Reply to What is the $ value of telework?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DH and I both telework full time. His company does not have a physical office and mine is 1.5 hours away. (It used to be 45 mins, but moved.)

Well before Covid I was required to go in once a week. But then I had an injury (while pregnant) and had that requirement waived for two months, took 4 months after my baby was born, and then our new space wasn’t available for us and I was given another year fully remote. I only had a few months commuting 3 hours (round trip) once a week before Covid struck. We were closed with no option to report in person for 2020 and, since we reopened (some time in 2021) I’ve had no reporting requirement but choose to go in roughly once a month.

Our lives are now so built around telework (helps us juggle one daughter’s medical needs and the other’s frequent sports practices) that we would really have to revisit things. Prior to Covid / full telework I worked an 80% schedule (at 80% pay and reduced benefits) to help manage life. Since full telework (during covid) I returned to full time. So I guess at the time that extra day off / extra time was worth about $25k to me. If I returned to having that commute weekly or more, I’d consider going part time again. Given raises, 20% reduction in my income and benefits would be about $30-35k these days. [/quote]

Yet somehow my Dads mom had 8 kids while working full time. You sound lazy.  [/quote]

As I tell my children “different families, different needs.” Your mother sounds impressive - most women I know who value advancement in their careers, a close relationship with their kids, and a happy marriage (over 20 years) would struggle with 8 kids. I’m impressed with the women I know who do a great job with 3 or more. I don’t know your grandmother’s circumstance, what help she had, if any,  how she managed, or how satisfied she was with her work-life balance.

By the standards of some I probably am lazy. i prioritize watching soccer practices and tea with my friends and taking walks. I like to sit around in my pjs on weekends and do jigsaw puzzles if my kids don’t have sports. But my sister likes to spend that time training for marathons and organizing her garage.

I achieve the highest ratings (plus awards etc) I can at work while doing it remotely. This past week I was one of a handful of colleagues working (fed) because I was asked to handle a sensitive, urgent project. (So eventually I’ll be paid the same as my colleagues who are doing non-work things, but not being paid yet.)

I see no value in adding 3 or more hours commuting a week when it won’t improve my performance. My colleagues are generally in other locations all over the country. I wouldn’t be able to maintain my lifestyle. Also, for years my younger daughter had 2-3 hours a week of medical appointments (speech and occupational therapy).

When I didn’t have kids, or had only my first, we were in a different state. My commute was 30 mins and her daycare was at my office. I went everyday. I sometimes miss having a convenient office . But our lives now are too shaped around telework. (At the very least, we’d need more than one car if one person went to work, so that’s a big financial hit right there.) [/quote]

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