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Original poster

Hybrid working

27 replies

WanderingTheHills · 23/01/2024 20:22

Hi,

Can anyone who does hybrid working give me some ideas on how many days you work from home and how many days at your workplace.

I've been offered a job but it's 100 miles away. Role I want to do and current role is awful (not my field anyway) and at risk.

They're open to hybrid working but I haven't said what would work for me, as yet. I haven't accepted the role yet. I'm also concerned about costs involved to stay there so many nights.

Looking for ideas!!

OP posts:
equinoxprocess · 23/01/2024 20:24

Well what would work for you?

DontBeAPrickDarren · 23/01/2024 20:26

4 at home, 1 at the office - it’s a 250mile round trip so quite happy to only do it once a week.

Original poster
WanderingTheHills · 23/01/2024 20:31

Probably once a fortnight but I'd stay over 2-3 nights that week or once a week with the rest from home.

OP posts:
Muchof · 23/01/2024 20:36

My husband has done hybrid working in a couple of places and me at one place. In each case, it involved three days in the office and two at home.

I would describe what you are looking for as essentially WFH but with occasional visits. You can but ask though.

mynameiscalypso · 23/01/2024 20:38

We are hybrid with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office. It's being strictly enforced; a few people have decided to leave because of it (although I think they were naive to think WFH would go on forever). Most of my friends who work hybrid are either 2 or 3 days in the office.

ExtremelyJoyous · 23/01/2024 20:40

It really depends on you and the employer.

Some employers stipulate you must be in the office x days a week.

My employer says go to the office however much you want (or don’t want!), but must be in for dept meetings and face to face training etc.

mindworkingovertime · 23/01/2024 20:41

I do 2 days office 3 at home

Overthebow · 23/01/2024 20:42

Hybrid at my work means 2 or 3 days in the office each week.

PurpleNarwhale · 23/01/2024 20:42

50/50

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 23/01/2024 20:44

2-3 days in the office in my experience

Marblessolveeverything · 23/01/2024 20:45

Hybrid is generally used to indicate obligated days in the office each week. Wfh tends to indicate the onsite pattern you are referring.

Have an idea of their current practices?
You really need to know when you have to be onsite and work around that.

yadayadayep · 23/01/2024 20:57

Odd they've offered without stipulating what they actually want/need.

We are now 2/3 days in the office. I'd say this is what 'hybrid' means - ie roughly half and half. If the job is posted as 'remote' it is fully work from home, with maybe attendance 1or 2 times a month for meetings/training etc.

The fact they've offered someone who lives 100 miles away, I think it's unlikely they'll want you in more than once a week, and wouldn't have offered without clearing this up.

ForeverWinter · 23/01/2024 20:57

Twice a week, commute is 85ish miles but it's on the express train and is walkable from the station so total commute time door to door is 1.5 hrs. I don't find it too bad

CatamaranViper · 23/01/2024 20:59

Personally I do 4 days in the office per week.

Most people I know do between 1-3 days in the office per week

warmheartcoldfeet · 23/01/2024 21:02

We only get together in an office when there is a need too.
Either of your scenario's sound perfectly reasonable as long as your flexible and don't stick to rigid 'in the office' days.
Most of our meetings are online as we all live all over the place. I like to catch up with my local team, all together, face to face at the very minimum once month, for a half a day of co planning and CPD

NewName24 · 23/01/2024 21:24

Thing is, it doesn't really matter if, in my role I have to be in on 3 set days a week or if in my role I do a short day once every 8 weeks. That is irrelevant if your perspective new employer has a policy of the whole team being in the office on 2 set days a week and everyone choosing at least one other day a week to be in.
You need to ask them what their expectations are.

Personally, I wouldn't take a job that was "open to hybrid working" that was 100 miles away.
A 'wfh' job that wanted me at meetings 4x a year is different, but this clearly has an expectation you are in work and there is the possibility it doesn't have to be all the time. Quite different. That commute will soon get boring, expensive, and frustrating.

Original poster
WanderingTheHills · 24/01/2024 05:38

A bit of background...

New job is in my field, and a role I've been after for quite some time (I've done the right courses and gained the right experience as I've always had a strong interest in the area). My current job is awful. Different field. Toxic culture. And, restructuring going on meaning I could be out of a job, have to re-apply for my own job or be downgraded (NHS).

