You're a single mom, do you take this job?

[Anonymous]

Mid 30s single mom.

Current job
$130k
No bonuses
No health insurance
WFH permanently
Low stress
Love my coworkers

Offer
$180k
Up to 15% bonuses
Full medical benefits
80% WFH, 20% travel
More intense/demanding environment with nice, smart people

[Anonymous]

yes!

[Anonymous]

I’d stick with number one.

[Anonymous]

The lack of health insurance at your current job is the only thing really significantly giving me pause. Otherwise I'd say stay.

[Anonymous]

How hard/expensive is covering childcare during the travel going to be? That seems like the big question, but going from no medical benefits to medical benefits seems huge. How are you/the kids covered now?

[Anonymous]

I would definitely take the new job. I am a single mom too if that makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Do you have family close by to help when traveling? 20% is a lot of time you have to figure out.
Is the other parent involved and helpful?

[Anonymous]

How is job security at both?

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids and how will you cover their care when you travel?

What is your current healthcare cost and coverage situation?

[Anonymous]

If I had solid childcare options for the travel time, I'd take job #2.

[Anonymous]

Set expectations around advance notice for travel so that you can line up childcare. And yes if you can mange childcare. It’s a change worth taking.

[Anonymous]

Couple questions:
1. Can other parent or a dependable close relative care for kids during travel? Is the travel predictable or last minute?
2. Do you need the money?
3. What are you doing right now for health insurance for you and the kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lack of health insurance at your current job is the only thing really significantly giving me pause. Otherwise I'd say stay.

+1 ~ another single mom. Are you a single mom or a solo mom? Is health insurance available from another parent?

[Anonymous]

Op Here..

I currently pay $1210 per month for a marketplace health insurance plan and we don't have vision or dental coverage right now.

I have a great village - huge close extended family and lifelong friends. Obviously I can't take advantage or burn them out but in general they are all eager to see my kids when they can. Also have some dependable college aged sitters I use as-needed.

Money wise I'm "ok" - I own a house, kids in public elementary school. Retirement and college savings are not overflowing but they exist. I'm on an ok track to retire by 67ish and college will likely be half covered. Obviously more can help a lot in this economy but I'm not dire.

[Anonymous]

I currently pay $1210 per month for a marketplace health insurance plan and we don't have vision or dental coverage right now.

That clarifies. That's almost 15k a year, so basically now the metric is a 65k raise and possible bonuses for 20% travel. I wouldn't do it, but I wouldn't do 20% travel even without kids. I'd be concerned that's a low estimate and that the travel would be unpredictable and disruptive, and the bonuses wouldn't pan out as expected. I'd keep the 130k chill WFH job, personally, but I can see a reasonable argument otherwise.