Worth giving up 1 day wfh for a bigger salary

[lifeis48]

I currently work in a nice firm as a secretary but feel invisible some days and that my skills are wasted. Have been offered a job with an increase in salary of £4K a year but no option to wfh. Would I be a fool to turn it down for this reason?

It really depends on a few things, what is note important to you, where the working from home is more important, or the extra cash. Also how much the commute will cost you.

sorry Auto spelling has left a terribly written post, but I think you get the gist

Is it no working from home ever (so you couldn't stay in if you were waiting for a plumber, for example) or just not on a regular basis?

I don't like wfh, so this wouldn't bother me (but clearly you need to assess your own preference). If I never had the option to work flexibly if I wanted to, this would be a deal breaker.

It’s very personal. Some people love WFH (I’m not one of them) so wouldn’t consider this a good deal.

For me, if the commute isn’t too long/expensive then I’d say it’s worth it.

If you have kids- no don’t take it
if you don’t have kids- yes take it

What is £4K as a percentage?
Do you have children?
How much would your commute cost and take?

Personally I wouldn't give up a wfh day, but I have kids and a long commute.

For me 4K a year would absolutely not make up for giving up the option to wfh.
I’m now hybrid and it has restored my work/life balance. 4K is not a drop in the ocean as far as I’m concerned!

Thank you all. I’m 52 ! children are 15 and 22. No major commute takes 25 mins to get there and free bus travel. I have wfh since the pandemic and it has been cut down to 1 day. I currently do a 4 day week so my week is broke up nicely as I don’t work Tuesday and wfh Thursday. We have just finished renovating a house inside but enough to do outside still. The extra money would be very helpful. I love my wfh day a lot and feel this is what is holding me back making a decision.

So is the new job 5 days pw? What is the difference in hours?

They have agreed to a 4 day week. Current job working to 5.30. This one 5.00 finish. Also a week less holidays but they have said I can take few days ad hoc in the year to compensate for that

I also currently work in a typing pool so for every team member but this role is for the one department. I also work for them all by myself 2 days a week as other secretary works Mon-Wed

It sounds a much better job in terms of your own satisfaction. It would give you new skills as well (presumably you would become almost like a PA). Could you take it for a few years and then find a more work from home position with the new experience.

Depends on you. I'm not keen on wfh.

feel invisible some days and that my skills are wasted.

Does this matter to you? Would you enjoy the new job more?

I could but I’m not keen on job hopping and want to not be moving when I’m potentially in my mid 50s. I guess I’m in my comfort zone here but not feeling fulfilled.

How does ‘ad hoc’ work? I wouldn’t agree to this unless it was written into my contract. Old job boss told me 22 days ‘officially’ but he and all his team took 27 days and so could I. He left, new boss stuck to contractual 22 days.

I was considering putting it to them instead as ‘holiday entitlement is 20 days a year full time and required to retain 2-3 days out of this for Christmas week. I was going to ask if they would be happy with me having those 20 days pro rated but not having to retain days for Christmas week off

If they close for the Christmas period they may expect you hold two days for that. Perhaps they'll let you have those days unpaid if you don't wantvtobuse holidays.

Take it.

Would the 4k extra a year be eaten up by commuting costs, parking, buying lunch? If so, then its not really worth it.

No it would provide extra money to help us with our house or free up our disposable income to allow for a holiday next year.

Are you assuming turning down a higher salary is inherently unwise?
I couldn't disagree more. We spend a third of our life at work given it's about 10 hours of each day dedicated to work (thereabouts) and so enjoying our time there is essential, otherwise is that even living? that much of our life doing something we would rather not be doing?

So if you enjoy working from home you should prioritise that over any amount of money. When I hear "money can't buy happiness" this is what I think of.

When I look back over my life it's always been the times I've been less well off but more happy at work that have been the best times. When I was being paid the most all the money went on easing the pain of the fact I hated my job and I didn't enjoy my life as work was looming over me at all times.

Thanks for your perspective. I guess if I was happy where I am there would be no decision to ponder over. I’m certainly happy working that 1 day a week at home but the other 3 days in the office maybe not so much. And I guess before the pandemic there was no such thing. So 2 happy days a week compared to 1 happy day at home and more disposable income that would really help (atm salary isn’t stretching)

It's just something to include in your decision that some neglect. It's very important. A job you dislike can ruin your life.

@lifeis48 it sounds like they may do an enforced shutdown at Christmas which is why you have to retain your leave.

I don’t think 4k is enough to take the job. You are going to have one week’s less leave in the new job, most likely have to take the Christmas days off, I can’t see them leaving the office open just so you can go in. I also would not want to give up a wfh day either. For me, it’s a no brainier, stay in current job.