How far is the max you would drive for a 1 day/week in office job (rest WFH)

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I've been contacted by an employer who is interested in me for a role I know I would love much more than my current role.

The only issue is it would be a 2.5 hour drive each way. I would only have to be in the office one day a week, and with flexible start /finish time. The rest I could do from home. But I am not sure if it is too far (I can't relocate).

My current job is mainly all office based and can involve really long days (I did an 18 hour day on Monday).

I'm looking at others jobs too but do like the sound of this one (and it pays £80k, the others are all.aroind the £65-70k mark) but I am just unsure and would welcome thoughts from others whom have done long commutes.

Thanks all, I think your right. I was thinking it's probably too much but wasn't sure. I think I will reconsider if it can be two days together a fortnight as I can stay in premier Inn or similar. My children are with their dad half the week so it wouldn't affect childcare

Also the impact on family life was too great. I have a really nice flexible set up at a really good firm, so I place quite a high value on that. MY DH wanted me to go for it, because £80k, but when I talked it over with him we (I) decided I preferred the current set up.

Can't use train annoyingly, the route would be much longer - that was the first thing I checked as it would really change my thinking

I'd do that for the right money and a job that gives good balance the rest of the week. I agree with PP, you need to be absolutely certain they won't turn into an everyone back in the office employer later down the line though.

I’d definitely do it, but I used to commute from Edinburgh to York 1-2 days a fortnight & it was fine 99 per cent of the time. I had a child in nursery too.

as others have said, make it clear that more days are not possible due to distance & get it in writing.

I would prefer the overnight option, but I wouldn't be fazed if it had to be once a week.

Either way, the arrangement needs to form part of your contract.

Is that 2.5 hours in good conditions driving?

I'd have to get it written into a legally binding contract to even consider it. And then I'd be worried if I was the only person to have those conditions ; because Management personnel change and it would be an obvious anomaly.

I would (and do do) 2.5 hrs door to door in the train once a week.

But I wouldn’t do that driving 2.5 hrs each way. Presumably that’s in normal traffic without an accident/ roadworks/ bad weather. I do sometimes drive 5+ hours in a day for work but I find I’m exhausted for the rest of the week. And I’d be worried driving home in the dark and wet when I’m tired.

Also I find the single day in the office to be busier and more intense than a normal office day before hybrid working. So that adds to exhaustion on way home.

God no, an extra 20 / 25 hours a month in the carnwould do me in.
If you do go for it though get it written in to your contract, no "with a view to renegotiation" etc. Why do they want you in just out of interest? Your senior, in a niche role, is it a weekly team catch up or just presenteeism?

But the pay off is no commute the rest of the week and an end to 18 hour days, so it's not an extra 20/25 hours a month

It sounds like OP is going to leave her current job either way and is weighing up long-commute-but-higher-headline-salary-job vs shorter-commute-but-lower-salary-jobs. So the extra hours would be real given those two options.

I'd do that but I love driving so it wouldn't bother me once a week for a job I liked with a good salary. Find some good podcasts to line up and the time soon goes.

Wouldn't mind that at all, once a week.

I commute 3 days a week and spend about 6 hours on the train a week.

That would be too far for me OP. Up to 1.5 hours - okay - but 2.5 would be a deal-breaker unless the money was amazing and/or the job was literally my dream job.

I had an agency staff member get the megabus from Glasgow to London! He'd stay in a hostel, and worked 12hr night shifts with us for a week before returning home. 😦 Apparently the money was worth being away that length for.

If you can't get a train, what about a megabus or national express? As someone else suggested, I;d try to do 3 block days rather than 1 per week. That would save 10hrs of commuting alone! A local BnB might offer a deal to save some money.

I was in this position a few years ago. It was an 8hr round trip. I stayed overnight the night before my day in the office. They felt very long days.

DS commuted once a week from Sheffield to Bloomsbury for two years - that was for two days in the office & he stayed overnight with us or a friend. He got the National Express coach home, which only cost £8, but had to get the train on the way to London as the coach would have arrived too late.

It would be too much for me. As some others have suggested could you do two days back to back once a fortnight? And stay over night somewhere

It takes me two hours to get home on my office day (I leave stupidly early in the morning so the roads are less busy for that part). I'm knackered by the time I walk through the door at 7pm. It wouldn't be so bad if it was steady driving but it's the traffic that does it(hence the leaving stupidly early in the morning) there's nothing more tiring than sitting in stop start traffic on a wet and dark evening after a day at work.

I don't have dinner, just get home set up my laptop, and get ready for bed then watch TV as the evening is a complete washout.

I'm dreading being told I'll have to be in more (there are murmurs we may) as I don't think I could do it.

I have a long commute and was offered a job initially with similar expectations as yours (but not in the same salary range). My kids also go to their dad's part of the week.
I asked for more money, and said I couldn't commit to more then 2 days a week and would need to review how I got on. My commute is 110 miles round trip and averages about 1hr 45 mins.
20 months in I've got it so I mix up doing odd days and consecutive days; sometimes I also work to pay and sometimes I pay.
It works for me but I do love my job!

1.5 hours driving, 2 hours on the train - I’ve done that for a previous role and the novelty soon wears off. Doable in spring and summer, not nice in the middle of winter. Just make sure it won’t creep up and you’ll soon be expected in 2 days…and then 3…

I used to do regular 2.5h each way commutes.
You get used to it pretty quickly, and audio books & podcasts keep you going BUT:

• will you get paid travel time? 5h is a lot of wasted time to give them for free.
• will they pay any mileage? You're looking at half a tank if traffic is flowing, plus miles/wear & tear on the car & you'll need commuting on your car insurance.
• are they willing to write that working pattern in your contract? If not, red flag!

Having done my fair share of rush hour M6 in November, it's be a no for me. An hour away would be my max.

I used to get the train at 0700 so left the house at 6:40, got into work just before 0900. So it's not a huge amount different to that. Once a week for £80k I would certainly do.

I'd definitely go for it. It's not just about money and commute. You said you'd enjoy it much more than your current job - that's priceless as it's your happiness.