To think working from home 1 day a week (sometimes 2) is better than more money

[Dozyoldtwonk]

I work FT, 1 day a week from home - sometimes 2 hardly ever 2. Commute by car into the office is a good hour each way so the day from my home is my saviour - I can pop a load of washing on here & there, run the Hoover round if I have 5 mins & start work earlier to finish up earlier. It really helps to free up my weekends by getting house stuff done in between calls, meetings & emails. I'm also more productive at home, depending on what I've got on, as less interruptions.

Put myself forward for a job (different company) - similar level, higher salary circa 5-10k more. It's a full time position but 'likely' to mean/need 5 full days in the office. I'm taking that to mean there is no option to work flexibly from home even one day a week, at least not immediately. In fact, they've pretty much said this so it's fair to say it's a 5 day a week commute. This is obviously fine, but I need to do some thinking before going any further.

I've gone for the job for a number of reasons - broader experience & so on, plus the obvious hike in salary is very fucking attractive. But, what price should I be putting on my current ability to work from my home once a week, and the obvious benefits that brings? Is it worth an extra 5-10k? I just don't know. It's one of those things that's quite intangible until it's gone.

This company would be a similar commute…

If relevant I have a young DD & the working home day helps with timing nursery pick ups but isn't essential.

The hike in salary would be significant in that it would make a difference day to day, but isn't absolutely essential.

[ivykaty44]

£5-10k will pay for someone else to put the washing on. Change the beds and wizz the hoover round and an extra holiday twice a year

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Yep, an extra 10k could pay for a lot of help.

Take the job then change the culture - it sounds like you'll be senior enough to make suggestions about flexible working etc once you've been there for a few months. Hardly any work place starts out with flexible working - people make it happen.

[OooohHorlicks]

In my position with DC at school I would prioritise working from home over the extra money currently but my reasons are based on the length of my commute and needing to be around for homework / playdates etc.

However since your DD is still at nursery then you could potentially see this time as time to build up goodwill in the new, better paid role in time to call upon that goodwill once DD is at school.

In some ways easier to make the move and establish yourself now, when you have full-day childcare.

[Tangoandcreditcards]

I did this calculation. £5k per year is approx £12 per working day take-home / £60 a week.

I'd easily pay that for the flexibility myself but I value flexibility very highly and my commute is VERY long.

At sacrificing a £10k incremental pay to keep flexibility then you're "paying" £120pw to stay home. All of a sudden that looks a lot less rational.

Some things are worth more than money though (e.g. Seeing young DCs in the week if a long commute otherwise precludes it).

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I took a £10k pay cut last year to be able to work from home 4-5 days a week.

I don't think it was worth it. I really thought it would be... but I do feel a bit underpaid and undervalued, knowing that I could have earnt so much more.

[Peasandsweetcorn]

I'm pondering something similar. I have decided it's not worth it for me as DH or I would otherwise have to take the day off when we needed someone like a plumber to come around (since Xmas, we've had the plumber twice, electrician once & two furniture deliveries) and by being set up to work from home, work are a lot more accepting of me doing an extra day working from home if one of the DC is sick meaning that I don't have to use up annual leave. The latter is something I do not take for granted & feel I play fair on as I usually end up taking a 1/2 day of leave and doing 3-4 hours work whilst the poorly child sleeps or watches TV and may do more again in the evening.
We have a cleaner. Whilst she is excellent, she isn't a housekeeper & I do different things on my day working from home to that which she does when she cleans.

[KitKat1985]

I think £5-10k is a lot of extra money. I think it's worth sacrificing the day working at home.

[Trills]

You MIGHT not be being unreasonable, it depends on the specific circumstances.

Have you considered not just the next year but the next five or ten years?

Could the higher-paying job become more flexible in future, if you demonstrated that you were reliable and responsible and able to work remotely, or do the responsibilities absolutely require that you be there in person?

Do the two jobs have the same level of possible future progression?

[SwedishEdith]

Is it pretty much the same job just more money? If so, take the money.

[Dozyoldtwonk]

It's really hard to know whether the job / company would be more flexible in the future - although I could ask some subtle questions at the interview to give me an indication of the culture/appetite for change (IME saying outright I wish to work flexibly despite the fact they've said its a 5-day office role will turn them off). I could potentially have leverage to influence - it's quite a senior position.

I also agree with a PP in that there's quite a difference between an extra £5k & an extra £10k. I would find it very difficult to turn down an extra £10k if I'm honest.

I wanted you all to say I'm being grabby & should value home working more but the opinions seem balanced As usual wise mnetters giving more food for thought.

