Most people think a job promotion is excellent news. It usually involves more money and more responsibility that hopefully align with one's goals. When a promotion ticks all the boxes, it can be a complete blessing.
However, there are times when accepting a promotion might not be a good option. You may be close to retirement or have more on your plate than a promotion at work would allow for. You may have other obligations that a new promotion would interfere with.
If you're staring a promotion in the face and wondering if you should accept it and how to turn it down, we've got your back. While turning down a promotion might not be considered wise, there are definite situations when it's the right thing to do. We've listed our favorite reasons here for all who need a bit of advice.
1. High Stress
Some people thrive in high-stress situations. However, stress is not a motivating factor for most people. If you're already working in a stressful environment, taking on a new role with more responsibility might not be worth the added stress.
My mother-in-law had a major stroke from high stress that left her with trouble getting her words to come out right. Sometimes, she mixes words up or says something backward. Stress can wreak havoc on your mind and body, so before you accept a new role, be sure you can handle the stress. If not, turn down the promotion.
2. No Upward Movement
When promotions come up, it's exciting and rewarding to have someone recognize your hard work. It can be validating to have a manager or superior recommend you for a new role with more responsibility.
It can also feel limiting and disappointing if the promotion a hiring manager offers you is limited by an invisible “no access” sign that keeps you from moving any further up the ladder. You may be promoted to a position that gets cut in six months or have to take on all the new responsibilities with none of the financial gain. Whatever the reason, if your promotion blocks you from further development, it may be time to turn it down.
3. Entrepreneurial Aspirations
If you've ever dreamed of working for yourself, a promotion can be a dream killer. Sure, it might mean more money here and now, but the increased demand for time may steal away your hopes of ever working for yourself.
Self-employment isn't for everyone. But if you have dreams of stepping out of the rat race to build a business, turning down a promotion may be the first step in that direction. You'd have to weigh for yourself if you can accept the rewards of the promotion without forfeiting all you're hoping to accomplish in your business. If not, you know what to do.
4. Not Qualified
One area that can be sketchy when a promotion comes along is whether or not you're actually qualified to take on the tasks in the new role offer. If you know in your heart that you don't have the qualifications from the start, consider asking for some extra training as part of your promotion.
Being under qualified is not the same as being unqualified. If you're willing to work hard and learn how to do the job, you may be ready for that promotion. If not, do some upskilling until you learn the necessary know-how to fill the position.
5. No Pay Raise
As a CNA (certified nurse's assistant), I worked with a young woman who had been with a company for three years, gained her MedTech (medical technology) certification, and took on other responsibilities. In that three-year span, she hadn't received one pay raise.
If the promotion a manager offers you doesn't come with a pay raise that's equal to the extra time it's going to cost you to do the job well, don't accept the promotion. A new title won't compensate you for all the hard work you're going to put in for no increase in income.
6. Lack of Interest
This may be surprising, but not everyone wants a promotion. Whether they're content with their current position or don't want the extra responsibility, some people are happy with the role they're in.
A lack of interest in a new role or advanced position is a valid reason to turn down a promotion. There's no hard and fast rule that says you must consider a promotion if one opens up. Knowing you don't want to advance with the company or just don't want a new role is certainly rational, and you should skip the promotion and enjoy your life as it is.
7. Less Job Satisfaction
After precautions for COVID-19 started to lift, people's attitudes toward their 9-5 changed. They realized that remote work was possible in many situations where office attendance had been the norm. When calls came to return to office work, many new remote workers balked at the idea, and “quiet quitting” took hold.
If you aren't satisfied in your current role, a promotion isn't likely to bring you more job satisfaction. We don't always get to do what we love, but being satisfied with our “day job” is essential to both job satisfaction and work-life balance.
8. Company Culture Issues
Years ago, company culture wasn't really a thing for hourly workers. You clock in, do your job, clock out, and go home. However, in the last decade, how companies treat their employees, the mental health aspect of work, and work-life balance have taken center stage. Gone are the days of endless loyalty to your job.
If the company you work for doesn't align with your goals, if it doesn't offer a work-life system that meets your needs or those of your family, accepting a promotion isn't going to change that. You won't wake up on Monday with a new title and more money and suddenly work for a company that understands you have a life outside of work. If your company culture doesn't match the life you want to live, think twice about that promotion.
9. All Work, No Play
We all know that all work and no play made Jack a dull boy. It also affected Stephanie, Kayla, Max, Edward, and anyone else who's ever whiled away their life for a paycheck. No one wants to be a slave to the job just to get paid.
Suppose you've been “working like a dog” just to earn a paycheck that may or may not meet your financial needs and goals; a promotion is only likely to make you more of a slave to your 9-5. Additionally, if you go from hourly to salaried pay, you won't get the benefit of overtime pay, nor will you be able to refuse the work set before you. Evaluating a promotion from all sides also means keeping open the possibility of turning it down. Saying “no” is always an option and oftentimes a good one.
10. Daily Life Obstacles
Anyone older than 18 knows that life happens. Sometimes, that's a great thing; sometimes, it wreaks havoc on our best-laid plans. Daily obstacles can turn into big hurdles that take some time to overcome.
If life is already complicated, adding a new role with more responsibility might not be a good fit right now. Turning down a promotion now doesn't mean you'll never be in a good place to accept one. However, accepting a promotion you're not ready for could adversely affect other aspects of your life and eventually hurt your financial gains in the long run.
11. Manager Material
Wanting to be in a managerial role and being ready to be in that role are two different concepts. You can really want that promotion and still need to prepare for the position. If you want to advance with the company you currently work for but feel you need more time to be ready, spend some of your free time taking some courses to upskill the talents you already possess.
When the time comes for a promotion to head your way, you'll be ready. Until then, if offered a promotion you aren't ready to accept, it's best in the long run if you turn it down. Let your superiors know that you are honored they thought of you but that you don't feel you'd do justice to the role and that you're working on building the skills necessary for further development with the company.
12. Straining Relationships
One major issue that people often fail to talk about is the way that promotions affect them personally. If your relationships with your spouse and children are strained, taking a promotion that will likely strain them further probably isn't your best option.
Instead, ask for a pay raise that will allow you to make more money but won't require a further time commitment. If a raise isn't possible, ask if you can scale your working hours down so that you're still making the same pay but working fewer hours. If you're working on-site, you could also request that some of your hours move to remote so that you can do a hybrid working situation, which will allow you to work from home for a portion of your 9-5.
