Would you change jobs in these circumstances?

[Pifflewhip]

I currently work in the private sector doing full time hours compressed over 4 days. I worked from home for 18 months during the pandemic which I loved but everyone has been forced back into the office 2 days per week now. My job is stressful with lots of tight deadlines and I also line manage a small team which I don’t enjoy. There are also a couple of other niggly things specific to the actual work itself. I’ve been feeling a bit unhappy and trapped in my job for a few months but it’s secure and pays well.

When I was told I had to return to the office I immediately starting looking for fully remote jobs. I only applied for one job in the civil service which I’ve now been offered. This job appears to be less stressful, has no line management responsibility and is fully WFH. The pay is the same and obviously the pension is better. The downside is it’s fixed term for 2 years with a view to being made permanent. I would also be working 5 days instead of my current 4 (same number of hours) so would lose my 3 day weekend. Am I crazy to consider accepting? What would you do?

I would imagine you could ask for compressed hours in the CS or ask if they do flexi-time and if so how it operates.

Sorry I should have added that I did ask about compressed hours but they said no to a 4 day week as they think it’s too many hours in a day.

Change always feels uncomfortable. Based on what you describe, I would take it.

@Pifflewhip

Sorry I should have added that I did ask about compressed hours but they said no to a 4 day week as they think it’s too many hours in a day.

That's interesting - 5 days over 4 is quite common in the CS in my experience. I'm on mat leave at the moment and in a pre-leave chat with HR they said I should consider it as an option when thinking about what hours I want to do on return.

Anyway, if you think the job is interesting I'd go for it - it's easier to apply for more roles once you're in.

Civil servant here. What about 10 days of hours over 9 days?

I work in HR and can tell you that the concept of a permanent job doesn't really exist. A ftc for 2 years is as permanent as many permanent jobs. It's so so easy to make a role redundant if there's a business rationale.
So I wouldn't let the fixed term nature determine your decision not on a 2 year contract anyway.

Sounds like a good gig if its fully remote - could be worth the jump! My friends have worked for councils etc and always have a good set up etc and new jobs always come up.