Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give up my 100% WFH job?

155 replies

Benji92 · 31/01/2024 01:06

Hi there,

I joined my company just over a year and half ago and always had the ambition to become a Manager from day 1, letting my own line manager know.

My company is going through a redesign within my department. There have been talks for over a year now and no one knows what will come out of that. My manager says that he can't promise me if/when there'll be a Manager position will open up.

Recently a position opened up in another department, which would practically mean a promotion if I got the job.

Current job:
-Senior Associate
-100% WFH
-£33k
-Easy job

New job:
-Manager
-2 days in the office (I'll need to relocate but I wouldn't mind, in fact might be better for me as I'm considering moving there regardless)
-£40k
-Boring and demanding job

Of course there's a chance I might not get the job but the hiring manager thinks very highly of me and I'd be a very strong candidate. I just want to make my mind up fully before applying not to mess them about.

My friends think I'm being unreasonable for wanting to leave my 100% remote job for not much gain. Would you apply for the new position?

OP posts:
RoomOfRequirement · 31/01/2024 01:08

I wouldn't. Relocation, in office days and more work for only 7K more? Do the math but I don't believe the takehome pay is really that much more.

I also will only stop WFH when its prized out of my cold dead hands so.

Theatrefan12 · 31/01/2024 01:25

Absolutely go for it. Office days wouldn’t be an issue for me, 2 days in / 3 days home is a good split. Plus being around people while learning a new role is advantageous imo

If you are planning to move to the area then that’s another win. Good opportunity to start a new phase of your life

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/01/2024 01:27

I HATE WFH. However, Boring and demanding job nope no no nein.

LurkingAndVenting · 31/01/2024 02:03

Can you re-negotiate the WFH piece, esp since you're likely a shoe-in, already have domain and cultural knowledge & fit with the company?

I mean personally...

Let's say I live around Manchester somewhere and WFH. Then within the company I already work for, it'll require me to re-locate to Leeds AND THEN come into the office 2 days per week.

While I am ambitious and £6k raise would be really nice, I'm not sure that's enough for me to (1) uproot my kids and go [OMG the expense for that move!] and (2) require me to give up my WFH/flexi work for 2 days per week.

And again, personally... if there's any silver lining to lockdowns, its enabled so many women to further their careers like nothing before (except maybe WWII was the last instance).

I hope that makes sense. If you are the talent that they are after, they should be making more middle ground to meet yours and your family's needs, imho.

Best of luck!

KnowledgeableMomma · 31/01/2024 02:43

Me, personally? WFH hands down. I'm a single mom so it would mean I am home more. Relocating expenses alone would deter me. However, it's not about what other people would feel but about what you want.

WholeHog · 31/01/2024 05:00

It sounds like you want the job so I'd say go for it. You want management, a higher paid job is unlikely to be easier/more fun, it can be a stepping stone to the next hopefully more interesting and better paid management job once you build management skills and experience. If you want management it's unlikely to be fully wfh in most fields now I think,and fully wfh as a new manager would be challenging anyway.

tiutinkerbell · 31/01/2024 06:30

Deffo not. No WFH AND a boring job. Sounds like a terrible deal.

polkadotpeppermint · 31/01/2024 06:39

Have you actually looked at ££ after tax and factored in commuting costs?

SwedishEdith · 31/01/2024 06:40

Ooo, no, I don't think that's an attractive deal. Why do you want a manager role? Is it just because that's the next step for more pay? That middle manager role is one of the worst roles in an organisation.

No way would I wilfully give up WFH unless it was convenient for me.

Strikeback · 31/01/2024 06:42

Well I'm going to disagree and say go for it. You're already considering relocating. It's only 2 days in the office so hardly no WFH as others are suggesting. An easy job (your current one) can soon equal a boring job. Plus you will be a better manager if you interact regularly with your reports in the office.

Anjea · 31/01/2024 06:44

Not for 7k more. That would vanish with costs.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 31/01/2024 06:45

I say go for it, two days in the office seems like a good balance. If you don't go for this promotion then it could be a while before another comes along or circumstances change and there is no guarantee that you will get it.

notthatthis · 31/01/2024 06:47

Benji92 · 31/01/2024 01:06

Hi there,

I joined my company just over a year and half ago and always had the ambition to become a Manager from day 1, letting my own line manager know.

