Why Hiring Help Beats Quitting Your Job

Professional women are at their wits’ end.

They’re overwhelmed by demanding careers, parenthood, household responsibilities, and personal goals—often at the expense of their well-being.

Constantly keeping everything afloat is exhausting. If that describes you, the inevitable question has probably arisen: “Should I quit my job?”

Before making that decision, it’s crucial to consider the hidden costs of quitting your job—lost income, stalled career progression, and long-term financial repercussions. The good news? You don’t have to choose between your job and finding balance in your life.

Why Professional Moms Are Considering Quitting

For many high-achieving women, quitting their career isn’t about lacking ambition—it’s about survival. Beyond organizational issues that may drive some women to quit the workforce, there is also a rising number of women who feel forced to leave because of the mounting responsibilities.

1. Women Are Burnt Out

You’ve likely heard of the ‘Great Resignation,’ but did you know that during the pandemic, women left the workforce at twice the rate of men? Female participation in the labor force is now at its lowest in 30 years.

Recent studies show that women report burnout and anxiety at twice the rate of men. This phenomenon is further compounded by the fact that many women are the breadwinners while also bearing the brunt of caregiving responsibilities and are exhausted by the invisible labor they shoulder at home. Eve Rodsky elaborates on this in her book Fair Play, a practical guide that helps women rebalance domestic responsibilities. She reflects on the time bias that women experience versus men—a woman’s time is viewed as infinite, while a man’s time is viewed as finite. Women are seen as the default masterminds, or as Eve puts it, “shefaults.”

2. Mom Guilt Is Growing

Women, particularly those in executive roles, often feel they’ve missed critical milestones in their children’s lives. Between meetings and deadlines, there’s little flexibility to be fully present when their kids need them most. The guilt of missing school events, navigating last-minute emergencies, or simply not being there enough can be overwhelming. And let’s not forget about the incessant pressures of social media. We empathize with the mom who is flooded by curated images of what motherhood “should” look like. It’s enough to fuel feelings of inadequacy and guilt-ridden panic.

3. More Women Are In The “Sandwich Generation”

Today’s women, ages 34-54 also face a unique problem—being a part of the “sandwich generation” and having to take care of both aging parents and young children. In moments like this, the glaring lack of support paints a grim picture and many women feel the best option is to hold down the home front. According to a Harvard Business study, 32% of caregivers (mostly women) leave their jobs to care for loved ones.

4. The To-Do List Never Ends

Further exacerbating the burnout, is the unavoidable rat race. Sure, you’ve climbed the corporate ladder, built a career worth envying, and checked all of society’s boxes. But at what cost? The mental load is crushing and the pressure to “do it all” feels suffocating. 

With every moment of the day already accounted for, quitting seems like the only way to regain control, find balance, and finally breathe. No wonder so many of us are considering quitting to get our heads back above water.  

But is it really the best solution? Every decision has an opportunity cost. What’s the real cost of leaving the workforce?

How Much Does Quitting Really Cost?

The short answer? A lot.

But the short- and long-term implications are worth considering.

The Financial Cost

Career breaks come with massive financial consequences. Women who step away often face salary penalties leading to compounded lifetime earning losses. The Center for American Progress (CAP) created a calculator to show the financial costs of interrupting a career. The numbers are high: 

“A 35-year-old woman earning $150,000 annually who leaves the workforce for five years could lose over $1.5M in lifetime wages.”

It’s not just salary loss, stepping away means:

• reduced retirement savings
• lost health insurance
• lower social security benefits
• lost wage growth

The Professional Cost

Leaving the workforce also means missing out on networking opportunities and career progression. Careers aren’t just built on achievements but relationships. Once you leave, maintaining connections becomes challenging, limiting future career prospects. Additionally, an extended break can leave professionals out of touch with trends and technologies, making re-entry difficult. 

