Would you go full time at 60 for a shorter commute?

[taxidriver]

would you go full time at 60?
been part time, well 4 days for many years.
last time i was full time was 1994.
having a dog persuaded me to remain part time after dc left home, plus it is hard to make the leap.
i will have to work til 67.
but the thought of this driving in the winter is worrying me
the full time role is 15 minutes drive compared to 45 for my current admin role.

dh retired so no time with him
dd doesnt need me for child care just dog care but dh could do that.
is it doable

Is it 15mins each way and 45 mins each way?
If so that’s currently 6 hours you are commuting versus 2.5 hours. So presuming you will be working around 7.25 hours a day, you are only going to be working/ out of the house for a few hours more if that makes sense.
Is there much of a difference in pay?
I think that would sway it for me.

yes each way

i cant work out the pay, i think it is a lower rate, well it is a lower rate so perhaps the same pay, as it is more hours
that would affect my pension i guess the lower rate, hmm

You'll be out of the house a couple of extra hours a week - the travel will save you 3.5 hours a week alone so what's that, 4 hours extra a week you'll be 'working'.

You'll be earning more - upwards of £90 a week.

So, for each extra hour you're earning at least £22.50 and hour. More if you're on more than minimum wage.

You can always ask for condensed days or a shorter week in a year or two...

i am not sure if i would be earning more
but it is VERY tempting

Why do you have no idea of the pay?

I’d take the short commute and plan to request reduced hours after a couple of years.

Good shout. Is it a final pay pension? You'd also save on pension which seems to be rocketing.

i havent looked into it, i am part time but a higher band

Keep the higher band unless you are claiming your pension already

edited to suggest you ask if new job will match your pay /band if same role

There’s no way on this planet I’d be doing less pay for more hours but I suppose it depends how much you love working and how much you hate driving…

Ah, I see

I'd factor in job security. How long have you worked in your current role? Are you entitled to redundancy? Is the new role secure? Have you definitely even got it? Sounds like you've managed for years in winter and our winters are only getting milder. Can you plan ahead with grit?

Aren't you at risk anyway in winter whether it's 15 mins or 45 mins?

Just playing devil's advocate. Sounds like you really value that day off with zero driving and the full day for your dog.

i would take home more according to calculations

I think you may well miss having a day off each week especially as it’s been a long time since you last worked full time. I would hate a 45 minute drive each way though, 25 minutes drove me insane.

thanks for all the points of view
great to hear.
not really redundancy in nhs

Have you already taken your nhs pension OP? Your 1995 one? Because dropping down bands now if you haven’t taken your 1995 pension is absolutely crazy.

that's what i thought @lovelycattus
no I havent

i guess i will have to put up with this until i get my pension 1995

then I can be free to go down and work closer to home

I’m 64 and commute 4 hours a day for full time work. Your option sounds very doable

I have worked a four day week for the past three years. My Friday off is worth more to me than what I have to on the four days I work. I would do the commute and take the day However it would only be for a limited time period until you retire, so maybe do-able as there is an end point.

see how it goes. You can apply for a flexible working request from day 1 so you could use that.

You should take your 95 pension now if you are 60 as otherwise you are losing money. Also it’s based on the best of last 3 years fte so changing band now would not affect pension

If you’re 60 you can take your 1995 pension now. You can still carry on working.
Dont drop a band until you’ve taken your pension

if i took it now thats fine
but it takes 8 months to apply and is not guaranteed
but to change jobs then the new job would affect the pension

You need to speak to pensions officer as it’s definitely based on the best of your last 3 years so should be fine