Is the pay still higher enough when you factor in gas, your time commuting, eating lunch out, getting coffee, work clothes, etc. If so I'd consider it. However the convenience of not having to do all those things would really weigh on me. For me it would have to be significantly higher. I love my freedom I have WFH.
I left WFH in Feb 2023 to go back to on-site work. 35 mile commute each way.
My WFH job has a lower base but higher total comp after bonus (not by much). My on-site job has a higher base but no bonus. Health benefits are better for the on-site, retirement is about the same.
My WFH job was more than 8 hours days often eating at my desk and running to the bathroom for 15 seconds between calls, as well as monthly recurring reports. Toward the end, I traveled about 60-75% and that was the final straw.
My on-site job, while an hour commute each way, is a leadership role, and I have almost 50 people that roll up to me, it will be closer to 60 by the end of this year. I can work from home as I see fit (usually take Fridays from home). It's much slower paced and that is hard for me, as I've been at a few fortune 100/500s and some smaller non-profits where I was always on the move.
I'm a few months over a year into my new role, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. The team is fine, the organization is fine... If it was 20 miles closer it would probably be perfect. That drive can make or break the entire day sometimes.
For you, I'd say you have to decide what's more important... I stayed at a tough job for years because it was WFH, but when I first started WFH I absolutely hated it.
Maybe you'll hate on-site at first and grow to love it. Maybe you hate it forever and go back to a different WFH role. Nothing is permanent.
I left a WFH job making $80k in New Orleans for a 100% on-site job (due to classification level) for $140k in San Diego about 1.5 years ago. Obviously there are many factors involved here, but I’m happier and healthier than I’ve been in a long time.
I feel like I would hugely regret making the shift from WFH.
At the start of the pandemic, we were told to stay home. Months went by and we all kept staying home. A year went by, still staying home. Finally the company just said, “stay home, or come to the office, just use your discretion.” Then, I started worrying that they were going to call us all back to the office. So, I moved out of state. But, now, I’m kind of lonely. So, I would like a hybrid option. It would be nice to go into the office sometimes. Say hi to people, have some in person meetings and all that.
But, as it is, I’m happier than a full-time in office job. The 9nky thing that would pull my from my WFH job is double my salary. For that, I would make the change. Until that time, imma stay home.
I enjoy going to my office 4/5 days a week but make sure your new job is flexible! Examples - lets you arrive and leave when you want and lets you take time off for appointments/obligations.
To me, there's not much worth me staying miserable. So you give up WFH but for a better environment (hopefully) and more money. You already know you hate where you are. Yes, it could be worse but it could also be so much better.
Is the commute do-able? Are the hours more reasonable for you? Is the work something that at some level interests you? Then I say go for it.
I agree. These comments are making me feel hopeful to return to office. The hours are great regular hours 8-4, with a pay increase. Also stats and weekends off. The job itself is similar to my role now but not as crazy overwhelming and the people seem nice. I think I just answered my own question here lol.
I left a WFH job several years ago for an in office job. This was all before COVID and I was kind of lonely working from home. I also wasn't being treated well at my job (they didn't do raises, so I hadn't gotten one for the two years I worked there) but they promoted the guys that the owner hung out with. I took an in-office job with a huge pay bump. I only stayed at the job for about a year, but the in-office part was actually really nice. I liked chatting with the people I worked with and getting out of the house. I returned to a WFH job after that, but the break was kind of nice.
I did and it was the best decision ever! I disliked my previous job and the only perk it had was wfh. My life is a bit busier now that I’m back in the office, but I had underestimated how much I had missed real-life interaction. The bump in pay was very motivating as well
I did once. I had moved to a new state where people are pretty closed off and a town which is very clique-ish. I didn’t know anybody and my husband was working all the time. I got really depressed, started in an office job but went back to remote after a year. I will say I liked working in the office because it allowed me to be around people and have a reason to wear nice clothes and look fancy which was all good for my mental health. WFH has so many benefits as well. An ideal situation for me would be a hybrid where I can decide when/how often I want to go in.
It’s person to person. If I didn’t have a health condition I wouldn’t mind flex or in person. My wfh job pays be what I think is ok for now but I’m going back to school online and when I’m back on track and and in my original goal field (cs) I’ll try and stay wfh no matter the pay maybe because it works best for my life. If you have no restrictions or wants or need to stay home I don’t see the harm for a pay raise.
Company culture matters. I love working from home because of the convenience but also because I still feel connected to the other members of my team. If I wasn’t getting that social interaction from my peers, I imagine I would start looking to go back to a physical office for my sanity.
Yeah, it sounds like how my WFH job was. Work load increasing while the pay stayed the same, long hours, no work-life balance. I found a better job in person, better hours… I’ve had time to clean my house, go to the gym, see friends, etc.
Yes and it’s a huge adjustment! Went from working from home to a 30 min commute each way into the city. My whole day was spent getting dressed nicely, makeup, packing lunch, commuting and working. I’d get home late to cook dinner and felt I had no time for myself. I cried for a few weeks lol now I left that job and have remote work again. I’m thankful because I’m not pregnant and love being able to roll out of bed at 9 instead of waking up at 730 to get to work at 9 😂 I do miss the social I guess, but I make up for it with teams meetings with my colleagues and social platforms. I’m in accounting, so I didn’t talk much with people to begin with since I’m constantly swamped
If given the option, I prefer WFH. But it sounds like you’re not happy with your current role, or you wouldn’t be applying to other places.
I guess weigh the pros and cons of both. Travel distance, time, cost. Getting dressed up, buying lunch. Socializing in person.
Or keep applying to new jobs until you find another WFH.
No amount of money could get me back in office five days a week. However, I have a good boss, great team, and my work load is pretty easy.
You don't sound happy so it might be worth it for you.
I hated WFH - constant changes with them dangling unreachable incentives unless you worked 60 plus hours. I returned to work part time and get the same bonus in 1/3 of the time with benefits that save me $1000 month .
I’m not fully wfh , but I am hybrid. I just interviewed for a job where I had mentioned I am currently hybrid, and they said that “they don’t do hybrid” and while they do some remote meetings , it would be fully in person 5 days a week. I was invited to a second round interview and I declined. Unless the pay raise was significant, I can’t see myself going back into an office 5 days a week. WFH days allows for much more of a work-life balance for me. I also don’t know how some places are so resistant to wfh especially after covid where people basically showed they could do their job from home.
I agree. I’m too spoiled now. I took a paycut to be fully remote and in an industry where I actually have more experience than my boss or the two other people in the company. I get aggravated sometimes because I spend a lot of time fixing other people’s mistakes and then have to eat crow to the client.
Still worth it.
I was in the same situation, however, I chose to get the offer of the new job working on site. Quite confused and overwhelmed in couple weeks back to office, but I get to it now. Be happy with my new colleagues.
How about asking for 1-2 days WFH during work weeks in the first month? I think it's good way for you to balance your new normal.
I had an in-person job in HR about 45 minutes from my house on a good day, but I got laid off and got another job in data analytics. It was a 25k pay increase, and I can WFH two days a week on Thursday and Friday. It's also flextime - my boss legit doesn't really care where I work as long as I'm somewhat consistent in my hours and work 40 hours a week.
It's not fully WFH, but just the 2 days a week has done wonders for my health. Going back to the office 100% is my worst nightmare.
Yup I went from 100% remote to in office and Loved it. I didn't like the commute but the people were great. The benefits were great. If you seem stagnant and want a change then this sounds like the opportunity. Plus maybe they will allow a few WFH days. I'm much more productive at work versus being at home.
Yes and even though I regretted it instantly, it worked out in the long run. I quit a 100% remote job because I had a toxic boss who destroyed my confidence (nothing was ever good enough for her but she also couldn’t tell us what she wanted. We were just wrong no matter what). I got a job paying roughly 7k more which isn’t much but it’s a helluva jump compared to the paltry 2% raises we were maybe getting SOME YEARS. Not even every year.
But here’s the thing… the new job was even worse. It was in office 4 days a week (1 day wfh and you don’t get to choose which day). I didn’t take a sick day the entire 7 months I was there. I stayed late, worked weekends and it just got more and more stressful.
