Possibility of a new job, 5 days less holidays, more money, less travel……

[AlisonWhatIsTheMatter]

Have an interview next week for an Admin role in a family run business, £13-£14 per hour, 20 days holiday (plus BH) per year.

It’s local to me, so instead of a 50 mile round trip per day, it’s 7-8!

I’ve earned my extra 5 days holiday per year as I’ve been there for 15 years, so 25 days holiday plus BH per year. I earn £13 per hour for an extremely demanding role, it’s admin though so classed as ‘anyone can do it’ (they can’t), well they can but to do it well, without supervision, would take years.

I’m not sure what my AIBU is really.

AIBU to haggle for more holidays or if I can manage to get £14 per hour and 20 days, plus BH, per year, to just take it?

Toxic environment where I’m working, no idea if the new place would be any different but could it be any worse!

Any advice most welcome. Should I just think ‘fuck it’ and move on, without trying to ask for more holidays, or try and negotiate more during the interview with the gamble they might think ‘who does she think she is’ 😅

Even though I REALLY need to leave where I currently work due to a narcissist GM, I do love a couple of colleagues I work with. Starting somewhere new fills me with anxiety tbh, but should I just go for it (if offered the position of course)?

I’m heading towards mid 50s so no spring chicken. Would love to be settled right now without the thought of up sticks and moving but I want to be happy for my remaining work years!

Sorry for the ramble……I am a regular but have changed my name for this post.

Quite a few jobs advertised are 20 days plus BH.

Maybe I should as if they could meet in the middle?

So you are not working from home so currently two hours a day travel? If that's the case then it would be worth it to lose the holiday? When I have tried to negotiate before I have done it when they ring to offer me the job.

There's a lot to be said for a short commute. Tot up how much free time you'd get back a year doing that?

I agree losing 5 days holiday isn't great and would ask about increasing by one day each year or something.

The pay would be significantly more and I'm guessing you can gain 90 mins plus a day through less travel. I like a short commute. It puts time back on my day especially in the summer when i can do more after work.

I suppose it comes down to how much you value your holidays. Do you have kids and need to cover school holidays? You could still get a two weeks holiday plus another week and a few long weekend with 20 days easily.

5 days in the office, not WFH.

Depends if they can afford extra hol?
I’d take the offer, and think of the benefits

DS is 18 so ready to holiday without us. 😟

If you really needed it do they offer the option to buy more holiday time?

I wouldn’t worry too much about the 20 days + bank hol, that is really typical for lots of places now. I doubt a small employer would offer more than that.

My concern with a small (if it is) family run business would be how easy/difficult it might be to take those holidays when you want to. I used to work for a similar business when I was younger and it was really difficult to get my holidays when I wanted them because in a smaller business people being off has a much bigger impact on daily runnings so they tend to be stricter on only 1 person off at a time, so holidays (especially in typical holiday times like kids holidays/summer/Christmas) can be a bit of a lottery to get.

Extremely good point. I’m worried about this too.
It’s something I might need to discuss during the interview but how I do I bring this up? 😅.

I could ask. I don’t know how I approach this but it’s something to think about.

Nah, just ask them to match your holiday. Now is the time to negotiate.

I’d negotiate the £14, then ask if you could buy 3 days holiday. It’d still be slightly more than you earn currently, and you save money and time on the commute.

Genuinely I don’t think there is a way to be sure it won’t be a problem. If they need staff they’re not going to be open about the fact it will be difficult to get your holidays when you want them because it would put anybody off, it’s the gamble you take!

With family run the other thing is realistically you’re never going to be priority for leave if there’s an occasion/holiday/celebration.

Yes negotiate. I did this for my current job. I was going from 28 down to 23 for not much more money, but was chasing more flexibility and a slightly easier commute. I waited until they offered me the job, and then asked at that point, they immediately raised the holiday to 25, with agreement to increase each year again after 3 years of service to get me back to 28 in 5 years. I was nervous about asking but they offered as soon as I asked!
Don't ask at interview, wait until they offer you the job.

You’re absolutely right.

I’m weighing up my options.

Is it better the devil you know etc…..😟

I think a short commute is worth a lot of holiday.

Thank you! That’s a really great strategy! Well done to you btw! 😃

on the other hand I have to think just go for it. If it all goes tits up I can look for another job.

Thank you all for your replies so far.

A lot of places only offer 20 days plus bank hols.

Over 48 weeks a year, saving 40mins commute twice a day you gain the equivalent of 320 hours back, which is 42 x 7.5hr days, through not commuting.

As long as you can take leave when you need to it's worth it. You could ask if they will let you buy extra leave,.take unpaid leave, or use flexi time to accrue extra days to take.

I moved jobs for 7 days less holiday (though we can take 5 days unpaid) but I was previously in an extremely toxic environment and I don't regret the move at all.

Any way you can flexi your hours and take the odd half day maybe?

Thank you. Those hours add up and make such a difference to your day/week/month!