Work schedule - which would you prefer?

*sparky* · September 2014

I have a job opportunity that will be almost all virtual/WAH except for a trip to the home office for a day or two roughly once a quarter. This is a plane ride away. I can pretty much set my own hours. It is an hourly job so I only get paid when I work but there should be enough work for me to hit my target of 24 hours/week. Even though I would be part time he position is eligible for benefits.

Or a salaried job that pays a bit more, but is an hour commute each way with no possibility of WAH. Still PT but no benefit eligibility. The hours would still be roughly 24 a week most weeks, but 32 hours one week out of the month. I also have to be available on my non-work days. No matter how much or little I work I get paid the same.

One infant and one school aged child at home, and DH is out of pocket M-Th.

VOR · September 2014

Probably the virtual job. I also LOATHE long commutes, and with 2 kids at home and being alone w/ them during the week? Even more reason.

ErinO21 · September 2014

The first one. Part time hours with benefits? Yes please.

nolanova85 · September 2014

The WAH position seems to far outweigh the other one, if you ask me. Benefits eligibility alone (unless you already have benefits from your SO).

banks81 · September 2014

I would choose WFH. Besides the commute issue, there are better benefits - you get paid for when you work and you get medical benefits.

I am in a similar situation. I WFH, but travel via car (3 hour drive) to our office twice a month for 2 days at a time, so 4 days a month.

Coming from experience, just some things to think about - Will you have care lined up for when you do travel? Since you are PT, you may just have your kids in PT daycare. But when you travel, it may be on different days than you have set up for daycare or for longer periods. And, although I'm sure you already have, discuss the potential issues with your husband for when you do travel. Is he good taking care of the kid(s) on his own - can he handle you being gone? Not an issue at our house - my DH is very involved, but I know that's not the case with every family.

Ultimately, I think the flexibility with working the hours you want, getting paid for every hour you work, and not having to commute 2 hours total every day totally outweighs the travel once a quarter and lower pay. Assuming, as you say, the pay difference isn't drastic. And - if you work more hours, you may have the potential to make more than the other job.

Iblamethebeer · September 2014

This doesn't even seem close to me -- WAH job.

With your husband OOP and no WFH+hur commute at the other position I don't know how you make things like snow days and nanny sick days and 9:30 am halloween parade work. Also, being home with kids but "available" to work is a huge PITA. As a person who has taken a last minute conference call from the zoo bathroom in the rain with one kid in the bjorn and another roaming around playing with the hand dryers, I do not recommend.

*sparky* · September 2014

Great things to consider - thank you! I will look at the pay difference with commuting time factored in.

I have to work out the childcare - I think my current person would be flexible but I need to make sure. I will have some notice when I need to travel so there will not be any last minute "oh I need to be OOT this week" surprises.

I need to talk it over with DH as well as far as the travel. He is a little nervous about being responsible for the baby but is fully hands on with our 9-year-old. I am hoping for no overnight travel at first - I could go down to the home office and back in the same day with an early flight down and late flight back.

*sparky* · September 2014

@Iblamethebeer - OMG I cannot imagine!

ccam · September 2014

#1, no question.

*sparky* · September 2014

Yes there is family to help DH when I have to go OOT. He can also choose to work in his local office those days so he will be closer to home.

Iblamethebeer · September 2014

@*sparky* yeah it was very not cool. But more generally, trying to respond timely and appropriately to requests that you answer a "quick" question or take a "quick look" at something is really difficult when you are trying to spend a day doing normal home-with-small-kids stuff like play at the park, go to the grocery store, do a craft, make dinner, go on a playdate, etc.

umma4babes · September 2014

I won't even consider job #2 even if that was my only choice. I would keep searching. #1 sounds like a dream job! Take it!

shakinros · September 2014

#1 easy. I wouldn't even consider #2 with that kind of commute.

ColoradoBoat · September 2014

I agree, #1 seems like a dream job. I assume the flight is covered? As long as they are paying for travel, #2 isn't even close to #1. How can I get this job?

*sparky* · September 2014

You guys are right. It is a great job. They will pay for travel. The job is working for someone I have known for close to 20 years who I really like working with, so that is another huge bonus. Really the only downsides are if I can't get to 24 hours a week I will make less and also having to travel periodically but it is so infrequent it should be fine.

So I think I will be giving notice at my current job on Monday - wish me luck!

MamaAllison · September 2014

I think traveling for a day or two 4 times a year sounds like a nice little break if you have dependable child care and aren't worried about the littles!

ErinO21 · September 2014

MamaAllison said:
I think traveling for a day or two 4 times a year sounds like a nice little break if you have dependable child care and aren't worried about the littles!

I was thinking this too!

Slb22 · September 2014

Good luck! Sounds like a great opportunity!

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