To move to a remote role for a £10k pay cut

[tellmewhy3]

Does it make life significantly easier? I’m on £50k, offered £40k for a remote role (doing the same thing essentially with a better job title).

Currently work 5 days in the office 8:30-4:30 with very little flexibility and every minute accounted for on a timesheet - though only a 10 minute commute.

DD starts school in September and in my new role I’d be allowed to do drop off and pick up, they are happy for me to be with her in the afternoon and pick the extra hour up in the evening.

Is it a no brainer? It’s just that the extra £10k a year gives us a much more comfortable life.

Only really 10 years into my working life, so would appreciate some insight.

I think you should negotiate - why would you doing the same role with a better job title not get you equal money whether remote or not?

Sounds like they’re trying to take advantage of you by offering you less money for a promotion to be honest by selling it to you as “remote” or “childcare friendly”

I’d do it for a £5K salary cut, nothing more.

Thanks everyone - good point.. I have never attempted to negotiate over a stated salary band.

It’s definitely worth negotiating.

Have a look through your bank statement and see how much money being in your workplace costs you?

Im hybrid, but I can easily spend £30 on a day I’m in the office between the commute, coffee, lunch out. Some people never fall into the trap of that frivolous spending, and you have a short commute, so it may not be as relevant to you. Don’t forget to include things like work clothes/shoes, again may not be relevant to you.

It would depend how much you are going to pay if wraparound care is needed. And all future pay rises and bonuses would be based off your new rate.

If they choose to remove remote working would they increase you pay again when back in the office?

I agree with PP that it would be good to go with a negotiated higher amount but yes as a generality I think it is worth it for flexibility like this, plus savings on commute, food, sundries, and importantly, childcare. Breakfast and after-school club here is easily £25 a day and you have to get them there and back and do the commute as well.

Have you worked out the exact difference each month taking into account differences in tax and entitlements? It may not be as big as the headline figure suggests.

It’s about £600 a month after tax. Once you factor the lack of commute/parking/lunches/coffees, breakfast club (we also manage to lift DD at 4pm which shaves down afterschools costs as well) the difference will be offset, plus you have the convenience of being close to school in case of emergencies, nativities, parent meetings, forgotten coats or lunches etc. I can do washing and light housework at lunch or whilst the kettle is boiling which frees up the evenings and weekends for homework, extra curricular stuff or just quality time with the kids. I’d say if you can get them up a bit it would be worthwhile going for it, really is a gamechanger when you have a young family.

Offset your travel costs, food/drink expenditure and childcare and try to wiggle a couple of grand more out of them. Personally, having worked in an office and now fully wfh, the work life balance is well worth a drop in salary. I bet once you add up the costs and work out the tax, it won’t be a £10k drop!

I’d try negotiating with the existing job - can they not cut a deal on working remotely more often? Bird in the hand and all…..

Consider the costs of heating your home all day and the inconvenience of not having a printer etc. You may save on clothes etc.

What are the other benefits like? Pension etc?

I would do it in a heart beat being in a job (teaching) with very little flexibility. The ability to do pick up and drop off every day is very valuable.

What would you do for childcare if you work in the office? How much would you save by not paying for that and reduced commuting costs?
Personally I would do it because I love the flexibility of WFH

Don’t underestimate as well what the free time can get you.

Even with a short commute, you will have so much more free time during the day, in the morning, during lunch time etc. you can utilise the time to save on spending (more slow cooked meals with cheaper cuts of meat, less washing/keeping on top of washing, shop around your outgoings like insurance) all the stuff that having ‘been at work all day’ I don’t want to do.

Have you done the maths on the costs if you do or don't do it?

Cost of commute - public transport costs / fuel, parking, mileage on the car, tolls etc.

Extra costs at office - buying lunch, popping to the shop and hitting up M&S at lunch time, tea kitty, office events

Any other things like pet costs - for me it's dog care for example

Childcare costs - what will wrap around care cost you every day? How will you manage during school holidays ie paying for additional care, do you have enough leave between you to manage it or does anyone need to take unpaid leave?

Id I could afford it then personally I would (and did) as you can save on travel expenses and get a lot of extra personal time. Just make sure you don't also work those extra hours you'd have been travelling unless compensated