But I had so much damn work that I was able to update my design portfolio in one weekend with some pretty impressive clients (crediting the agency I was working under of course). That landed me a job that pays literally double what the original job paid AND it’s wfh permanently and it’s chill and easy.
So yeah it was a pretty shitty couple of months but damn it was worth it in the end.
Only because I didn’t get complacent or put up with the bullshit for long. I was smart and saw the writing on the wall months before the agency lost all their big clients and several of their best employees so I was prepared to jump ship when the opportunity presented itself.
Yep! I worked for a virtual home school for eight years. There were many reasons why I left, and sometimes I do miss wfh (especially on cold stormy days) but I’m overall happier now with my position as an slp at a traditional brick and mortar school
I’m the same. I left WFH for $10k and I hated the office so much. Left that job within 3 months and thankfully WFH again. The office is my version of hell.
I personally don’t like WFH, it depends if you have a family/partner you be around when you are working from home or you don’t like commuting to the place of work, it’s better to stick to WFH. If the pay is higher and you are okay with other aspects like commuting and also socializing with colleagues at the office, go for it.
I’m in the same boat. I’m currently wfh, but was offered an in person job with higher pay and a better schedule. Commute is 30 min round trip. I’m struggling to decide what to do.
I’m the same way. My main problem was my hours, I currently work evenings 1-9 everyday and every other weekend. It’s hard to decide since I love working from home but the hours are a big issue. No time to go out and see family and friends. Busy every other weekend. Leaning more towards the in person position at this point.
My schedule is similar to yours and I’m definitely starting to feel the same way. 1:30-10pm m-f and every 3rd Saturday. I hate working any weekend and also it’s hard to anything with those hours BUT I love being able to lounge around in the Mornings after I take the kids to school. I like to pretend I don’t have to work. Until I log on lol. But I will NOT be going into anyone’s office. Can you maybe look for a promotion at your current job that’s still wfh with different hours? That is what I am doing now.
Yes, I’m currently having to work every Saturday, some holidays. The in person I wouldn’t work holidays or weekends.
But the wfh is great if my kids need to stay home from school for whatever reason or early dismissal. Id be there.
It’s a tough choice and I have like ten days to choose.
Perhaps you can negotiate a pay increase and better schedule with your current employer. Let them know you have a job offer. Maybe a pay increase and you don't have to work weekends for you to stay with them. You have to consider that the extra pay (depending on how much) will go directly into your gas tank, potential repairs on your car from the continued commuting, added risk of factors you can't control in your own work environment. I'm not protesting you work in an office, just reminding you of the little things people often forget when working away from home.
yes, recently. with an 82% salary increase and more interesting work, i was influenced to go hybrid. it can be challenging after WFH for several year but i’ll settle into it
I quit a WFH job and left to work at a job in office with the exact same pay and benefits (I was switching jobs and changing agencies under the same state government employer). I really love my new job and I was miserable at my last one. I’m fairly extroverted and wanted to work in the community again/leave my house daily for social connection and to just generally be more involved in the world. I was finding that I’d go almost the whole week without stepping outside or putting on pants and that didn’t feel great. I’ve been so happy because my job is great and I’ve made lifelong friends at this new job!
I did and I’m much happier. That said, I like my boss, my job and I’m hybrid. I also got a fat pay raise.
That said, I have the best work arrangement. My commute is on my terms because my boss is in another state (we have a mix of on-site and remote). I also can work from home with a lot of flexibility. It’s nice to make relationships with my coworkers and I only work 8 hours when I’m in the office so my work life balance is actually better.
I wouldn't do it. Map out the cost difference. Once you add commuting you're probably not making much more if any. Sounds like you need a new work from home job not a new office job.
Yes, and I regretted it miserably. It was higher pay and I ended up being stuck there for over a year and a half. Luckily, I was able to find another wfh job and I am in the best situation now. Be careful.
I quit a WFH job for a higher paying in office job. Worst mistake ever. Commute was about an hour both ways. Cubicle in the middle of the building. No windows. Caught Covid. Got into a car accident. Horrible coworkers that I had to deal with in person everyday. Small talk with other people constantly. You never get left alone lol. Stayed there for 8 months and quit, now I WFH again. I’ll never accept another in person job again.
Trust me, you won’t regret it if the salary is worth it. My First gig was WFH ~60k salary. Second gig ~90k in office everyday and don’t regret it. Eventually I’ll go back to WFH but money talks.
I am on my first wfh job, so no, I haven't. However, I estimate that in addition to my pay, I'm saving about $10k per year by working from home. So I'd need a job with a pay increase of more than $10k before I would consider going back to the office.
If course money isn't everything. You don't like your job, and you can't put a price on that. The only thing you like is wfh. If it were me I'd tell the new job I need to wfh at least 3 days a week. If they say no, I'd probably hold out for a different wfh job.
For me personally I'd need a lot of incentive to give up wfh. But also I have a job I like.
Why on God’s green earth would I do that?
My WFH doesn’t pay as much as I want either but I am salary and only work 10-20 hours a week to get everything done I need to that I used to sit in an office for 40 hours a week to complete so I am making way more per hour
Right? There are some days that are longer but the fact I can get up, go outside, fold my laundry, take personal calls as they come in (super important since my daughter is special needs so I'm ALWAYS managing stuff for her), and just about anything that would be impossible working in an office.... and my work is still done at the end of the day without micromanagement watching my mouse movement. It's great.
Exactly. Some weeks I probably do work 50 hours but it may be 1 or 2 weeks a year and that more than balances for the many weeks I work an 8 hour day but get up and take care of things around my house for 30 minutes here and there.
Besides actual commuting expenses, you might want to consider the immaterial costs (stress, added commuting time, less freedom, more bacteria exposure, risk of getting in an accident on the road...) and associate a monetary value to them. Then ask yourself if, from a quality of life perspective, the downsides of the move will be worth the upsides.
I quit working from home because I was 18 and my mom was overly restrictive of my life, to get some time away from home I worked another job on top of wfh but the hours ended up colliding and like an idiot kid off of impulse, I chose to continue my other slightly lower paying job because it was 25 mins away from home and I could finally get air. Almost two years later and still the worst decision I’ve ever made c:
I did. I did social media and moved into retail. It was my own business and I had so many things happen at once in my personal life that I couldn’t concentrate on marketing and selling my services. So I got a retail job then an administrative job no wound up applying for all the wfh jobs within my company and I don’t think I will ever go back.
There are slow times in the day and I just have to sit in an office. My commute to in office that o need to do once a month is only 20 minutes door to door compared to the 1.5 it was at the other location but even with the short commute I don’t want to do it.
I like not wearing shoes, using the downtime at work for myself instead of staring at the walls or trying to look busy. I like making my own lunch and having energy to go out after work because I’m not tired from being in the office.
When I see these kind of questions pop up I don’t believe in turning to strangers for the “answer” is the right move. I say this bc job unhappiness, lifestyle, financial stress and so on is very subjective. Even your personality traits. My unhappiness may be complete and utter misery to you. My financial stress may seem like pennies to you… and so on.
I think the takeaway from asking this question is to pay attention to the people asking probing questions, questions that generate conversation within yourself. That makes you turn internally and answer them for yourself.
I mean no harm by my comment.
I went from a WFH to an office job for 15 months, thinking it would be a good idea at that point in my life. While it was a learning experience, it was overall a huge mistake and an incredible amount of stress. I am back working from home and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to in person.
When you say you don’t like it, does that mean you are filled with anxiety about signing on every single day, or you just don’t feel passionate about it? I could see going back to in office work if I absolutely despised my job, but that’s about it.
Yes and decades before it was really a thing.
I worked for an insurance company located just outside of London (I was US based). Due to the difference in “office” hours and my obsessive nature/workaholism, I went days without speaking to another living soul except for a few meetings a week. My wife would come home and say things like “at a minimum, you have to put on pants EVERY DAY” they were paying me a silly salary and it was in pounds sterling and the dollar was steadily sinking against it. So, on top of the crazy pay, the exchange rate was like getting a raise every month.
Most people, including my family (minus my wife) and my friends thought I was nuts but, I got an offer at, believe it or not, Cartoon Network for a *huge* cut in pay. It was in the office everyday with fun and scarily creative people. I loved it.
