Do you think it's time to cut J2?

I’m in a serious pickle and need some advice. I have two Js and live in a VHCOL area where we spend an exorbitant amount on childcare. I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, and my oldest is starting kindergarten.

J1 is my bread and butter. J2 was (operative word, was) really easy and totally flexible with OE. J2 got acquired by a huge company, though, and things are getting worse: micromanagement, metrics being watched under a microscope, etc. It’s a CX role, which usually isn’t conducive to OE, but prior to the acquisition, it worked totally fine. I always got raises, bonuses, great reviews, etc.

J1 is a standard 9–5, fully remote. J2 is also fully remote and had a standard schedule. Sometimes I’d have to work a weekend shift, but the hours varied between 8–4, 9–5, and, at worst, 11–7. All doable.

Then I got a bomb dropped on me: my new schedule for the next six months is 2–10 PM, including Saturdays. So now it’s no longer OE, it’s basically moonlighting. I wouldn’t be as worried if they weren’t using Assembled WFM, where you basically need to be at your computer at all times unless you’re on break.

My oldest’s school day ends at 3 PM, and I was planning to pick him up. All of this to say, this schedule is seriously scaring me, and I don’t want it to get in the way of spending time with my children.

The catch is that I’d lose $4K a month. Another catch is that I have an on-site (two days) for J1 coming up that I actually need to attend. I was planning to either call in sick or try to use PTO.

I’m beside myself, but I don’t think I can keep J2. What do you think? Give it a try and get a few paychecks? Quit? Fuck off and wait to get fired? I’m at a loss.

I’m actively looking for and interviewing for a new J2, but this job market looks like hot garbage. I'm also hyper aware of the prospect of a recession, although we may be in one already.

We’ll have one less kid in daycare, and losing J2 will be a significant hit, but I can manage my budget until I find something else.