My company is going through a redesign within my department. There have been talks for over a year now and no one knows what will come out of that. My manager says that he can't promise me if/when there'll be a Manager position will open up.

Recently a position opened up in another department, which would practically mean a promotion if I got the job.

Current job:
-Senior Associate
-100% WFH
-£33k
-Easy job

New job:
-Manager
-2 days in the office (I'll need to relocate but I wouldn't mind, in fact might be better for me as I'm considering moving there regardless)
-£40k
-Boring and demanding job

Of course there's a chance I might not get the job but the hiring manager thinks very highly of me and I'd be a very strong candidate. I just want to make my mind up fully before applying not to mess them about.

My friends think I'm being unreasonable for wanting to leave my 100% remote job for not much gain. Would you apply for the new position?

it's 7K not 70k, don't do it.
There's lots you can do to earn an extra 1K per month without leaving your house.

ColdButSunny · 31/01/2024 06:47

I'd say go for it, I think 2 days in the office is the perfect balance and it gets your foot in the door as a manager.

fairo · 31/01/2024 06:49

If you want to progress then hybrid is the way to go. You get way more networking done

NotARealWookiie · 31/01/2024 06:52

It depends why you want to be a manager and what you do? Do you have a love for your profession or is it about progression and money? Would management in your current department pay more?

If you are essentially ambitious, want to be a senior manager and earn as much as you can then it might be a good stepping stone. But only really if you are thinking of relocating anyway. It’s not a good enough offer if you want a longer term role though.

Personally I find professional fulfilment crucial to my happiness. So you might want to think about whether you are more passionate about your current area - boring AND demanding you may live to regret…

MayThe4th · 31/01/2024 06:54

Can you think of it more in the longer term? No 7k isn’t much of an increase once you factor in tax/NI, however longer term a step up will give you better opportunity towards further promotion.

If you don’t mind the idea of highbrid, and let’s be honest a lot of companies are heading back towards that now, even ones who said that 100% wfh was going to be the norm now, then I would go fo it on the basis of what it can do for you going forward.

IMO highbrid is going to become the norm going forward anyway, so even your currently permanently wfh job could put you back in the office soon enough.

Plumtop11 · 31/01/2024 06:56

Yes go for it. I enjoy my one day in the office and would happily do more if I lived closer

TeaKitten · 31/01/2024 06:56

Why relocate for a boring job, with not much extra money and potentially added commuting costs? If the job sounded interesting then I’d say go for it.. but you said boring.

booni13 · 31/01/2024 06:59

I w

EarringsandLipstick · 31/01/2024 06:59

Boring and demanding job

This is an awful combination for only £7k more.

It could be worth taking, for career progression (getting experience in a managerial role). But that experience will only be worthwhile if you do well at it which with that combination, is unlikely.

2 days in the office wouldn't be an issue, and for the right job, a relocation sounds reasonable. Equally, I wouldn't worry about the relatively small pay increase of it was the right role.

But for a job you don't seem keen on at all, it's not worth it.

bastin · 31/01/2024 07:00

For an extra £7k (before deductions) you're willing to relocate, commute and take on a lot more responsibility, stress and you've already said it's boring too

It's a no from me

booni13 · 31/01/2024 07:01

I would probably stick with the current job.

I don't think the take home pay would be a massive amount more after tax etc.
I also can't think of anything worse than a demanding job.

mummylove24 · 31/01/2024 07:17

I wouldn’t if I were you
Manager role you’ll be taking home approx. extra £390 per month. Commuting 8 days a month, you won’t see the pay rise plus a “demanding job”

IlsSortLaPlupartAuNuitMostly · 31/01/2024 07:38

It's not about the 7K now, it's about the next step after that. To roll out a cliche, where do you want to be in five years time? Is there another way to get there? Will this new job put you in a good place (physical and metaphorical) for your next move up?