Fully in office for 4k more?

[Livingforfriday1985]

I currently work in local government and have done for last 7 years.4 days at home, 1 in office.

Been wanting to work in HR/recruitment and been offered a role 1 mile down the road. Its in office every day, no option for hybrid.
Currently studying for HR qualification half way through.

My children are 10 and 12 and its ideal to still be at home when they come in from school etc and during the hols.

Would you take an office job for £4k more? Shall I stay put?

Edited because I haven’t fully read your post. Didn’t you post this a couple of weeks ago?

For £4k extra I’d probably stay put. But check this out first, see how much of a difference it’ll make to your take home pay.
www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php

no. Not even close to worth it.

What’s your pay now?

And you’d lose your public sector pension?

I think it's a bit different when you are changing the type of job. If this is your break, then maybe it goes beyond immediate finances. What chances do you have to move on in, say, two years and get a bigger pay rise with HR experience?

I wouldn’t take it.

Go for it, it’s nearby, doing what you set out to do and as it’s already more money it may lead to a higher salary in the future.

Im sure once you get there you may find there’s some flexibility to work from home.

Depends. I’d probably say no ordinarily, but if you are wanting to change careers completely and this is an opportunity to do it, I’d definitely give it more consideration. It can be hard to get a foot in the door of a new career. I work in HR and whilst it is normal to have some WFH, you would probably never find a role that has as much as 4 days a week working from home.

Also, if this job is only a mile down the road then you won’t have commuting costs to factor in and you’d still be reasonably accessible for your children.

I wouldn't take the same job for £4,000 more but how likely are you to secure another HR role where you can also WFH, especially when you are new to the role? I would think those WFH roles in HR would be few and far between. Given it's only a mile away it sounds like a good step for you. I would be thinking about what your earning potential is over the next 2-5 years in HR and comparing that with what you will earn staying in your current role.

How does the pension, annual leave etc compare with your current role?

@Livingforfriday1985 what is the pension provision in each?

Annual leave, pension and general office culture/ flexibility in comparison to current job would all play a factor.

How much would it be after tax and how much will you spend on the commute and extra wrap around care (if any).

Other thing to think about is as you are changing careers how does the job compare to other HR jobs in terms of salary and office time.

My answer depends a lot on that. But generally, no in wouldn't. But my commuting costs would eat all and more of the £4k.

Holiday is 27 days plus bank holiday. New role is 25 days plus bh

Pension in current role is 14 - 18% employer contribution. New role is 3% contribution.

Sickness pay in current role is 6 months full pay, new role is 5 days

Looks like you are financially far better off staying where you are to me from those figures, OP. 6 months sick pay versus only 5 days too!

Sick pay I wouldn't care about (hope not to be ill). But the pension! Don't move.
Also 2 days less holiday, that's a nice thing to have with kids.

The point is if you are breaking into a new role then you can’t go demanding all sorts.

Accept the role, build up your experience then move onto a job with better benefits

I think in your position I’d take it. It’s an opportunity to train into the area you want to work in. You will easily find a role soon enough after you’ve qualified.

The employer pension contribution is meaningless in your current role. It’s an arbitrary number that has no bearing on the actual pension you’ll receive.

A defined benefit pension such as the LGPS is worth something like an extra £20k. There’s no way on earth I’d give it up just for £4k more, even without giving up the WFH!

I’d stay put for a few more years until the kids area bit older and to build that pension up. Is it likely you’ll get this opportunity again?

How long have you worked for LA? Your holidays will increase to 32 days after 5 years service and also have the option to buy extra days. Massive difference to 25 days.
Also the LGPS is worth more than private pensions and hours at 37 per week with all the added flexibility is no comparison to an extra 4K gross.
I’d finish your qualifications in full and ask for some job shadowing in HR in local government if you can.

Nope. Not worth it financially and losing the benefit of being home for the kids when they come in from school.

I’m in a senior HR role opposed to entry level so slightly different, but I wouldn’t move to a fully office based role again for 20k more - not on anyone’s nelly 😂

I’m home based, but (inter)national travel makes up a chunk of my working weeks but I really value the diary flexibility I get in return for that and I couldn’t be tied to an office again.

I’ve worked hybrid from pre- my HR days (2013 onwards) so I’m very set in my ways.

Depends on part what your current salary is but no I wouldn’t give up the work life balance for 4k

4 k a year more would definitely not be enough to shift from public sector to private
Not once you factor in leave, pension contributions, job security, sick pay etc.

I am looking at making the shift and will be asking for at least 20k a year more, and that's for a job that's hybrid still.

The awful thing is, I love working in the public sector and I know I can make a difference , but the recruitment agent I spoke to reckons I can aim for 30k a year above my current salary.

A decade of below inflation pay rises has killed my willingness to work in the public sector.