‘I felt like I had to choose between…’: Lawyer quits high-paying job for tech after burnout, takes Rs 1.3 crore pay cut

In April 2023, Emily Hayes faced a stressful Saturday morning, working overtime to prepare for an important trial after leaving her Los Angeles office the night before at 11 p.m., and months of stress and exhaustion had taken their toll. That morning, while sitting in front of her computer, Hayes collapsed. Overwhelmed with emotion, she began “crying,” expressing her regret that she was stuck at work while someone close to her was navigating a difficult situation, wishing she could be 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 to move into the tech industry, prioritizing her well-being and embracing a “fresh start in an exciting new field.” Although the move came with a significant pay cut — from her annual salary of $370,000 (about Rs 3.1 crore) as a lawyer to $220,000 (about Rs 1.9 crore) in her new role — Hayes believes it was a small price to pay for quality better. Of life, as you mentioned CNBC Make it.

“Working in a law firm can make your life unpredictable. You can never rely on free time in the evening or logging off before 10 p.m. I think you have to really love the work you do to make that trade-off of your time feel worth it,” Hayes shared with the post.

Reflecting on the demanding work-life balance at her previous job, Hayes explained: “I felt like I had to choose between showing up for my job the way I was expected to and showing up for the people I loved the way I wanted to. I panicked about the tension between the two.”

However, the move to a lower salary brought its own obstacles. Hayes admitted as much CNBC Make it That was adjusting to a six-figure salary cut “much harder” Than she expected. With her previous income, she could “Spend without much thought or stress” But now, sticking to a budget has become a necessity.

“The biggest change in this pay cut, if there was any, is changing my mindset around money — I realized I had to think more carefully about my purchases even when they don’t seem expensive.” I shared.