Initiatives like The Mom Project are working to bridge the gap by consulting with businesses to build viable return-to-work programs for mothers. Unfortunately, this kind of commitment hasn’t been adopted across the board, which means many women will miss out on professional growth should they quit their job and then attempt to re-enter the workforce.

The Emotional Cost

Work isn’t just about money; for many women, it’s a source of purpose and confidence. Without this anchor some women experience a loss of identity, self-worth, and personal fulfillment. Studies show that time away from the workforce disproportionately impacts women’s confidence, with 42% of women doubting their abilities compared to 24% of men.

To make things worse, if they decide to return, they face an uphill battle. 

The Barriers to Re-Entry

Stepping away from a career, even for just a year, can create unexpected barriers to re-entry that affect long-term earning potential, professional growth, and even access to childcare.

Your Career Pauses 

Even if quitting doesn’t strain finances immediately, returning to the same salary level or career trajectory is difficult. Employers often prioritize candidates with recent experience, and industry advancements may leave former employees playing catch-up.

The Wage Gap Widens

A Harvard Business study found that women who take career breaks—even for one year—earn substantially less than those who stay. Meanwhile, peers who remain in the workforce receive raises, bonuses, and promotions, widening the pay gap. Women already negotiate salaries less frequently than men, making it harder to return to the same financial trajectory.

Losing Your Childcare Spot

The American childcare system is broken—expensive and inflexible. In cities like Seattle, daycare options are costly and infamously competitive, with a long waitlist. Returning to work later means difficulty obtaining a childcare spot.So while quitting may seem like the answer, the true cost is far greater than it first appears.

Is There An Alternative?

Leaving the workforce or letting home life suffer aren’t the only options. What if you could have both a thriving career and a balanced household?

Instead of stepping away, women facing the same dilemma are hiring personal assistants to delegate time-consuming tasks, free up mental space, and maintain career momentum without sacrificing income or opportunities.

So, before making that leap, consider a more strategic solution—hiring an executive-level personal assistant.

The Investment vs. The Cost of Quitting

The numbers don’t lie. Hiring a personal assistant is far more affordable than the lifetime earnings you’d lose by quitting. With packages starting at $1,650 per week, the investment might feel significant at first glance, but when compared to the long-term financial impact of leaving the workforce, it’s a fraction of the cost.

Table: The Cost of Quitting Your Job vs Hiring Help

Additionally, the level of support matters. As a professional woman, likely an executive, a housekeeper at $40/hour won’t provide the household management necessary to prevent burnout. True relief, the kind that moves the needle, won’t be found in simply outsourcing tasks. You need a trusted professional who will take full ownership and proactively address your needs, so you can actually let go. While a lower cost may seem attractive, it often reflects a lower level of support that isn’t sustainable in the long run.

At Pepper’s Personal Assistants, we offer tailored support designed to meet the needs of your household. Our personal assistants provide high-level household management that goes beyond chores: household management, administrative tasks, family logistics, and even special projects.

Beyond the cost, there’s no price on peace of mind. The luxury of enjoying the life you’ve built—without guilt or burnout—is invaluable.

Our clients, especially those balancing childcare and eldercare, praise their personal assistants as an indispensable investment.

“My husband and I both hold full-time jobs and are in the ‘sandwich’ phase of our lives, with responsibilities for our parents, our children and extended family. We had become overwhelmed by trying to maintain the house, the cars, the dog and more. Pepper’s Personal Assistants found our assistant, Laura, with minimal effort on our part. Laura has helped us get ahead and get organized. She has arranged for a variety of contractors and has supervised their work…Thanks to Laura and Pepper’s Personal Assistants, we now can stay ahead of our “to-do” lists and feel in control of our lives.

Rather than quitting your job and losing long-term income, hiring help allows you to have it all: a thriving career, a well-run home, and peace of mind.

So the real question is: Can you afford not to hire high-quality help?

Before making a major career move, reach out today and get the support you need.