Would you rather WFH 100% of the time but work full time, or be office based but only work 4 days

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I’m feeling massively guilty for leaving a 4 day a week office based job (office is an hour away) to move to a full time job which is 100% WFH. I asked if it could be done part time and the answer was absolutely not.

I don’t have the Friday with my kids any more, but it will be easier to spend time with them if I’m working from home? Right?

Make me feel better!?

I'd choose the 5 days WFH for the same reason. A 1 hour commute each way 4 times a week works out at 8 hours anyway, which is the same as an extra day.

I'd take the 4 days in the office. I prefer a distinction between home and office.

How old are the kids? Wfh would be my option every time.

How old are your children? What is your current childcare arrangement for them?

I'd choose 4 days in the office, every time. WFH doesn't make it easier to spend time with your kids - it's not a substitute for childcare.

You are doing 5 days for the WFH job anyway given 1 hour commute on 4 days is 8 hours. Are you getting paid more? I would prefer WFH full time. It is much easier to be flexible.

WFH every time, in fact I won't consider office-based roles anymore unless they're very close to home or only very rarely in the office. I did 15 years commuting and WFH has been a revelation (if only I hadn't had to do lockdown with a toddler as well).

I work 4.5 days across 4, which is of course also easier when wfh - I have an extra three hours in my day when I'm not doing the nursery run.

Honestly I’d choose the better job, putting aside the other stuff. Satisfaction/money/opportunity, whatever it is that makes you tick.

Kids are 4 and 1. The 4 year old will be in school/wraparound/holiday clubs, the 1 year old will be with a childminder

Wfh every time - I think you’re making the right call.

Frankly if I’m going to spend 8 hours apart from my kids I’d rather be getting paid and developing my career in exchange for them, rather than paying to sit on a train/traffic jam.

I have gone from PT office to FT wfh. I’m pretty full on busy but can bung in the washing and put food in the slow cooker most days so when I’m finished my evenings and weekends are clear rather than coming home to housework or taking up weekend.

perfect scenario would be 4 days WFH

Then I'd definitely work from home so long as you can have a dedicated work space. You can finish on the dot and dedicate your time to the kids. No commute, fewer office outfits to buy (she says about to go into a Zoom meeting still in PJs).

Wfh every time

Wfh! No brainier. The saving on travelling makes up for the extra day. Ditto travelling expenses v coat of wfh.

Yes I agree with this. But I would try and spend some time IRL with colleagues if you can or it can feel very isolating- nothing beats (some) face to face encounters.

5 day WFH.

Depnding on the role, I might also be tempted to do longer M-Th from home but 'save back' some work to send through on friday and just take a lighter day then. Not totally offline, still contable but not any heavy duty work that needs focus.

I would always go for part time in the office.

My WFH hours are the same as my office ones, DD is leaving the house with me in the morning and while I do gain one hour a day in the evening if I don’t commute it is the same as a full day at home during the school holidays.

I’d take the 4 days. I long to return to the office full time.

4 days in the office definitely. I currently do a 4 day week wfh and/or office. I would never go full time just to do wfh everyday.

WFH 100%

You can get all the shit done – laundry, food shop, meal prep, bloody world book day costumes, cleaning – in lunchtimes and camera-off zoom presentations, leaving your weekends totally clear. Also lunchtime naps after sleepless nights.

4 days in the office 100% for me. I too like separation between home and work (did 6 weeks wfh in lockdown 1 and never want to do it again). I do 4 days in the office now and really value my day off.

That’s not true for everyone. I try to spend as little time as possible IRL with colleagues. Nothing beats never having to work with people face to face, for me.

Ooh that's tough, I'd want at least one day in the office to meet with colleagues.

However, the upside of 100% WFH means you will always be able to drop off DC in the morning, pick them up from school and get an evening sitter/au pair for the last couple of hours of work.

You will spend far more time with your DC than you would working out of the house, and is the reason I am currently looking for an 80% WFH job (I currently work 5 days a week full-time, with 3 days in an office 1 hour commute away). My DC currently attend both morning and afternoon clubs at school, which I'd like them to stop as soon as I get this new job.

I do the WFH thing and love it. I don't like the idea of spending my free time unpaid doing a miserable work commute, so it suits me perfectly to only work for the exact time I'm being paid for.

Thanks so much for the input. Some great ideas about how to make it work (love the idea to plan for Friday to be lighter!)