. Ultimately, a promotion should broaden one’s career rather than consume the rest of one’s life. Depending on the circumstances, accepting the role, negotiating different terms or deciding that the timing is not right can all be sound career choices.

Read the original article on The Straits Times here.