Tricky one.

[Dozyoldtwonk]

Obviously different as different company, but essentially it's the same job swedish

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I agree with you op but am in fortunate position of being in a high joint income household where £10,000 extra per year doesn't make much of a difference. Is it worth the stress and the extra commuting costs?

[LeaLeander]

You don't know what might come up in life that would make the money necessary. Even if you don't need it presently you can bolster savings. Plus your future salaries/salary negotiations would build upon it.

Two extra hours a week commuting and maybe another concerted hour a couple nights a week doing housework being the trade-of, I'd go for the money.

[SwedishEdith]

Well, yes, it depends what percentage of current income £10k represents. I have a lot of flexibility and would hate to give up the freedom to work at home so can understand why you're dithering.

[BrieAndChilli]

I'm in a different position but working from home is worth £1000s for me.
I'm on a low wage and only work 15 hours a week (3 hours a day) but work from home every day with a couple of longer days in the office per month
Office is at least 45 minutes away in traffic and has a £6.70 bridge toll to pay too.
So for me I save petrol, time, money, I don't have to have lots of office clothes, spend money on lunches, etc
Just paying the bridge every day would be over £1200 a year.
I also am around for deliveries/ handyman/ phone calls from school/ able to put something in the oven to cook/put on washing etc
But the biggest benefit for me is the fact I can still work if one of the (3 primary age) children are ill. I arrange childcare in holidays (or work in the evening) but because it's only 3 hours I can get on with work with a child in the house.

[Dozyoldtwonk]

Potentially, bibbity. But then I do place a lot of value on that day from home; I feel a sense of enormous relief that I don't have to get up, get ready, hit the traffic, rinse repeat & get even more work done to boot. Plus DD is collected 1-2 hours earlier from nursery, so great for her. So maybe the stress isn't worth it. someone please decide for me

We are also fortunate in the same way, but £10k would make a significant difference, at least to me if not DH. on reflection maybe our current joint income isn't quite a much as yours

[Trills]

£10k would make a significant difference, at least to me if not DH

I hope that's just a comment on what % of your current income it is.

In reality it will make an equal amount of difference to the both of you, because your family income will have increased.

If you have separate spending money, it will go up for both of you.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Ah! .

If only you could explain the actual figures and quantify the benefit to your career. It's all a bit hypothetical otherwise.

[Dozyoldtwonk]

trills - what I meant is DH would be happy for me to stay where I am, as we don't 'need' the extra money IYSWIM.

[Trills]

So it's just that you are better at imagining and planning how the extra money can enhance your life, whereas he thinks things are fine, we don't need it, is that it? Fair enough :)

[Dozyoldtwonk]

Exactly, trills

If this is significant, an additional £10k would tip joint household income into 6 figures, just. I'm very tempted. But I also know from experience money isn't everything.

Career wise, it would be a sideways step but it would potentially open more doors as international business, different companies within parent company etc.

I'm saying all of this & haven't even been interviewed yet!

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

OP, please get it, take it, then influence it and make it better!

Otherwise some man is going to get your 10k...

[BeanCalledPickle]

How old are you? Do you plan to have more children? What's the new maternity package likely to be? I would probably say go for it if you are unlikely to need flexibility in the future but if you do it might be different!

[FiftyNineOhEight]

Just to give you another perspective

I also have a long commute. When I started this job I agreed my working pattern would be a nine day fortnight, with me also working from home one day during the week that I work 5 days.

My boss has gone on holiday for 2 weeks so I have had to be in the office every day. I will be paid pennies for covering (not even the 12 pounds a day mentioned above ). I commute by train and have an annual season ticket so it hasn't cost me any extra money but I'm more tired than usual, fed up with fellow commuters and really looking forward to going back to my usual pattern next week.

[Dozyoldtwonk]

bean I'm 31, another DC not on the cards for at least a few years but wouldn't rule it out. In a perfect world, when DD starts school I'd love to have another. DH and I have always shared childcare running around 50/50 which is great for me, but yes flexibility in the future would be preferential.

I think their reaction/response/general demeanour at interview when I raise flexible working will give me some pointers. How I do this subtly though I haven't a clue. Just really to get a feel for whether it's likely in the future, without asking directly. As I say, I could potentially influence their approach to remote working but it depends on so many factors. IME flexible working needs to be supported by the CEO//MD & be part of the culture of a place. Some businesses embrace it, some don't.

And IMO fifty what you describe is what money can't buy - those little, seemingly intangible benefits of not commuting 5 days a week.