{
  "id": 7176745,
  "title": "askST Jobs: Should I turn down a promotion to protect my work-life balance?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/askst-jobs-should-i-turn-down-a-promotion-to-protect-my-work-life",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-13T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times Business",
    "slug": "straits-times-business",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/business/askst-jobs-should-i-turn-down-a-promotion-to-protect-my-work-life-balance"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent article, career expert Don Leow advised employees to carefully consider whether to accept a promotion, even if it comes with higher pay and greater responsibility. Leow explained that while a promotion is often seen as a sign of ambition, it's not always the best strategic career move. He pointed out that taking on a bigger role may not always be the most sensible choice, especially for those at an earlier stage in their career or dealing with family or personal commitments. Leow suggested employees should assess what the promotion entails before making a decision. This includes understanding the new responsibilities, the level of support they would receive, the flexibility they'd have, and whether the workload would be realistic. Leow emphasized that a higher salary is attractive, particularly for those with family or financial responsibilities, but warned that a role that doesn't allow for a sustainable work-life balance might not be worth the trade-offs. Employees should also consider discussing the promotion's specifics, like workload, resources, flexibility, and timing, with their employer. Leow added that good employers should be willing to have these conversations. Poh, HR director at The Edge Partnership, agreed, noting that a promotion doesn't always mean a heavier workload. Sometimes it could involve greater responsibility, complex stakeholder management, broader decision-making, or increased strategic influence, without requiring a significant increase in working hours. Poh stressed that employees should look beyond the immediate demands of a promotion and consider how the role contributes to their long-term career progression and opportunities within the organisation. She also highlighted that many employers are increasingly promoting work-life integration, offering flexible working arrangements that allow employees to balance career aspirations with personal and family priorities.",
  "summary": "Turning down a promotion does not mean lacking ambition, but employees should weigh the trade-offs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times",
        "title": "askST Jobs: Should I turn down a promotion to protect my work-life balance?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/askst-jobs-should-i-turn-down-a-promotion-to-protect-my-work-life-7188465",
        "published": "2026-09-13T21:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}