Is more annual leave better than more money?

[DamnUserName21]

Hi, this might sound daft but I've been offered two jobs and I am unsure which to take..

Job 1: £33,000 with 25 days paid AL + bank holidays

Job 2: £34,000 with 23 days paid AL + bank holidays

Both similar roles/responsibility.

How do the pension contributions and commutes compare?

I was going to ask as above, as well as any other benefits/perks?

There's not much in it is there?

£1000 PA is roughly £83 PM, then take off tax NI and pension

Id go for the 25 days A/L, based on a 5 day week its 5 weeks holiday compared to 4 and bit.

But id also consider any other perks and especially the commute, 30 minutes each compared to say 90 minutes, would be no brainer for me

Do you need the extra £50 per month?

Do you have young kids?

What are the other benefits? Flexibility, hybrid, remote, pension, healthcare, etc?

Which workplace gave you the best vibes?

I’d take more leave. We get 27, plus can buy up to five 5 so what you’re offered is already very low to me.

As others have said, I'd also consider

• commute time
• pension contributions
• other perks
• progression opportunities

Do you have kids? If you have kids under 18 you are legally entitled to unpaid parental leave. £1,000 pay cut for 2 extra days off makes those 2 days v expensive compared to unpaid leave - where £1,000 would buy you over a week on a pro rata basis.

Can you buy additional leave? Your day rate will be less than £500 on your salary

I get 30 now + BH's and buy a week too.

I would always buy that extra week now. Worth every penny.

so essentially £500 for 1 day off?
If someone said you can have a day off or you can do a days work for £500 what would you do?

also find out the higher pay ones culture on swapping a bank holiday or a weekend day for a week day and buying more holiday.
These can all help if you are a couple of days short for something.

Can you negotiate?

Thanks for the input.

Both remote roles. Can purchase up to 5 days for both.

Yes, it is low for annual leave entitlement, which is pretty crap in private sector healthcare for junior staff.

Re negotiate--I'm going to ask and see how it goes.

It's a full time M to F role.

I think you nailed though--who wouldn't work one day for £500 quid!

If all things were equal then I would take the more money. A few extra days of AL is not worth it to me.

Either negotiate more pay for job 1 or more leave for job 2.

worst case scenario request a days leave unpaid per year- some company’s allow you to “buy” leave with salary sacrifice. This is essentially unpaid leave with the unpaid hours spread over the year.

I’d say to job A ‘I’ve been offered £34,000 for a role by another organisation. Would you be able to match that?’

assuming the roles are otherwise equivalent.

Yeah, if you can buy days then go for the higher paying one.

At that salary 2 extra days leave will cost £250 (ish). Leaving you £750 better off.

Thanks, all. Your posts have helped with perspective.

I'm leaning towards job 2 but will ask for 25 days and will see what happens.

Not much in it. Go for the one with better culture and superior perks discounting holiday.

I was arm twisted by the operating manager into signing a permanent contract with promises I could buy 5 and take 5 flexi.
In the end my line manager was crap so I struggled to take long breaks and she questioned how I could have earnt enough flexi as I apparently couldn't be busy enough despite doing 1 1/2 times what I was contracted which was a lot of her job and senior duties. Meanwhile people starting last month in the other team accrued hours from just 15 mins a day smh