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.

Lonny makes a very good point that shouldn't be overlooked.

No need for the hmm face, you'd be surprised how many people who seem to be doing just fine turn out to have very unequal money arrangements. I can only assess your situation on what you've written here. I'm glad everything is fine.

It's difficult.
If it were just the cleaning / putting a wash on, then it's a no-brianer - even the £5K increase after tax would be enough to employ a cleaner once a week who would be FAR more efficient than you doing bits and bobs.
However I work from home a lot, and I couldn't put a price on it - I just LOVE it. Apart from anything else, I get so much more work done, but the flexibility of not having the commute is priceless. If I were already on a decent salary (possibly paying higher rate tax on that extra bit?) then I don't think the money would improve my life more than the working from home does. What you have to weigh up is what all the other benefits of the move are.

I love wfh...I get to do it perhaps 3 days per month, those days are so much less stressful for the kids as I'm not rushed, plus as I'm home earlier I have more time to encourage them to do homework. Getting the washing out on the line in summer is great. I tend to strip beds and wash the kids floors, jobs I don't do with them around as then they can't "help". I go to the gym in my lunch hour, and we can eat proper hm food... Plus as I'm set up to wfh if the kids are sick I can meet urgent deadlines if I have to stay home.

Having taken a £10k pay cut last year to work 15mins from home instead of a 1h 15 commute I would say no....

Thank you wise mnetters, can always rely on you to give me even more channels of thought I'm going to do the interview, ask my questions, scope it out & take it from there. I've told them my current situation/arrangement so it won't be a massive surprise IF they offer me the job & I turn it down…& neither would I feel bad for doing so. I don't feel I can make an informed decision without being interviewed & finding out a bit more first.

Will report back with a red face & tail between legs if I'm unsuccessful anyway

Good luck!

Great that you are applying for the position. You never know until you interview. Once you have the job offer it might be something they are willing to give you in exchange for a smaller increase than £10k.

I have the option to work from home but only do so when it's a snow storm (I'm in the U.S.) or I have an appointment I need to attend.

I work full time, and one day from home. I can't imagine giving up that day - it is gold for me, for exactly the reasons you describe. Also in the fortunate position of being able to afford the help to do all those chores on that day, should I be in the office, but it not being about that. I love my day at home.

I would absolutely encourage you to go for the interview so that you can make a fully informed decision.

Good luck!

Excellent! Best wishes for the interview. I hope it goes well.

Good luck!

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

I very rarely see jobs that openly advertise a WFH element. Most organisations are open to flexible working these days but often run a mile from making it part of your terms and conditions so if they need you to come in, they can ask.

Do the interview, see if they want you and then when it comes to the negotiation suggest that you currently work from home on a flexible basis a day a week. That it's not a formal arrangement but you would like to continue doing so, and are obviously available should there be a business need which will be never as you will arrange your own meetings
Take it from there. Of course, if you want it to be a formal arrangement you can also ask for that.

Thanks all

Dowager I'm the same, it's that package of having more time, less hassle of being out & about, less hassle from people and occasionally not getting dressed until 3pm

You're right tread - in fact I don't think I've EVER seen a job in my field advertised as flexible//working from home even if it is a part of their culture. I'd like to see more of this in the future generally, especially as we seem to be moving more & more towards a 24/7 flexible working day not sure if that's good or bad on the whole but that's a separate thread altogether