Good Salary...Nasty Boss VS Great Boss 30k Pay Cut

[CatamaranSailor]

So...here is a question that someone I know recently pinged me on. This person is smart, great experience, and very frugal. Currently, the salary she's making is around 80k, plus benefits (401k match, Health, Stock, ETC). The issue? The boss is a raving lunatic. Think "Devil Wears Prada" only no designer clothes. There isn't much hope for anyone further up to swoop in an realize the boss is nuts, so she's stuck. She was offered another job at a company that is just as close (she already rides her bike to work) but the salary is 30k less! She already knows the folks at company #2 and knows there's not a psychopath among them.

She has zero consumer debt, but still has a mortgage of around 80k that she has been paying 2k a month on thanks to the higher salary. The new job would mean less stress, but slow the payoff considerably.

Suggestions?

I am leaning toward the side of "life is too short to work for Hannibal Lector" but I figured this was a good audience to get feedback from.

Thanks in advance!

[kkbmustang]

I worked for Satan in exchange for lots of money and moved to working for Someone Who Wasn't Satan for a lot less money. I never regretted the move. Working for someone that horrible, day in and day out, was not worth the money for me.

[Numbers Man]

I wouldn't move for almost a 40% haircut on the salary. Your friend can find another job for around the same salary. Don't let Satan win.

[mindaugas]

It depends on how much your friend can tolerate the crazy. I don't work for a lunatic but I work for someone who is difficult to work for. (IE lots of turnover, I have even left and come back and our CTO has twice). In the end my job is so much fun that I tolerate the crazy boss days. In the end, the extra money putting me close to FI is more important to me.

[olivia]

Is there no way she can negotiate a higher salary at the great place?  Or at a different possibly great place?  That's a huge cut...if she's miserable it's probably worth it, but if she has other options for more money I'd go for those first.

[AlmostIndependent]

I worked for a crazy boss who was also a first class douche nozzle. I left and never looked back. Second best career move of my life.

[impaire]

I'd be a little more prudent that some people here, but  I would definitely be looking for an exit strategy within 3-6 months. Life's way too short for bosses from hell. However, the alternative between the two jobs is a false one; there have to be other jobs without evil bosses, and with decent pay, available!

Why would I be prudent? Well I've taken a job for an excellent boss, who left the company 3 months after I joined, to be replaced by a maniac. When I went to resign, 15 months of harassment later, my resignation pushed my boss's boss to fire... her. And to give me her job, as a way to retain me. I've learned two things from the experience: your dream boss may evaporate at any point, so always pay attention to what is in your *contract*; but standing up for yourself is always a good idea :)

Good luck!

[CU Tiger]

Those aren't her only two choices. I'd start looking for another job with a HIGHER salary and not Psycho Boss.   But if by some chance they were the only choices, I'd take the lower priced job. I worked for that Crazy Boss once, and life is both too short and too long.

[Ratracespectator]

The company with the dream boss may be acquired, and people let go or relocated. Also, all companies are dysfunctional to some extent. It is very difficult to sustain a pay cut of that magnitude. Encourage your friend to keep looking, and to figure out how to turn managing her boss into a game. it can be done...

[davisgang90]

Maybe your friend could negotiate a telecommute day with the new firm.  I think if she can afford the pay cut (which it sounds like she can) she should reduce the stress in her life.