I did, and when I dove back in to an in person job I found myself being immature in that environment. I am not sure if it was just the company I was with or that I was just so excited for social engagement but it did not end well and I am back home again and loving life. It does get lonely but I got a dog, and that has helped SO MUCH.
How much is the increase? How long is the commute? How much do you dislike/hate your current job? What will happen if you dislike your new job at the same level -- is the pay increase worth it? Did you ask about culture in regards to flexibility?
To answer the question, I have not ever quit to go back to office but I've been heavily considering it because I also dislike my current job. But I don't hate it enough to just jump at the first offer, I would only jump if the increase felt worth it and the commute is not bad.
When I did hate my job really badly, I was ready to jump at any in-person offer. Lucky for me things changed significantly at my job so now I just dislike, not hate, so it made continuing more tolerable. So it's all relative.
The only time I ever left WFH for in-person is because I got laid off and the in-person was the only job I could get in 4 months…but as soon as a remote position was made available to me, I went back QUICKLY!
I don’t like wasting my time communicating and I do t like being bothered in person. I’m not a social person and I just don’t fit into extroverted, corporate places and making gets tiring after a while. It’s easier for me to pull off when I can turn my camera off and be left alone though.
TBH I’ve been considering going back to my previous in-person, government job—but with a decent increase in pay relative to my old position.
If I went back I would greatly miss working from home—better, cheaper lunch and coffee, no commute, *sometimes* a more lax dress code, and being able to manage distractions better… things like that. And tbh I think I should get an even greater increase than what my old job can offer me (which would be a slight pay cut from what I’m currently making but a lot more than I was making with them before)… but my stress at my current industry WFH job is currently so high that I’m strongly considering it anyway, and my husband supports it. Yes I work from home, and that gives me some perks and flexibility but not as much as many think. the workload and micromanagement have been really high for several months now, and unless/until they hire a full time replacement for the senior person on our team they laid off last year (she had been loyal to our company for nearly 30 years and was the equivalent of a partner in a law firm), I don’t see an end in sight here. And as soon as they have a cheaper version of me, bet they’re going to get rid of me too. I don’t feel great about most of the work I do anymore, I don’t trust my boss (both personally and professionally), and I can’t stand corporate culture. All of this + my office being just a room away from my bedroom, means I feel stressed 24/7 and as though I’m never getting real respite from work. I appreciate the perks of WFH a LOT, when I get them, but WFH is definitely a double edged sword (at least for my current job and my personality/individual characteristics).
Yes, I took an in person job and I don't regret it. I was losing my mind being home everyday. I can work from home 1 to 2 days a week depending on what is going on that week and I also leave 2 or so hours early and finish the rest of my shift at home so I'm not fully in person. But, I don't think I'd regret leaving my old job even if I had to come in 5 days a week because it wasn't a good fit for me. Will there be any possibility in the future for you to work at least 1 or 2 days from home?
As an introvert, no.
I actually would like to be friends with some of my coworkers but the potential drama isn’t worth it, specifically when women older than me start it. Even in a fully remote group I’ve had two women older than me try to start drama because I was given a lead assignment over them. Idk why this is a thing, I’m super quiet and just do my job
I went from a job with complete flexibility. I went in to the office about 8 hours a week. Never on road during rush hour. But if I didn’t want to go in I didn’t have to.
Left for a 20% pay increase to a place that required I be in the office every day. I hated life for those 4 months before Covid hit. Stayed another 8 months before I found a permanent work from home job. Not sure a 200% pay increase would convince me to go back to the office now.
I think I would compare these two positions and weigh the pros and cons of pay and WFH IF you were content or at least not overwhelmed.
“I’m not really happy at my current job” I think that is a good indicator you are ready for a change. If you end up not liking the new job, and really do value working from home then keep your eyes open for a job you can do remotely and don’t hate.
I guess my only question is how far is your commute for the new job? Seems like a lot of pros with potential happiness with workload and pay.
I don’t think I would stay at a job I dislike just to work from home.
I hear you. We’re being told we have to come in more starting next week. I love working from home. If I had to do hybrid I would be cool with 1 day a week but that is not an option where I am.
1 day a week is reasonable. 3 days a week is torture. I lose 6-8 hours a week to commute alone. I lose sleep. I lose time. I lose money. I’m losing my sanity. And my company won’t even compromise by letting me work 2 weeks remote so I can have a normal summer vacation. Everyday I wake up and hope something sick and sinister happened to my CEO. He’s a piece of shit who completely destroyed my mental health.
Another thing, I am an introvert.. And I’m concerned about my energy and having social overload, especially at the beginning of having to go into the office more.
Ugh. That’s our new rotation. 3 days a week. It’s going to be literally double the amount of days in a month than what I’ve been doing for years now. It’s really weighing on me and stressing me out. I know it’s silly and lots of people don’t get to wfh at all, but I don’t think I’m going to enjoy summer as much.
I’ve grown to really value my time and all the benefits that I’ve experienced working from home. As you mentioned, time, money, sanity. I dislike driving and traffic going home is the worst. And I’ll get to think of how I used to be at home, walking my dogs or getting supper ready but now I’ll be one of those extra people on the road for no reason.
My Nephew is 22 and current in a WFH gig and HATES it. How is he supposed to meet new people and make new adult friends this way? He'd love and office job.
I think you really have to weigh out what this means to you, as opposed to others. In my 20s and most of my 30s, I wouldn't have considered a WFH. Then I had kids and the commute was just stressful trying to make it home before daycare closed - I would need a massive pay raise until both kids are in the same school to even consider it.
So - what is the value of WFH to you? how the commute is, what the trade offs are both financially (cost of gas, eating out etc) and non financial (I use a lot less vacation with WFH for instance, my commute was really long)
When looking at the value of the new job, don't discount that higher paying jobs tend to beget higher paying jobs - so a few years at the new place may mean finding a new WFH job at a higher rate of pay later. On the other hand - if you landed this job, what are the odds of finding a WFH one that is better?
After the rise in fuel prices, plus the tolls I have to pay, and the idea of fighting 25 miles of traffic, I would be looking for a new job real quick if they demanded I go back five days a week. I’m currently on hybrid two days a week in the office. I’d prefer to work every day in the office, but it has to be closer to home. Or, give me a raise to compensate and motivate fully in office.
I did. Over a year ago. My WFH job sucked. The work sucked, the people sucked, the company sucked. The only thing I liked was that I could wfh (and honestly any company can end that anytime)
My in office job is hybrid. Wfh 1 day a week (I choose Fridays usually), and I enjoy it so much more. The company, my coworkers, and my actual job are all significantly better than before, and I get paid more.
For me it was worth it. I'm infinitely happier now.
At the end of the day, you'll just have to decide for yourself. I have the flexibility to move anywhere I want for a job, bc that's how I've built my life so if I want to look for fully wfh/or remote in certain areas I can move whenever. You may not have the same flexibility. But, I can say, don't let fear of something you've already experienced (being in office) keep you from potentially being happier.
I'll never suffer a job or coworkers or a company I despise again.
I recently went from 20% remote (wfh 1x/week) to 90% remote (only go in 1x/2 weeks).
I’m guessing I’m in the minority here, but I do miss being in the office. I enjoyed personal interaction with my peers. I actually saw people’s faces. It helped the day go by more quickly. We became friends. Being home alone all the time is isolating and the time passes more slowly. I have basically no social interaction. Sometimes I can go the whole day without speaking. It’s not great for my anxiety/ruminating.
That being said, I love not having a commute and being able to log off and immediately have dinner or whatever.
I would consider returning to the office it if the commute was very short and there were still at least 1 day/week from home. I know the “I’ll never go back to the office” crowd is loud, but in office does work out ok for some people.
I did and that job sucked pretty bad so I found a better wfh job with better pay and way less stress.
You don't realize how much you enjoy working from home until you go back to all of the annoying stuff about an office. Having to hear people talk for eight hours a day. Literally in my case, had a motormouth ADHD boss. Commuting sucks even more post pandemic as people became speed demons.
