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

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).

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 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

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

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

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.

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.