Less than a year ago, I switched from a job at a nonprofit whose mission I was deeply passionate about to a more senior role at a nonprofit in a different sector. I was very underpaid previously and nearly doubled my salary in this new role. Because this role is outside my field of expertise, however, my job satisfaction is not nearly as high as it was in my previous job.

What worries me is that my salary is about 20 to 30 percent higher than comparable jobs at similar organizations. Though my employers hired me for my years of experience, it's now clear to me that the job doesn't actually require my level of experience. This nonprofit could easily pay a significantly less experienced person significantly less money to do exactly what I do.

This leads me to the part I am culpable in: I do not need to work 40 hours a week to do the job well, and I don't. I meet every deadline, attend every meeting, reach every goal, but I also take long breaks and sign off early. In previous jobs, my passion for the field made me take on extra tasks and work extra hours. But because I don't feel the same about this job, I do not go above and beyond. Am I doing wrong by using up extra resources at a job where I am not willing to go above and beyond? Should I tell them they created an incorrectly scaled position? I have been applying to other jobs, but it's a competitive field; it may take some time to start something new, and I can't afford not to have an income.

 

Think about the decision-making processes described by Dan Ariely--weigh  options, discuss the pros and cons, make a decision and then defend it.  dig into the gray areas of this dilemma and then act in the way that is morally best for all parties.