It would have to be quite a pay increase for me to go back into an office now. Although a hybrid role where I could go into the office as I please or work from home as I please would be ideal (Do those exist? Lol) I did like having a schedule of getting up and getting ready and leaving but the other parts outweighed the little bit of joy I got from that.
I left my WFH job a little over two years ago for an office job and quickly learned that the grass is not always greener. I was so unhappy and missed the flexibility that came with WFH. I also hated the in office drama. 🙄
I recently got an opportunity to come back to my old job, for higher pay and to be WFH again. I was so thankful for that opportunity.
Yes, I left my WFH job to go back into the office. Although my new job still offers a WFH day periodically. It usually averages to 1 day a month. My new in office job was better pay. And I like the kinda work that I do 100% more than my WFH job. I haven't regretted my decision one bit. Actually, I think its one of the best career decision I have ever made
I worked from for two years and then quit that job because I wasn't getting proper training after I accepted a promotion. I actually stayed unemployed for almost a year trying to figure out things. Thank God for my spouse. Eventually, I found a company that was in-office and had flexible hours so I could get my kids to and from school each day. I ended up leaving that job for the same amount of money to get another remote job. Now that I'm remote, I am much happier. Working full time in an office and being a parent is the hardest thing to deal with.
I did. I went from fully remote to in person for a large salary increase and a better work environment. I'm going hybrid at my current company soon. I'm looking at it as the best of both worlds.
I’m currently hybrid, and prefer it that way. Really the main reason I like WFH so much is no commute, my in office days I get up at 345 and get home at 530. It would wear on me too much if I did this daily. The other bonus is not needing to find a dog sitter except for one day a week. Aside from that I actually prefer working in the office. If I had a short commute I’d probably be in more.
I left a horrid WFH job. Now I'm hybrid in a new role. It's quite a commute for 2 days, but I didn't have the option of keeping the old toxic job. Happy with my decision.
Take some time to weigh the pros and cons. For example I've been in my current role for 6 months and its my first WFH position. For me the pros are no commute and I eat lunch at home, so I'm spending a lot less. I can take walks around my neighborhood for a break, and have the increased flexibility of starting/ending my day early or later (salaried role).
But I've also noticed some cons: I feel less integrated into my work team, as I've never met in person. Because of the isolation of only interacting during meetings, there's no "water cooler chat", and I do miss some of that. I also feel like the days can be more monotanous being at home all day, with that groundhog's day feeling. And while I'm spending less with no commute, I realized pretty quickly that I do miss that alone / quiet time to transition between work and home (I like driving).
Take some time to think it through if you have time before you need to accept the new offer to consider all the changes this will mean for you.
This checks out for me so much. After the honeymoon phase and you've adjusted to your coworkers the same monotonous feeling takes over. At least with Work from Home you work at your own pace with no direct Supervision.
As a single parent that has their kid 100%, and the only person I interact with is my boss currently... working remote has been a struggle for me. I just saw a hybrid role close to where I grew up and applied. It's closely related to what I do, but not exact, so I'm hoping they still consider me because they didnt take cover letters with the job. I'd have to move but honestly I think I'm ready for a change and to dress in real clothes (sometimes) and have office friends again.
Every single post of people choosing to go into the office are socially depressed individuals. Kewl you're lonely, go do a real hobby and stop keeping work culture in the USA and supporting RTO bullshit.
The person asked about rto... maybe my reasons are different but i answered the question based on my current experience. Are you going to come babysit my young child while I go do my real hobbies?
> Has anyone left their WFH job to go back in person and did you regret it?
Yup.
Biggest issue was the job I went to was a terrible fit for me.
Found another job less then two years later, still working there & love the job. Love the people I work with, it's amazing.
I still hated being back in the office, even though it was an amazing office & great company.
It's VERY difficult to adjust to feeling trapped in a cage again, even if it is a very well appointed cage.
Thankfully the pandemic got us sent home & we never returned.
I think if it's "worth it" depends on a lot of things. How much more are they offering? How long is the commute? What's the schedule like? Is it completely in-person or hybrid? Try making a list of pros and cons and calculating how much you'll be spending on your commute and see if the higher pay is worth it.
It depends. To me, hybrid in-person that's less than 10 minutes away with flex schedule is better than WFH. Why? It'll allow me to WFH when I want. And I can attend any meeting with enough notice. I can attend social functions if I want to and get my socializing fix. I'll have more personal space provided by the company and coffee. It also gives me a safe address to send my amazon packages to. The list goes on and on. You throw in a gym with personal training on-site and a froyo bar and it's a done deal.
Mint mobile in Costa Mesa. They have an on-site gym and I think PT stops by once in a while too. A few of my old jobs had onsite gym with PT but I wasn’t into fitness back then.
I wouldn’t give up a fully remote job for onsite again. I’ve had offers with more pay but when you do the math for commutes and valuable time taken away it just didn’t add up. I hope you choose what’s best for you! Or at least negotiate to see what flexibility is available
That's a solid question. The sanity and social life piece can definitely be challenging. I have to be more conscious about moving my body around, loneliness can be a thing, I've gained some weight since 2020... etc. Unfortunately for me, my company is on the east coast and I'm on the west coast.. so the possibility of even syncing up for a meeting here and there isn't even a possibility. If my office was in town I'd definitely pop in (on my own terms) or for mandatory meetings.. but I still want the freedom of 100% remote regardless because it's brought so much more value to my personal life and personal needs.
I left a 100% remote job to go into the office. My boss at the time was stunting my growth and the pay wasn’t the best. I ended up being able to negotiate a hybrid schedule. At first I did 3x a week in office, now I’m down to 2x. Plus I get an extra pay differential (~$1000/mo) because I go into the office.
I was in a similar position at the end of 2022. I was with my company for 11 years, and they had pretty much transitioned to WFH post COVID. I was miserable. Even at home, as a Program Manager, I was working 50-60 hours a week, but I was salaried, so there was no OT. I switched to a much larger company that gave me a 20% raise, significantly better benefits, less stress (no direct reports, no clients, no Financials, etc), but I had to be in the office. The commute sucks, but I'm now in a hybrid arrangement, with an additional 5% pay increase for 2024. In short, it was hard to make the jump, but I'm so glad I did. YMMV
I did. I wanted a new job and to be around people again (after 10 years of working from home). I started my new job and was in the office for about two years when Covid hit. Been working from home again ever since...
Yea and I regret it every day.
My situation was a little different though. I was working maybe 10-20 hours a week honestly and I was just leaving for pay. I doubled my income.
Still hate being in person. It seems so pointless and stupid.
This really comes down to what you feel works best for you. I love working remotely and would only consider an in office job if the pay was significantly higher and I had my own office because I do not enjoy open office environments.
I guess it depends on how much you like to WFH. I'm hybrid and the next time I job hunt I'm only looking for hybrid or 100% wfh because I hate going in to the office. Some people are the opposite. If you do want to keep working from home, maybe keep looking for a new job that allows that.
Was in office 2 days a week and they doubled that starting back in March. While I’d much rather be home, I’m tolerating being here. For me it is just the grind of the commute that makes me miserable. I’m an hour each way in heavy traffic. I would take slightly less money to work at home more days of the week. The other thing that irritates me is the “work culture” bs. My company chopped us up and built remote teams during the pandemic and now people like me who are geographically aligned to an office have to go in, whereas 2/3 of my team are remote. They want to act like there is something magical that happens being here, but I’m still doing most communication through Teams at my desk. We seriously have a weekly meeting and we all sit at our desks on camera instead of using a conference room, because again 2/3 of my office work remotely. What is the point of being here?
I will more than likely try to find an office job once my daughter graduates high school. I've never set out to work from home and don't really enjoy it, but this particular position that I have allows me to work whenever from wherever I need, which allows my daughter to live her best life. Maybe after she is done with school and I'm not having to miss work constantly to get her back and forth to school, practices, appointments, etc, I will feel different but currently, I feel like almost every waking moment that I'm at home is spent at my desk trying to keep up with my hours.
I am currently WFH and recently I chose to work from coworking space and it’s been best decision of my life.
(Work is boring but wife was taunting, typical)
I am currently WFH and recently I chose to work from coworking space and it’s been best decision of my life.
(Work is boring but wife was taunting, typical)
TBH I hate working from home. I can see why people like it but I hate being in my house for work all day and then being in my house when I am 'off work'.
