In April 2023, Emily Hayes faced a terrible Saturday morning, after leaving her Los Angeles office at 11pm the previous night, working overtime to prepare for an important hearing, months of stress and exhaustion. That morning, as she sat down in front of her computer, Hayes broke down. Overwhelmed with emotion, she began “crying,” lamenting that she was stuck at work while someone close to her was navigating a difficult time, wishing she was there to support them.
That moment was a turning point for Emily Hayes.
Fast-forward to today, and the 32-year-old has left her high-paying legal career and moved into tech, prioritizing her well-being and embracing “a fresh start in an exciting new field.” Although the move comes with a significant pay cut from her annual salary of $370,000 (approximately Rs. 3.1 crore) to $220,000 (approximately Rs. 1.9 crore) as a lawyer, Hayes believes that it is a small price to pay for better quality. In life as reported by CNBC make it.
“Working in a law firm can make your life unpredictable. You can never count on free time in the evening or logging in before 10 p.m. I think you have to really love the work you do to make that trade. Your time feels valuable, ” Hayes shared with the publication.
Reflecting on the work-life balance demanded in her former job, Hayes explained: “I felt like I had to choose between standing up for my job the way it was expected of me and standing up for the people I love the way I wanted to. I was terrified of the tension between the two.”
However, the transition to a lower paycheck brought its own hurdles. Hayes accepted CNBC make it That's adapting to a six-figure salary cut “harder” More than she expected. She could with her previous income “Spend without much thought or stress” But now sticking to a budget has become a necessity.
“The biggest change with this pay cut, if anything, was just shifting my mindset around money—I realized I had to think hard about my purchases even when they didn't seem extravagant.” She shared.