How much is WFH worth for you?

[Anonymous]

100% take the job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your age? Any kids at home? If so how old are they?

I love WFH, but I would give it up for a 75% raise. I'd outsource housework more.

OP here. I am 45, married and no kids. Great idea on outsourcing housework - I did not consider that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your age? Any kids at home? If so how old are they?

I love WFH, but I would give it up for a 75% raise. I'd outsource housework more.

OP here. I am 45, married and no kids. Great idea on outsourcing housework - I did not consider that.

OP - what is your reason for not being more excited about the job? Are you feeling like it's not valid? Are you trying to talk yourself into saying yes but something is holding you back?

Congrats either way - it's an exciting offer, whether it helps you see that you really value what you've got or it's a great new opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d do it for 4 miles and double the salary

4 mi is nothing!! Can you figure out how to run / jog to work? Double the salary and same job satisfaction?

I could easily run there, but I might be too tired to run home. And then there is the issue of showering, etc. I'd have to keep a change of clothes and all my makeup there. Maybe I could uber home!

[Anonymous]

This could be the one instance where an e-bike could be a good answer.

You can basically use it like a moped if you want and just use the throttle and don't pedal at all. Many go up to 25 MPH.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been wfh on and off for 12 years. I’d never take an office job that has inflexible management or long commute. I would take an office job with flexible culture and short commute. While I like wfh, what I really value is flexibility and the ability to take appointments, attend school functions, etc., and be able to make up my work on my own schedule.

[Anonymous]

Are you a gen Xer or boomer?

Gen X. And, yes, I really did hate working at home. Part of that is probably because I am pretty anti-social, and there was a benefit to being forced to interact with people, in person. Part of it is that I have a one-bedroom apartment and no way to separate my work space from my bedroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the opportunity to leave my WFH job and have a 25-minute commute (4 miles, but crazy traffic) and be in the office 4 days a week. I really detest the idea of commuting plus it involves an extra 20 minutes for hair/makeup/wardrobe. I also really enjoy being able to do laundry and minor housework in between meetings.

The new job would pay 75% more than my current job, almost doubling my salary.

I know it would be a HUGE raise, allowing me to retire several years earlier, but I am not in need of more money and I don't know if it's worth it to give up the luxury of WFH.

For the sake of discussion, assume both jobs are equal in terms of job satisfaction, what I do, etc.

Do you have obligations during the day outside work? Young or school-age children or pets? Would being in an office all day disrupt your quality of life, as in are you an introvert who really values flexibility and being able to take a walk in the afternoon (time that you would spend commuting)? If none of the above apply, then for a gut check make a list of the things that you would dislike about the situation (40 minute commute, X more on gas, x more on drycleaning and makeup expenses, less flexibility, x more on food if at the office, etc) and contrast that to what you would get (more money, ability to retire earlier, etc).

OP here. I do not have obligations other than I do see a physical therapist weekly to keep my back pain in check. I am 50/50 introvert extrovert. When I worked in the office full time before Covid, I found that being "on" all day long was super draining. But now that I WFH full time, I miss the friendships and the community I felt a part of.

I don't care about the cost of gas, drycleaning, etc - those would be more than covered by the increase in pay.

Basically I feel like I have gone "soft" and have no tolerance for having to primp/prep every day, get into a car, be "on" all the time. Salary would go from $250K to around $440K. And the taxes would be insane.

I know I said "all other things are equal" - but I guess I need to also really think about what I want from my career and what I value - because they are only equal in that they each have their separate pros and cons. The nice thing about WFH is that if there are 1 or 2 ass holes then you don't have to interact with them as much in a virtual enviornment. In the office, you see them every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This could be the one instance where an e-bike could be a good answer.

You can basically use it like a moped if you want and just use the throttle and don't pedal at all. Many go up to 25 MPH.

E-bikes in good weather are a great solution. They are so fun, and you can get up to high speeds. You can make it a workout or ride full throttle like a motorcycle. Leave some toiletries at the office to fix your hair and makeup.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others that many of the intangibles you didn't list make a difference. Your response that you don't have kids takes a lot of them back out of the equation, though.

4 miles is also an interesting distance. Does it require highway, or could you get a scooter? I've long dreamed of having a vespa! Biking with an e-bike is also intriguing though the getting dressed and hair ready for work is always a consideration.

75% for no real job satisfaction - where your salary starts from and how it impacts your household income also matters, as another poster pointed out. If you don't need the money....I don't know. I think it has to come down to would you enjoy the job/money enough to counter balance WFH.

Maybe also think about stability? And what early retirement would mean - is there a health insurance benefit at one job over the other, or some other side benefit that you've not described?

[Anonymous]

I went down to $150k, from $400k, so I can WFH with a flexible schedule. This means I take my kids to school, do pick up, activities and dinner. It was a huge pay cut but I'm basically a SAHM who has another job that she works while the kids are in school and when they go to bed. Not sure if the kids like it, time will tell.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. You love WFH. You detest the commute and getting ready process. To be really sure, get all dressed up and commute to a coffeeshop near your potential new job. Do it for a day or a week and see how you like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your age? Any kids at home? If so how old are they?

I love WFH, but I would give it up for a 75% raise. I'd outsource housework more.

OP here. I am 45, married and no kids. Great idea on outsourcing housework - I did not consider that.

OP - what is your reason for not being more excited about the job? Are you feeling like it's not valid? Are you trying to talk yourself into saying yes but something is holding you back?

Congrats either way - it's an exciting offer, whether it helps you see that you really value what you've got or it's a great new opportunity.

I'm scared for the change! I've gone soft working from home and if I don't like it I can't hide in my room, LOL. I'm not in love with my current job, but it's what I'm comfortable with. It's that whole "getting outside your comfort zone" thing. Could be worth it, but it might not be.

[Anonymous]

75% will do it lol

[Anonymous]

I would need someone to pay me $250k+ MORE than I make to go back into the office 5 days a week.
fully remote is worth up to $100k to me (as in paid $100k less than hybrid)