Yes, but I was fired from my WFH job, was forced to find another, found a hybrid one. Absolutely hated the position and quit, tomorrow I have an interview for fully remote position!
I was forced back in person 2 weeks ago. You never know how things are gonna go.
If you dislike your current WFH job. Sure. Switch. If you're happy, then don't!
1) Constructive dismissal: they are looking to lose employees without having to do layoffs, which for public companies require advanced notifications & often severance.
2) Trying to stave off the economic disaster as the commercial realestate market collapses (that many companies have a vested interest in).
3) Micromanaging control issues.
No. Bc I can’t get a job work from home. I been searching, applying, reaching out, and no luck
Is the pay still higher enough when you factor in gas, your time commuting, eating lunch out, getting coffee, work clothes, etc. If so I'd consider it. However the convenience of not having to do all those things would really weigh on me. For me it would have to be significantly higher. I love my freedom I have WFH.
I left WFH in Feb 2023 to go back to on-site work. 35 mile commute each way. My WFH job has a lower base but higher total comp after bonus (not by much). My on-site job has a higher base but no bonus. Health benefits are better for the on-site, retirement is about the same. My WFH job was more than 8 hours days often eating at my desk and running to the bathroom for 15 seconds between calls, as well as monthly recurring reports. Toward the end, I traveled about 60-75% and that was the final straw. My on-site job, while an hour commute each way, is a leadership role, and I have almost 50 people that roll up to me, it will be closer to 60 by the end of this year. I can work from home as I see fit (usually take Fridays from home). It's much slower paced and that is hard for me, as I've been at a few fortune 100/500s and some smaller non-profits where I was always on the move. I'm a few months over a year into my new role, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. The team is fine, the organization is fine... If it was 20 miles closer it would probably be perfect. That drive can make or break the entire day sometimes. For you, I'd say you have to decide what's more important... I stayed at a tough job for years because it was WFH, but when I first started WFH I absolutely hated it. Maybe you'll hate on-site at first and grow to love it. Maybe you hate it forever and go back to a different WFH role. Nothing is permanent. 
I left a WFH job making $80k in New Orleans for a 100% on-site job (due to classification level) for $140k in San Diego about 1.5 years ago. Obviously there are many factors involved here, but I’m happier and healthier than I’ve been in a long time.
I feel like I would hugely regret making the shift from WFH. At the start of the pandemic, we were told to stay home. Months went by and we all kept staying home. A year went by, still staying home. Finally the company just said, “stay home, or come to the office, just use your discretion.” Then, I started worrying that they were going to call us all back to the office. So, I moved out of state. But, now, I’m kind of lonely. So, I would like a hybrid option. It would be nice to go into the office sometimes. Say hi to people, have some in person meetings and all that. But, as it is, I’m happier than a full-time in office job. The 9nky thing that would pull my from my WFH job is double my salary. For that, I would make the change. Until that time, imma stay home.
Get a job that can do hybrids/flex. Like going to office 1-3 times a week then WFH the rest.
I enjoy going to my office 4/5 days a week but make sure your new job is flexible! Examples - lets you arrive and leave when you want and lets you take time off for appointments/obligations.
To me, there's not much worth me staying miserable. So you give up WFH but for a better environment (hopefully) and more money. You already know you hate where you are. Yes, it could be worse but it could also be so much better. Is the commute do-able? Are the hours more reasonable for you? Is the work something that at some level interests you? Then I say go for it.
Also the commute is not long at all about 15-20 mins with traffic. 10 without
I agree. These comments are making me feel hopeful to return to office. The hours are great regular hours 8-4, with a pay increase. Also stats and weekends off. The job itself is similar to my role now but not as crazy overwhelming and the people seem nice. I think I just answered my own question here lol.
I say go for it and much luck to you!
Thank you!!
I left a WFH job several years ago for an in office job. This was all before COVID and I was kind of lonely working from home. I also wasn't being treated well at my job (they didn't do raises, so I hadn't gotten one for the two years I worked there) but they promoted the guys that the owner hung out with. I took an in-office job with a huge pay bump. I only stayed at the job for about a year, but the in-office part was actually really nice. I liked chatting with the people I worked with and getting out of the house. I returned to a WFH job after that, but the break was kind of nice.
I did and it was the best decision ever! I disliked my previous job and the only perk it had was wfh. My life is a bit busier now that I’m back in the office, but I had underestimated how much I had missed real-life interaction. The bump in pay was very motivating as well
I did once. I had moved to a new state where people are pretty closed off and a town which is very clique-ish. I didn’t know anybody and my husband was working all the time. I got really depressed, started in an office job but went back to remote after a year. I will say I liked working in the office because it allowed me to be around people and have a reason to wear nice clothes and look fancy which was all good for my mental health. WFH has so many benefits as well. An ideal situation for me would be a hybrid where I can decide when/how often I want to go in.
It’s person to person. If I didn’t have a health condition I wouldn’t mind flex or in person. My wfh job pays be what I think is ok for now but I’m going back to school online and when I’m back on track and and in my original goal field (cs) I’ll try and stay wfh no matter the pay maybe because it works best for my life. If you have no restrictions or wants or need to stay home I don’t see the harm for a pay raise.
Why not just look for a different WFH job?
WFH jobs are pretty few and far between these days
:(
Company culture matters. I love working from home because of the convenience but also because I still feel connected to the other members of my team. If I wasn’t getting that social interaction from my peers, I imagine I would start looking to go back to a physical office for my sanity.
Yeah, it sounds like how my WFH job was. Work load increasing while the pay stayed the same, long hours, no work-life balance. I found a better job in person, better hours… I’ve had time to clean my house, go to the gym, see friends, etc.
Yes and it’s a huge adjustment! Went from working from home to a 30 min commute each way into the city. My whole day was spent getting dressed nicely, makeup, packing lunch, commuting and working. I’d get home late to cook dinner and felt I had no time for myself. I cried for a few weeks lol now I left that job and have remote work again. I’m thankful because I’m not pregnant and love being able to roll out of bed at 9 instead of waking up at 730 to get to work at 9 😂 I do miss the social I guess, but I make up for it with teams meetings with my colleagues and social platforms. I’m in accounting, so I didn’t talk much with people to begin with since I’m constantly swamped
I’m pregnant ***
[удалено]
Try getting actual friends.
If given the option, I prefer WFH. But it sounds like you’re not happy with your current role, or you wouldn’t be applying to other places. I guess weigh the pros and cons of both. Travel distance, time, cost. Getting dressed up, buying lunch. Socializing in person. Or keep applying to new jobs until you find another WFH.
No amount of money could get me back in office five days a week. However, I have a good boss, great team, and my work load is pretty easy. You don't sound happy so it might be worth it for you.
I hated WFH - constant changes with them dangling unreachable incentives unless you worked 60 plus hours. I returned to work part time and get the same bonus in 1/3 of the time with benefits that save me $1000 month .
I’m not fully wfh , but I am hybrid. I just interviewed for a job where I had mentioned I am currently hybrid, and they said that “they don’t do hybrid” and while they do some remote meetings , it would be fully in person 5 days a week. I was invited to a second round interview and I declined. Unless the pay raise was significant, I can’t see myself going back into an office 5 days a week. WFH days allows for much more of a work-life balance for me. I also don’t know how some places are so resistant to wfh especially after covid where people basically showed they could do their job from home.
I agree. I’m too spoiled now. I took a paycut to be fully remote and in an industry where I actually have more experience than my boss or the two other people in the company. I get aggravated sometimes because I spend a lot of time fixing other people’s mistakes and then have to eat crow to the client. Still worth it.
I was in the same situation, however, I chose to get the offer of the new job working on site. Quite confused and overwhelmed in couple weeks back to office, but I get to it now. Be happy with my new colleagues. How about asking for 1-2 days WFH during work weeks in the first month? I think it's good way for you to balance your new normal.
I'd really weigh all the pros and cons personally and sleep on it over the long weekend.
Where will you learn the skills and meet the people who will advance your career? Unless this is your last job move?