I'm going through a long divorce. Two kids but one away at university. Younger one is almost 16 and about to sit GCSE's in the summer. She is a quiet child and struggled with shyness in her early years (so much so, the school thought she had selective mutism). Her mock grades were great (mix of 9's, 8's, 7's and 6's) and the school has been rated as outstanding for many years. I don't want to move her. She lives with me the majority of the time. She also wants to stay on for A-levels (they have a 6th form).

Problem is. My current role is making me ill and I feel threatened by the toxic culture. I have never worked in such a place! And, never felt like this. Massive workload etc. I'm worried I can't go on.

I had applied for this new job and got an interview but withdrew. I knew I couldn't move. There are two managers as the role is split over two hospitals. One of the managers got in touch by email and asked why I'd withdrawn as I was a strong candidate. I told him my concerns. At this point he said that he worked from home a lot and could see no reason why I couldn't. I was interviewed by the other manager (and 2 others). I didn't raise it at the interview. I got the job. So, I now feel I can't accept as I'm starting to feel bad for my daughter etc. But, also conscious that I'm very unhappy in my current role (it affects my time off and sleep).

I'm in a bit of a tricky situation. I can drive over there weekly but only once a week but then concerned about costs of staying over there. I'm on my own now. Not sure what to do Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
WanderingTheHills · 24/01/2024 05:41

Looked for roles on my area for a good couple of years and there is nothing. I did apply for a higher band position at a local hospital, got an interview but didn't get the role.

No other roles. Have no problem getting interviews for roles south but then the issue presents itself. I'm desperate to go back to my own career too.

OP posts:
Original poster
WanderingTheHills · 24/01/2024 05:42

My daughter is likely to go to university at 18 so the scenario is likely to change.

OP posts:
Original poster
WanderingTheHills · 24/01/2024 05:48

New job close to the Lake District - I love hiking 🥾 🙂.

OP posts:
BeckyBloomwood3 · 24/01/2024 05:54

So, the job wasn't actually advertised as hybrid.
This manager called you and said he WFH a lot. You don't know what that means.
Unless it's specified in the contract this seems to be done 'informally' which means it's at managerial discretion. 'Hybrid' rather than remote usually means once a week at least. But you have nothing to lose by asking for once a fortnight or a month if you're feeling brave. Can you have a friendly chat with the manager who emailed you personally?

Whatever the outcome make sure it's specified in your contract.

DH made the mistake of accepting a role in London (we live in Manchester) with 'informal' remote working except for monthly meetings. Within 6 months a new boss took over and this turned into biweekly. Jacked it in for his current fully remote role that has the occasional travel paid for.

Wakemeup17 · 24/01/2024 06:00

You can ask for what you want and make sure it's in your contract. You have nothing to lose since you are not going to accept the job as is anyway (by the sound of it).

KinKenKon · 24/01/2024 06:05

Ah yes I remember your previous threads. Well done on the new job offer.

They obviously want you and feel your skills are what they're looking for. I would be open with them at this point about the travel from home and the fact you can only take this if it's truly a hybrid role.
Could you do 2 days a week, travelling in the morning and staying 1 night in a travelodge/premier inn? And you DD could be with her dad those day. Although it's not ideal it gets you out of your current situation and you can still keep a lookout for something nearer home,
You've nothing to lose be negotiating as otherwise you're probably going to have to turn it down due to the travel costs and time.

I think most hybrid roles are probably 2 or 3 days a week in office. My DH is one day fixed the whole team are in together plus one other day that's flexible.

KinKenKon · 24/01/2024 06:11

You can ask for what you want and make sure it's in your contract.

Very unlikely with NHS contracts. Often just stipulate you work for the Trust or health authority, so you can be moved for business needs.

baldpenguine · 24/01/2024 10:27

Hybrid means a mix of the two, wfh and in the office.

My role is hybrid, I work full time.

I have to go into the office once a week, and in top of that, attend any performance reviews or meetings in person.

So I probably go into the office 5-8 times a month.

It's only 15 miles away so not a problem.
I couldn't imagine doing hybrid working for a 100 mile round trip!