Unemployment and Partners

Hi @Sparrow79,

Sorry to hear about the hardships you and your husband are currently facing. I imagine this is bringing up a lot of stress and anxiety for you both. Having such a massive change in circumstances from your husband losing his job and also being diagnosed with prostate cancer, it would turn your lives upside down 🍃

I can't answer whether it is selfish or not for you to not want to work, but I understand why it would feel daunting to enter the workforce at 50. I wonder if you and your husband have looked into accessing Centrelink or meeting with services to talk about what options you both may have?

Hi @Sparrow79 thank you for sharing a little of what is happening for you at the moment. I think you pose a great question when asking yourself if it is selfish to not want to work. What is your answer to this when you ask yourself this? Also, have you are your husband talked about if him continuing to work feels like it is putting extra pressure on him while sick?

Seeking work after a period of being a stay-at-home-parent would take some adjusting, so I would encourage you to reach out for support if you need some help with where to start. It sounds like part of you wanted to looking for jobs to help financially if your husband cannot work full-time anymore, and then another part of you realising that you don't want to work.

I am wondering what would help you and your husband to have a conversation about this? Could you come up with a plan together on what you both ideally want, and then also discuss what is needed from a financial and practical level?

You also mentioned that you are hoping you can both work part time, maybe that is also something to talk about? You could also discuss what you would both need if you are unsure if you can work part-time or at all.