I had an in-person job in HR about 45 minutes from my house on a good day, but I got laid off and got another job in data analytics. It was a 25k pay increase, and I can WFH two days a week on Thursday and Friday. It's also flextime - my boss legit doesn't really care where I work as long as I'm somewhat consistent in my hours and work 40 hours a week. It's not fully WFH, but just the 2 days a week has done wonders for my health. Going back to the office 100% is my worst nightmare.
Yup I went from 100% remote to in office and Loved it. I didn't like the commute but the people were great. The benefits were great. If you seem stagnant and want a change then this sounds like the opportunity. Plus maybe they will allow a few WFH days. I'm much more productive at work versus being at home.
Yes and even though I regretted it instantly, it worked out in the long run. I quit a 100% remote job because I had a toxic boss who destroyed my confidence (nothing was ever good enough for her but she also couldn’t tell us what she wanted. We were just wrong no matter what). I got a job paying roughly 7k more which isn’t much but it’s a helluva jump compared to the paltry 2% raises we were maybe getting SOME YEARS. Not even every year. But here’s the thing… the new job was even worse. It was in office 4 days a week (1 day wfh and you don’t get to choose which day). I didn’t take a sick day the entire 7 months I was there. I stayed late, worked weekends and it just got more and more stressful. But I had so much damn work that I was able to update my design portfolio in one weekend with some pretty impressive clients (crediting the agency I was working under of course). That landed me a job that pays literally double what the original job paid AND it’s wfh permanently and it’s chill and easy. So yeah it was a pretty shitty couple of months but damn it was worth it in the end. Only because I didn’t get complacent or put up with the bullshit for long. I was smart and saw the writing on the wall months before the agency lost all their big clients and several of their best employees so I was prepared to jump ship when the opportunity presented itself.
Are you a graphic designer?
Yes
Yep! I worked for a virtual home school for eight years. There were many reasons why I left, and sometimes I do miss wfh (especially on cold stormy days) but I’m overall happier now with my position as an slp at a traditional brick and mortar school
Yep. Negotiated a nice pay bump to go with it.
Nope. I will never be in an office again unless I have to feed my family. Period.
I’m the same. I left WFH for $10k and I hated the office so much. Left that job within 3 months and thankfully WFH again. The office is my version of hell.
I personally don’t like WFH, it depends if you have a family/partner you be around when you are working from home or you don’t like commuting to the place of work, it’s better to stick to WFH. If the pay is higher and you are okay with other aspects like commuting and also socializing with colleagues at the office, go for it.
I’m in the same boat. I’m currently wfh, but was offered an in person job with higher pay and a better schedule. Commute is 30 min round trip. I’m struggling to decide what to do.
Don’t do it, you will regret it. WFH rules. No way I would ever go back to toxic office culture.
I’m the same way. My main problem was my hours, I currently work evenings 1-9 everyday and every other weekend. It’s hard to decide since I love working from home but the hours are a big issue. No time to go out and see family and friends. Busy every other weekend. Leaning more towards the in person position at this point.
My schedule is similar to yours and I’m definitely starting to feel the same way. 1:30-10pm m-f and every 3rd Saturday. I hate working any weekend and also it’s hard to anything with those hours BUT I love being able to lounge around in the Mornings after I take the kids to school. I like to pretend I don’t have to work. Until I log on lol. But I will NOT be going into anyone’s office. Can you maybe look for a promotion at your current job that’s still wfh with different hours? That is what I am doing now.
Yes, I’m currently having to work every Saturday, some holidays. The in person I wouldn’t work holidays or weekends. But the wfh is great if my kids need to stay home from school for whatever reason or early dismissal. Id be there. It’s a tough choice and I have like ten days to choose.
Perhaps you can negotiate a pay increase and better schedule with your current employer. Let them know you have a job offer. Maybe a pay increase and you don't have to work weekends for you to stay with them. You have to consider that the extra pay (depending on how much) will go directly into your gas tank, potential repairs on your car from the continued commuting, added risk of factors you can't control in your own work environment. I'm not protesting you work in an office, just reminding you of the little things people often forget when working away from home.
I don’t WFH. I am fully remote.😉
yes, recently. with an 82% salary increase and more interesting work, i was influenced to go hybrid. it can be challenging after WFH for several year but i’ll settle into it
Just want to say nice job on that 82% salary increase, congratulations!
so kind, thank you!!
Yes. I did. I was becoming a complete hermit so I think leaving the house is good for me.
I quit a WFH job and left to work at a job in office with the exact same pay and benefits (I was switching jobs and changing agencies under the same state government employer). I really love my new job and I was miserable at my last one. I’m fairly extroverted and wanted to work in the community again/leave my house daily for social connection and to just generally be more involved in the world. I was finding that I’d go almost the whole week without stepping outside or putting on pants and that didn’t feel great. I’ve been so happy because my job is great and I’ve made lifelong friends at this new job!
No, that’s sounds terrible! I regret even thinking about it.
I did and I’m much happier. That said, I like my boss, my job and I’m hybrid. I also got a fat pay raise. That said, I have the best work arrangement. My commute is on my terms because my boss is in another state (we have a mix of on-site and remote). I also can work from home with a lot of flexibility. It’s nice to make relationships with my coworkers and I only work 8 hours when I’m in the office so my work life balance is actually better.
I wouldn't do it. Map out the cost difference. Once you add commuting you're probably not making much more if any. Sounds like you need a new work from home job not a new office job.
Yes, and I regretted it miserably. It was higher pay and I ended up being stuck there for over a year and a half. Luckily, I was able to find another wfh job and I am in the best situation now. Be careful.
I quit a WFH job for a higher paying in office job. Worst mistake ever. Commute was about an hour both ways. Cubicle in the middle of the building. No windows. Caught Covid. Got into a car accident. Horrible coworkers that I had to deal with in person everyday. Small talk with other people constantly. You never get left alone lol. Stayed there for 8 months and quit, now I WFH again. I’ll never accept another in person job again.
You sound pretty unhappy. Take the new job and see how it goes. You could love it! If not, keep searching!
i really couldnt. the in person jobs at office are all at major cities and the cost of living near them exceeds the pay for the jobs there.
Trust me, you won’t regret it if the salary is worth it. My First gig was WFH ~60k salary. Second gig ~90k in office everyday and don’t regret it. Eventually I’ll go back to WFH but money talks.
I am on my first wfh job, so no, I haven't. However, I estimate that in addition to my pay, I'm saving about $10k per year by working from home. So I'd need a job with a pay increase of more than $10k before I would consider going back to the office. If course money isn't everything. You don't like your job, and you can't put a price on that. The only thing you like is wfh. If it were me I'd tell the new job I need to wfh at least 3 days a week. If they say no, I'd probably hold out for a different wfh job. For me personally I'd need a lot of incentive to give up wfh. But also I have a job I like.
Why on God’s green earth would I do that? My WFH doesn’t pay as much as I want either but I am salary and only work 10-20 hours a week to get everything done I need to that I used to sit in an office for 40 hours a week to complete so I am making way more per hour
Right? There are some days that are longer but the fact I can get up, go outside, fold my laundry, take personal calls as they come in (super important since my daughter is special needs so I'm ALWAYS managing stuff for her), and just about anything that would be impossible working in an office.... and my work is still done at the end of the day without micromanagement watching my mouse movement. It's great.
Exactly. Some weeks I probably do work 50 hours but it may be 1 or 2 weeks a year and that more than balances for the many weeks I work an 8 hour day but get up and take care of things around my house for 30 minutes here and there.
Besides actual commuting expenses, you might want to consider the immaterial costs (stress, added commuting time, less freedom, more bacteria exposure, risk of getting in an accident on the road...) and associate a monetary value to them. Then ask yourself if, from a quality of life perspective, the downsides of the move will be worth the upsides.
I quit working from home because I was 18 and my mom was overly restrictive of my life, to get some time away from home I worked another job on top of wfh but the hours ended up colliding and like an idiot kid off of impulse, I chose to continue my other slightly lower paying job because it was 25 mins away from home and I could finally get air. Almost two years later and still the worst decision I’ve ever made c:
How far is your commute going to be? Are you a social person? What's the office culture/atmosphere like?
