Turn down job offer that requires 4 days a week.in office?

[Greenbootgrass]

Hi All

Offered a new role at a different company, salary increase and better pension however....

I currently wfh 2 days a week, new job only allows 1 day a week wfh

Am I mad to say no to this?

Really enjoy my 2 days a week at home, comfy clothes, no commute ( hour each way) and doing errands etc at lunchtime.

I'm in office 2 days if they wanted more I would leave. It's about working to live not living to work

How much extra is the salary? And is the new commute 1 hour or your current commute?

I’ve recently made a bit of a change from flexible role to one with a much more prescriptive routine, far less flexibility and I’m really not enjoying it.
I’m finding that the general culture is not one set up for agile working and they offer flexibility in theory but no so much in practice.

I had to take the role at the time so I don’t necessarily regret it but my life isn’t as balanced now, if things don’t improve I will look for something else.

the world has changed and companies who won’t offer better flexibility (where the roles allow of course) aren’t going to retain the talent.

Commute for both roles an hour each way so 2 hours a day total

Salary increase 10per cent

Nah I agree, not worth it.

Thanks, yes I agree!

Unless you can negotiate? I'd probably just say I'll take it but with 2 days a week WFH and if they say no then nothing lost.

Tough one, what does your gut instinct say?

Someone somewhere, and I can't fine it, did the sums on how much extra salary made you as 'happy' for one hour's commute. It was quite a lot!

I hate WFH but my commute is easy and quick.

Yes! The extra money would be nice, but if I ever do a 4 day week at current job for training or something I'm knackered by Friday

10%? No I would not.

My increase was 23% ish, but with cost of petrol, extra childcare and then deductions, it won’t come out anywhere near. It was enough to make it worth it on paper although I’m still actually finding out if the reality is going to work for me.

If you enjoy more wfh and salary / pension is the only consideration for you, then maybe not.

If new role has better potential / training then probably yes…

It's mandatory for all staff to be in 4 days a week to and I quote

Encourage collaboration and agile working

Stay put!

Do that. Grass isn’t always greener!

So another 4 hours per week commuting (which is essentially unpaid work time. That you have to pay for). That's an extra half day a week, plus the costs, for 10% extra - would be a no for me unless lots of other knock on benefits like room for negotiation and future bigger pay rises/a work area you really want to get into.

@Greenbootgrass Did you work in an office full time before Covid?

Yes I did!

I'd still ask! You don't ask, you don't get. If they really want you then they might say yes. If not, nothing to lose and stay put.

This is what I would do too.

Perhaps a job requiring no days in the office for 20% extra pay, and three hours for your lunch and errands, and lounging about in pyjamas all day is what is required. There must be some employers understanding and modern enough to offer you such terms!

Yeah I wouldn’t do this. As a previous poster has said, it’s about working to live, not the other way around. I went in earlier this week and had to spend the whole day listening to a colleague huffing and muttering under their breath. Utterly pointless sitting there knowing I could do the exact same work at home.

😂 😂

I currently do 2 office days per week and would not consider a role that wanted 4. If you could negotiate 3, how would you feel?

DH works for a company where everyone has to go in 3 days a week, he negotiated to work from home full time. You don't have anything to lose by stating your terms.