Am I mad to be switching my hybrid job for long commute?

[Alice226]

As above really - I currently work two/three days a week in a local office, with the others at home and have great flexibility.

For various reasons, I am seeking a new job and have found 2/3 of real interest.

The ‘issue’ is that there would be a daily commute of c.1 hour each way (2 hour round trip each day).

I am now doubting whether I’m being ridiculous to give up my current arrangement, albeit in a job that is no longer fulfilling and at times making me miserable.

To those who’ve done similar, or who currently commute daily, what do you think?

Not looking for a debate on the merits of home/office working , purely people’s experiences of that type of daily commute 😀

Whats your home set up? Partner, kids, what ages, childcare needs etc

Pre covid that was a standard commute. If your current job is leaving you feeling deflated, then it’s time for a move.

Good luck

I’d be really put off by the hour commute versus your current arrangement. There’s no simple answer here as it depends how miserable your current job makes you. Any way you could hold out for a new job that’s nearer with a similar arrangement to the one you have now?

Sorry should have said in OP, that side of things wouldn’t be an issue if I was to have the daily commute

In the industry it’s in its uncommon to have a similar hybrid arrangement, maybe a day working remote per week (at most) but not at start of role.

Habpve you costed the commute? That could be mote then you think

Yeah, I have an electric car with home charging which means it isn’t too costly.

I did this for years in my 30s and it felt worth it at the time. I wouldn’t do it now even without children. I think it creates a sense of being without balance which is ultimately bad for our mental and physical health.

I have done hour-long commutes each way, 30 minute commutes and 2 minutes' walk round the corner.
I preferred the 30 minute commute, gave me time to listen to the radio/news etc. on the way in and to decompress on the way home again.
I found an hour just too long, especially if traffic was busy. Going into to work was usually fine as I like to start early, but coming home was a complete lottery. One day, for example, I left the office at 16:00, but did not arrive home until 19:45 on a 75km commute, mostly on motorways. That was an exception.
I hated being 2 minutes' walk from the office.

Genuine question, how important is it to you to be fulfilled at work?

I'm not always fulfilled, but my job is homeworking, flexible and well paid so I get to work less hours and do all kids the school stuff which is more important to me at this stage of life.

There's a minimum wage job nearby that I would happily skip to each morning and it would give me enormous satisfaction. But it's not flexible, it would be draining in a different way and it would have the drawbacks of shift work and not being able to see the kids as much.

So going back to my question, even if the new job was perfect and fulfilling, would it overall make your life better or worse? Can you be content by a better work life balance or would you enjoy the commute?

I occasionally commute for about 2.5 hours each way but I hate having to down tools at a set time to get the train and then it's a lottery if its on time or overbooked or delayed. I spend half my afternoon clock watching to make sure I'm leaving on time and it's not as productive as being able to let a meet8ng sometimes overrun or book it near the end of the day.

I had a 75 min commute each way for about a year - initially thought it’d be ok and could listen to audiobooks etc. It soon became tiresome and I ended up changing jobs. It was tiring and I hated arriving home an hour later than normal, especially in winter months. If I had lived alone I might have tolerated it better, but I hated losing the extra hour in the evening, always rushing to sort out homeworks/uniforms etc. If you own the car outright maybe it’s not so bad, but mine was leased at the time and I had to increase my monthly payments to cover the extra mileage.

They are all fair comments, I own my car luckily so don’t need to worry about mileage but it’s a good consideration as have leased in the past.

used to do it pre covid my commute was one hour each way every day. when covid happened and started wfh I realised how bloody tiresome it was. the constant concentration having to get up early to beat traffic and make sure leave office to beat traffic. then rush to get dinner on in eve housework etc at weekend. I actually dunno how I did it really and I say if kept going would have burnt out. I am still in same role but wfh 4 days a week. traffic has increased now alot more so can take 2 hours to get to work and that's even using the shortcut back roads. no public transport available at all. I will never ever go back to it. don't think I would be able to do it now am older am wrecked by my one day as it is. plus the cost of it now with diesel prices. for me hybrid and flexibility all the way

How much more would you enjoy the new job? Why do you want to change?

I’ve done long commutes in the past and not minded them. These days however, I’ve WFH for nearly 10 years and my home set up is geared around it. Salary increase would have to be significant - more than enough to cover buying in the support to maintain my current set up (doggy day care, cleaner, sending out laundry and that’s just for starters), as well as a lot more disposable income.

That’s not too bad a commute - mine was twice that before covid

I’d hate such a long commute and wouldn’t do it for the best job in the world, but if you don’t mind driving it’s probably fine.

Personally for me I wouldn’t do it as I prefer a shorter commute and the WFH flex is also valuable to me. But if it doesn’t bother you and you can spare the 2 hours lost time each day then go for it.

Not being unreasonable. I do 2 days in office, 3 at home and it’s 1.5 hours each way. If I went to fully office I would have to change jobs

I did it for years and loved having that time to listen to music etc, it was more like 90 minutes each way, depending on the traffic. Twice it took over 4 hours to get home due to accidents.
I now WFH full time and love that too but if I was offered a significant amount of money (+30k above my pay now as it would cost about 7.5k in fuel) I wouldn't do it again.

No further progression in current company, salary has stagnated, the workload has dried up compared to what it used to be so the days can be soul destroying. Lack of interaction as quite an isolated role. New job would have greater salary potential and more interaction which I enjoy. I’m 37 so quite a lot of years of work ahead of my yet.

Similar situation here

Job is very unfulfilling

But it's 1 day a week in the office, great pension, amazing holidays

I've realised that really, what an I trying to prove?

A 10% increase for a load of hassle? In office presence? Less holidays??

Why??!

I would need to take home an extra £2k a month to persuade me to do that.

I bloody love wfh

I have similar perks, and I’ve had to battle with those thoughts for a while. But have come to the conclusion I’d be unhappy staying in an unfulfilling job even if it does have those perks.

I've spent the majority of my working life commuting about an hour each way on public transport.
For the last 9 years of substantive employment, I commuted an hour and a half each way.
Never been a problem for me and you get used to it.
Hope this helps