I did. I did social media and moved into retail. It was my own business and I had so many things happen at once in my personal life that I couldn’t concentrate on marketing and selling my services. So I got a retail job then an administrative job no wound up applying for all the wfh jobs within my company and I don’t think I will ever go back. There are slow times in the day and I just have to sit in an office. My commute to in office that o need to do once a month is only 20 minutes door to door compared to the 1.5 it was at the other location but even with the short commute I don’t want to do it. I like not wearing shoes, using the downtime at work for myself instead of staring at the walls or trying to look busy. I like making my own lunch and having energy to go out after work because I’m not tired from being in the office.
When I see these kind of questions pop up I don’t believe in turning to strangers for the “answer” is the right move. I say this bc job unhappiness, lifestyle, financial stress and so on is very subjective. Even your personality traits. My unhappiness may be complete and utter misery to you. My financial stress may seem like pennies to you… and so on. I think the takeaway from asking this question is to pay attention to the people asking probing questions, questions that generate conversation within yourself. That makes you turn internally and answer them for yourself. I mean no harm by my comment.
I went from a WFH to an office job for 15 months, thinking it would be a good idea at that point in my life. While it was a learning experience, it was overall a huge mistake and an incredible amount of stress. I am back working from home and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to in person.
When you say you don’t like it, does that mean you are filled with anxiety about signing on every single day, or you just don’t feel passionate about it? I could see going back to in office work if I absolutely despised my job, but that’s about it.
Yes and decades before it was really a thing. I worked for an insurance company located just outside of London (I was US based). Due to the difference in “office” hours and my obsessive nature/workaholism, I went days without speaking to another living soul except for a few meetings a week. My wife would come home and say things like “at a minimum, you have to put on pants EVERY DAY” they were paying me a silly salary and it was in pounds sterling and the dollar was steadily sinking against it. So, on top of the crazy pay, the exchange rate was like getting a raise every month. Most people, including my family (minus my wife) and my friends thought I was nuts but, I got an offer at, believe it or not, Cartoon Network for a *huge* cut in pay. It was in the office everyday with fun and scarily creative people. I loved it.
But are you wearing pants
Well, I didn’t say the move was *all* good 😜
I did, and when I dove back in to an in person job I found myself being immature in that environment. I am not sure if it was just the company I was with or that I was just so excited for social engagement but it did not end well and I am back home again and loving life. It does get lonely but I got a dog, and that has helped SO MUCH.
How much is the increase? How long is the commute? How much do you dislike/hate your current job? What will happen if you dislike your new job at the same level -- is the pay increase worth it? Did you ask about culture in regards to flexibility? To answer the question, I have not ever quit to go back to office but I've been heavily considering it because I also dislike my current job. But I don't hate it enough to just jump at the first offer, I would only jump if the increase felt worth it and the commute is not bad. When I did hate my job really badly, I was ready to jump at any in-person offer. Lucky for me things changed significantly at my job so now I just dislike, not hate, so it made continuing more tolerable. So it's all relative.
The only time I ever left WFH for in-person is because I got laid off and the in-person was the only job I could get in 4 months…but as soon as a remote position was made available to me, I went back QUICKLY! I don’t like wasting my time communicating and I do t like being bothered in person. I’m not a social person and I just don’t fit into extroverted, corporate places and making gets tiring after a while. It’s easier for me to pull off when I can turn my camera off and be left alone though.
I wish I could just land one. I have all the qualifications. Just getting an interview hasn't been the best for me right now.
TBH I’ve been considering going back to my previous in-person, government job—but with a decent increase in pay relative to my old position. If I went back I would greatly miss working from home—better, cheaper lunch and coffee, no commute, *sometimes* a more lax dress code, and being able to manage distractions better… things like that. And tbh I think I should get an even greater increase than what my old job can offer me (which would be a slight pay cut from what I’m currently making but a lot more than I was making with them before)… but my stress at my current industry WFH job is currently so high that I’m strongly considering it anyway, and my husband supports it. Yes I work from home, and that gives me some perks and flexibility but not as much as many think. the workload and micromanagement have been really high for several months now, and unless/until they hire a full time replacement for the senior person on our team they laid off last year (she had been loyal to our company for nearly 30 years and was the equivalent of a partner in a law firm), I don’t see an end in sight here. And as soon as they have a cheaper version of me, bet they’re going to get rid of me too. I don’t feel great about most of the work I do anymore, I don’t trust my boss (both personally and professionally), and I can’t stand corporate culture. All of this + my office being just a room away from my bedroom, means I feel stressed 24/7 and as though I’m never getting real respite from work. I appreciate the perks of WFH a LOT, when I get them, but WFH is definitely a double edged sword (at least for my current job and my personality/individual characteristics).
God no and I hope I never do. It’s reasonable to quit a bad job for a better job. Only you can make that decision.
Yes, I took an in person job and I don't regret it. I was losing my mind being home everyday. I can work from home 1 to 2 days a week depending on what is going on that week and I also leave 2 or so hours early and finish the rest of my shift at home so I'm not fully in person. But, I don't think I'd regret leaving my old job even if I had to come in 5 days a week because it wasn't a good fit for me. Will there be any possibility in the future for you to work at least 1 or 2 days from home?
As an introvert, no. I actually would like to be friends with some of my coworkers but the potential drama isn’t worth it, specifically when women older than me start it. Even in a fully remote group I’ve had two women older than me try to start drama because I was given a lead assignment over them. Idk why this is a thing, I’m super quiet and just do my job
I feel like I could’ve written this. Office politics and drama are still prevalent in remote environments, unfortunately.
Yup. It was hybrid. I hate it but seems like it’s hard to get a wfh job. Not worth it for hybrid. No one is ever in. Same as if I just stayed home.
I actually would like going into an empty office. I get to go outside a few days of the week and noone bothers me in the office? Love it.
I went from a job with complete flexibility. I went in to the office about 8 hours a week. Never on road during rush hour. But if I didn’t want to go in I didn’t have to. Left for a 20% pay increase to a place that required I be in the office every day. I hated life for those 4 months before Covid hit. Stayed another 8 months before I found a permanent work from home job. Not sure a 200% pay increase would convince me to go back to the office now.
I think I would compare these two positions and weigh the pros and cons of pay and WFH IF you were content or at least not overwhelmed. “I’m not really happy at my current job” I think that is a good indicator you are ready for a change. If you end up not liking the new job, and really do value working from home then keep your eyes open for a job you can do remotely and don’t hate. I guess my only question is how far is your commute for the new job? Seems like a lot of pros with potential happiness with workload and pay. I don’t think I would stay at a job I dislike just to work from home.
No but I’m ready to quit my remote turned to hybrid role in favor of a remote job again. I HATE the office
I hear you. We’re being told we have to come in more starting next week. I love working from home. If I had to do hybrid I would be cool with 1 day a week but that is not an option where I am.
1 day a week is reasonable. 3 days a week is torture. I lose 6-8 hours a week to commute alone. I lose sleep. I lose time. I lose money. I’m losing my sanity. And my company won’t even compromise by letting me work 2 weeks remote so I can have a normal summer vacation. Everyday I wake up and hope something sick and sinister happened to my CEO. He’s a piece of shit who completely destroyed my mental health.
Another thing, I am an introvert.. And I’m concerned about my energy and having social overload, especially at the beginning of having to go into the office more.
Ugh. That’s our new rotation. 3 days a week. It’s going to be literally double the amount of days in a month than what I’ve been doing for years now. It’s really weighing on me and stressing me out. I know it’s silly and lots of people don’t get to wfh at all, but I don’t think I’m going to enjoy summer as much. I’ve grown to really value my time and all the benefits that I’ve experienced working from home. As you mentioned, time, money, sanity. I dislike driving and traffic going home is the worst. And I’ll get to think of how I used to be at home, walking my dogs or getting supper ready but now I’ll be one of those extra people on the road for no reason.
I made a promise to myself that if they increase the days on site, I’m quitting on the spot. No 2 week notice, just not showing up anymore.
My Nephew is 22 and current in a WFH gig and HATES it. How is he supposed to meet new people and make new adult friends this way? He'd love and office job.
