How to word this

[Kipdfgy]

Hi,

I have recently been offered a job. I’d love to take it but it’s 5 days a week in office.
I currently work 3 days in office and 2 days home. It works great for me.
The new role also finishes later so I’d have less free time by the time I get home in the evening.

I declined the offer due to it not meeting my flexibility needs, and now they are asking what I require.

I am not sure how to word that I would like to work from home and that the commute will add expenses that I am not prepared to incur.
I don’t want to sound demanding.

Any advice would be great. I don’t have anything to lose I have already declined the offer so I’m not sure what I am worried about.

I would just be honest and say that having considered their offer and would love to accept but there are financial implications and an impact on your work like balance. In order to be able to accept you would need the salary to be increased by £xx to mitigate your increased travel costs and are requesting to wfh 2 days a week.

Were these things not clear when you applied? I wouldn't mention cost of commute. Rather than decline did you say - I'd love to accept if I can work from home two days a week and change my finish time from X to Y?

If so just say - as explained when I provisionally accepted the job I want to WFH two days a week and need to finish at x time.

You don’t need to go into any detail about time and costs. Just be really clear - ‘I’m looking for a job that allows me to wfh twice a week. I’d be happy to accept your offer if we could agree that”.

Don't specify why (not needed and sounds moany), just state clearly and specifically what it is you want.

Would you accept the role with the offered hours and salary, but 2 days WFH? Or do you want shorter hours on the office days too? Were you happy with the pay and extras offered?

Think carefully before you reply as you don't want to drip feed further asks. Practice your reply here first if it helps!

thanks for your replies. The job was advertised 9-5. In the interview stages I did mention I would need to ideally work 8:30-4:30 due to childcare commitments however the best they could do is 8:30-5 which means I’d have to ask someone to collect her from after school care every day.

I did not mention that I would like to work from home as the advertisement did not mention that, however after thinking about it carefully it would really affect my work life balance.

like I said, relying on others for childcare, realising how much more it would cost in fuel, and the reduced amount of time in the evenings.
I reckon I’d feel rather overwhelmed trying to keep up with everything.

Thank you.
I would be happy with 8:30-5 if it was three days a week. So then I only have to make sure there is someone around to collect dd three days per week instead of 5.
That may or may not sound silly, but I hate the anxiety of someone not being able to and having to leave work, or possibly forgetting to ask someone! DD’s dad is not around and my family work full time so it really is a big ask.
The other option is to find alternative home care other than the school, and that would cost me more.

”Thank you for coming back
to me. The concerns I have around flexibility are as follows:

• My current role provides hybrid working, and I would be looking to continue to do this with 3 days in the office and two from home
• There would be additional commuting costs in travelling into the office. I would be looking for additional salary of £x to offset these.

If you were able to make these accommodations, I would be delighted to accept the offer to work with you”.

That doesn't really make sense. The job is 9-5 and you said 830-430 and they said 830-5 is ok? Well of course they would, it is all the hours they asked plus an extra 30mins?

If you want 830-430 in office 3 days plus 2 days at home 9-5, that's what you say. Think about exactly what you want (don't start with a compromise, it might be needed later!) and state that clearly and politely.

You’re so right! I just checked the add, it’s 9-5:39, silly me! So yes, they have made an accommodation there but it’s just not quite enough.
I think they may have an hour lunch break - I am used to half an hour so would be happy to compromise but they didn’t seem willing.

I think you are right, just state what I am looking for and see what happens. If they don’t accept then that’s ok, because I am already prepared to stay where I am for the time being.

You have to accept what's right for you and I'd be the same now. I would not accept a non hybrid role any more. WFH works well for me and I only applied for hybrid roles when i recently changed jobs