Under pressure to take a promotion.

[Hank70SS]

Gary, if you're worried what the boss might think if you turn it down, sit down and discuss it with him. He obviously thinks you're good and wants to keep you around. Tell him where you're at in your life and situation and it doesn't really fit you. I think he'll respect that, he may not want to hear it but should at least understand it.

If his reaction doesn't feel good to you, well at least you know and have a chance to look around at other options.

I respect and understand your decision to turn down the money to spend time with your family. I spent quite a few years in a support position repairing mainframe computers, back in the days of pagers, pre-cell phone. That meant going in when the guys working midnights or weekends couldn't fix it. Maybe working another 10 or 12 hours after already working a full day. I won't say I never collected overtime pay but I took a lot of comp time in lieu of the money. The time off was more important than the money, I didn't want to be just a paycheck to Lynda and the kids.

Your boss recognizes your value to the business and hopefully understands. If not I'm sure there are others out there that recognize it. Do what is right for you, money only goes so far in bringing happiness. I'm not saying we all don't want more but at what cost. Nothing is free, especially money, you have to give up something.