Would you give up flexibility for

[QforCucumber]

In my current job I can work my hours as I please across the day, come and go from the office as required, work from home a day a week - work 34 hours a week, basic auto enrolment pension. No other employment benefits.

another role with another firm has come up, 5k rise, still 34 hours a week, private healthcare and a better pension scheme, but its office based with mostly no opportunity to work from home or flex the hours much.

do these positives outweigh that flexibility? Kids are both in primary ft. Commute is the same for both. No chance of current business matching the other one. It’s a definite one or the other situation.

How much of a % increase for you is £5k? Flexibility is worth more than that for me.

I couldn't give up the flexibility with primary aged kids

would you work better with less flexibility?
more structure
better time management ?

Not for £5k, no. £10k perhaps.

From 36 to 41k sorry meant to put that too!

I think only you can answer this- dh would sign me up for this as I slept, I’d think even though 5k is so much is it worth the juggling and the stress that will inevitably come with it?

No way. For a huge increase in salary, maybe.

I think what’s got me tempted is the additional pension contributions (5% employer in place of my current 3%) and the private healthcare on top of the rise - these things probably then add up to a cash value closer to 7k than 5k

that is quite an incentive op
what is your usual childcare?

Commute is around 20 mins for each.

I do school drop offs daily - childminder collects both most days due to logistics, so this would likely also not change.

the biggest difference would be weeks like this week - half term. Where I’ve been going into the office here and there and been able to collect the kids early from holiday clubs and log back in when I get home to finish up bits and pieces.

the hiring manager has said wfh in the new role can be considered but on an as needed basis - home emergency, emergency childcare cover, but not a regular agreement and office attendance is expected 9-4 most days.

It would need to be a heck of a payrise to outweigh flexibility for me, but one day wfh also wouldn't be enough for me.

Nope I wouldn't give up the flexibility especially with 2 primary age children 7k is just not enough of an incentive for me personally. I found flexi time worth it's weight in gold with young kids.

For a 20 min commute the lack of WFH wouldn’t bother me at all, but the lack of flexibility on timings would be more of an issue. It would also depend how old the DCs were and how much long they’d be needing school holiday childcare.

i make that a 14% pay increase not including the additional pension contributions. It’s still a no from me though. Flexibility over cash every day of the week.

Humm, it would be a no from me. The office attendance would be OK, especially with such a short commute, but having to work set hours with no flexibility would be a hard no!

Substantial pay rise, private healthcare and better pension for the same hours? I would absolutely take it, yes. Complete no-brainer. The other parent can step up if lack of flexibility causes any issues.

No, I wouldn’t do it, not with young DC, I have the fully flexible hybrid role, I could never go back to set hours on site. Any chance your current employer may offer private health care in the near future? My employer has just introduced it as a benefit, they have had to move with the times to keep people.

I would be tempted but wouldn't as flexibility makes working so much less stressful.

It’s definitely that lack of flexibility rather than the lack of wfh that’s putting me off,

but when I started in this role 8 years ago I also didn’t have that flex - it has come with building trust over time. It’s absolutely my biggest concern.

kids are going into year 6 and year 2 in September.

If you’re single, no. Stay put. Flexibility is vital.

If you’re cohabiting or married then the childcare burden needs to be shared so you can get a better pension imo.

I wouldn't with their ages. It's not enough of a payrise.

No I would not at all- mine are older and the amount of support they need (particularly DD with GCSEs at the moment) flexibility is worth more than that

I honestly don’t think there is any amount of money in the world that could convince me to go back to a 2-3 hour daily commute, and inflexible hours. Turns out, I value my time and the work life balance far too much these days.

I also wouldn’t do it for a 20 minute commute though, so even for £5k I’d have to say no.

Nope flexibility all the way

Isn't 5k about a hundred quid a week? So for 20 quid a day you'd be losing flexibility or is my maths awful