Going from remote to in office

[Anonymous]

I currently work remotely and received an offer to for a job with better upward mobility but it requires one day per week in office.
Pay is essentially the same.

I'm very interested in the job but expecting a new baby soon. Just looking for different opinions. With a new baby on the way would it be a bad move to take an in office job? The commute is about 20 to 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

A commute that short once a week doesn’t seem like it’d make a difference. You’ll need someone else to watch the baby after maternity leave regardless.

[Anonymous]

Just make sure they don't move the goalposts on you. Either job. Existing full remote or one day remote.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't sound too bad but you have to weigh the risk of them increasing the days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A commute that short once a week doesn’t seem like it’d make a difference. You’ll need someone else to watch the baby after maternity leave regardless.

+1. Going in once a week might actually be nice from the perspective of seeing and socializing with other adults while keeping the work life balance of 4 days remote. Other important things I would consider is expected stress and hours of new job, difficulty of learning curve for new role, job security of current v. new job, and how leave/flexibility/family friendliness compares between the jobs. For me, becoming a new mom was a big transition, and I am glad my job was secure, supportive, and family friendly (so many sick days those first few years if you’re using daycare). But lots of other people have a higher tolerance for stress and change than I do

[Anonymous]

Consider whether you will be eligible for maternity leave at the new job. Also, I thought for FMLA you had to be there for one year to be eligible.

[Anonymous]

You're going to need childcare while you're working regardless. Unless it's a two hour commute going in once a week sounds ideal. I started a new job last year that is 100% remote and while it's certainly convenient, it is so hard to get a feel for my coworkers' personalities and build a rapport when being totally remote.

[Anonymous]

as someone who wfh permanently, you should go into the office a couple of times per week. And do not attempt to wfh while watching your baby. I can hear some people doing that, and they are distracted, not to mention, the baby crying in the background is distracting.

And I say this as someone who did wfh with a baby, but I had a nanny. I shut myself in my home office.

A 30min commute is nothing.

[Anonymous]

Sounds great to me. 1 - 2 days per work in person is my dream. Baby or no baby.

[Anonymous]

If you want to advance in professional careers you need to get some regular in person face time.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t see this as taking an in office job. It’s once a week. I found it very refreshing to have a reason to get dressed and leave my house in the morning after maternity leave. And I do that five days a week. One day is easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:as someone who wfh permanently, you should go into the office a couple of times per week. And do not attempt to wfh while watching your baby. I can hear some people doing that, and they are distracted, not to mention, the baby crying in the background is distracting.

And I say this as someone who did wfh with a baby, but I had a nanny. I shut myself in my home office.

A 30min commute is nothing.

+1. Once a week is ideal, I didn't even mind it with a much longer commute. You'll be able to get to know people better. I did search for a remote job after the requirement went up to 50%, so moving the goalposts is a real concern. How upset would you be if that happened?

Having a baby doesn't really figure in since you'll need childcare either way, and a 20-30 minute commute won't give them an unreasonably long day in care. The big question there will be FMLA and/or paid parental leave availability as a new employee.

[Anonymous]

Agree 1 day a week is ideal. Hopefully your team has a core day and you can to face to face mentoring, socializing, etc.

But I’d get the one day a week in writing. You don’t want the number of days in office to creep upwards, especially with a baby.

[Anonymous]

I would love an office to go to once a week. I'm fully remote and I feel like one day a week is actually perfect.

It'd concern me more to change jobs as I was about to have a baby - just, you know how things are at the job you have. You don't know what it'll be like at the new place. But I am risk averse (these days; didn't used to be).

[Anonymous]

One day a week in office is nothing. Go for it.