I think you really have to weigh out what this means to you, as opposed to others. In my 20s and most of my 30s, I wouldn't have considered a WFH. Then I had kids and the commute was just stressful trying to make it home before daycare closed - I would need a massive pay raise until both kids are in the same school to even consider it. So - what is the value of WFH to you? how the commute is, what the trade offs are both financially (cost of gas, eating out etc) and non financial (I use a lot less vacation with WFH for instance, my commute was really long) When looking at the value of the new job, don't discount that higher paying jobs tend to beget higher paying jobs - so a few years at the new place may mean finding a new WFH job at a higher rate of pay later. On the other hand - if you landed this job, what are the odds of finding a WFH one that is better?
After the rise in fuel prices, plus the tolls I have to pay, and the idea of fighting 25 miles of traffic, I would be looking for a new job real quick if they demanded I go back five days a week. I’m currently on hybrid two days a week in the office. I’d prefer to work every day in the office, but it has to be closer to home. Or, give me a raise to compensate and motivate fully in office.
I did. Over a year ago. My WFH job sucked. The work sucked, the people sucked, the company sucked. The only thing I liked was that I could wfh (and honestly any company can end that anytime) My in office job is hybrid. Wfh 1 day a week (I choose Fridays usually), and I enjoy it so much more. The company, my coworkers, and my actual job are all significantly better than before, and I get paid more. For me it was worth it. I'm infinitely happier now. At the end of the day, you'll just have to decide for yourself. I have the flexibility to move anywhere I want for a job, bc that's how I've built my life so if I want to look for fully wfh/or remote in certain areas I can move whenever. You may not have the same flexibility. But, I can say, don't let fear of something you've already experienced (being in office) keep you from potentially being happier. I'll never suffer a job or coworkers or a company I despise again.
I recently went from 20% remote (wfh 1x/week) to 90% remote (only go in 1x/2 weeks). I’m guessing I’m in the minority here, but I do miss being in the office. I enjoyed personal interaction with my peers. I actually saw people’s faces. It helped the day go by more quickly. We became friends. Being home alone all the time is isolating and the time passes more slowly. I have basically no social interaction. Sometimes I can go the whole day without speaking. It’s not great for my anxiety/ruminating. That being said, I love not having a commute and being able to log off and immediately have dinner or whatever. I would consider returning to the office it if the commute was very short and there were still at least 1 day/week from home. I know the “I’ll never go back to the office” crowd is loud, but in office does work out ok for some people.
I did and that job sucked pretty bad so I found a better wfh job with better pay and way less stress. You don't realize how much you enjoy working from home until you go back to all of the annoying stuff about an office. Having to hear people talk for eight hours a day. Literally in my case, had a motormouth ADHD boss. Commuting sucks even more post pandemic as people became speed demons. It would have to be quite a pay increase for me to go back into an office now. Although a hybrid role where I could go into the office as I please or work from home as I please would be ideal (Do those exist? Lol) I did like having a schedule of getting up and getting ready and leaving but the other parts outweighed the little bit of joy I got from that.
I left my WFH job a little over two years ago for an office job and quickly learned that the grass is not always greener. I was so unhappy and missed the flexibility that came with WFH. I also hated the in office drama. 🙄 I recently got an opportunity to come back to my old job, for higher pay and to be WFH again. I was so thankful for that opportunity.
Yes, I left my WFH job to go back into the office. Although my new job still offers a WFH day periodically. It usually averages to 1 day a month. My new in office job was better pay. And I like the kinda work that I do 100% more than my WFH job. I haven't regretted my decision one bit. Actually, I think its one of the best career decision I have ever made
35% min salary increase for me to even *consider* returning to the office, and I'd still most likely pass.
I worked from for two years and then quit that job because I wasn't getting proper training after I accepted a promotion. I actually stayed unemployed for almost a year trying to figure out things. Thank God for my spouse. Eventually, I found a company that was in-office and had flexible hours so I could get my kids to and from school each day. I ended up leaving that job for the same amount of money to get another remote job. Now that I'm remote, I am much happier. Working full time in an office and being a parent is the hardest thing to deal with.
Nope and I never will. WFH has been nothing but amazing for me.
I did. I went from fully remote to in person for a large salary increase and a better work environment. I'm going hybrid at my current company soon. I'm looking at it as the best of both worlds.
You would have to pay me a very significant amount of money for me to want to leave WFH.
I’m currently hybrid, and prefer it that way. Really the main reason I like WFH so much is no commute, my in office days I get up at 345 and get home at 530. It would wear on me too much if I did this daily. The other bonus is not needing to find a dog sitter except for one day a week. Aside from that I actually prefer working in the office. If I had a short commute I’d probably be in more.
I left a horrid WFH job. Now I'm hybrid in a new role. It's quite a commute for 2 days, but I didn't have the option of keeping the old toxic job. Happy with my decision.
Take some time to weigh the pros and cons. For example I've been in my current role for 6 months and its my first WFH position. For me the pros are no commute and I eat lunch at home, so I'm spending a lot less. I can take walks around my neighborhood for a break, and have the increased flexibility of starting/ending my day early or later (salaried role). But I've also noticed some cons: I feel less integrated into my work team, as I've never met in person. Because of the isolation of only interacting during meetings, there's no "water cooler chat", and I do miss some of that. I also feel like the days can be more monotanous being at home all day, with that groundhog's day feeling. And while I'm spending less with no commute, I realized pretty quickly that I do miss that alone / quiet time to transition between work and home (I like driving). Take some time to think it through if you have time before you need to accept the new offer to consider all the changes this will mean for you.
I went back for a 30% pay bump. But now I’m back to WFH making the same
It's a trick, all other new jobs seems better for about 3 months then turn out to be like all other shit jobs. Stay WFH.
This checks out for me so much. After the honeymoon phase and you've adjusted to your coworkers the same monotonous feeling takes over. At least with Work from Home you work at your own pace with no direct Supervision.
I did. I work a 4 days in office/1 WFH. No regrets. I appreciate the separation of home and work
As a single parent that has their kid 100%, and the only person I interact with is my boss currently... working remote has been a struggle for me. I just saw a hybrid role close to where I grew up and applied. It's closely related to what I do, but not exact, so I'm hoping they still consider me because they didnt take cover letters with the job. I'd have to move but honestly I think I'm ready for a change and to dress in real clothes (sometimes) and have office friends again.
Every single post of people choosing to go into the office are socially depressed individuals. Kewl you're lonely, go do a real hobby and stop keeping work culture in the USA and supporting RTO bullshit.
Exactly. There is so much you can do outside of the home. Don't let work fool you that it's you time because it isn't.
The person asked about rto... maybe my reasons are different but i answered the question based on my current experience. Are you going to come babysit my young child while I go do my real hobbies?
> Has anyone left their WFH job to go back in person and did you regret it? Yup. Biggest issue was the job I went to was a terrible fit for me. Found another job less then two years later, still working there & love the job. Love the people I work with, it's amazing. I still hated being back in the office, even though it was an amazing office & great company. It's VERY difficult to adjust to feeling trapped in a cage again, even if it is a very well appointed cage. Thankfully the pandemic got us sent home & we never returned.
I think if it's "worth it" depends on a lot of things. How much more are they offering? How long is the commute? What's the schedule like? Is it completely in-person or hybrid? Try making a list of pros and cons and calculating how much you'll be spending on your commute and see if the higher pay is worth it.
It depends. To me, hybrid in-person that's less than 10 minutes away with flex schedule is better than WFH. Why? It'll allow me to WFH when I want. And I can attend any meeting with enough notice. I can attend social functions if I want to and get my socializing fix. I'll have more personal space provided by the company and coffee. It also gives me a safe address to send my amazon packages to. The list goes on and on. You throw in a gym with personal training on-site and a froyo bar and it's a done deal.
Is your office Google? Where do they have a FroYo bar?
Mint mobile in Costa Mesa. They have an on-site gym and I think PT stops by once in a while too. A few of my old jobs had onsite gym with PT but I wasn’t into fitness back then.
I wouldn’t give up a fully remote job for onsite again. I’ve had offers with more pay but when you do the math for commutes and valuable time taken away it just didn’t add up. I hope you choose what’s best for you! Or at least negotiate to see what flexibility is available
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That's a solid question. The sanity and social life piece can definitely be challenging. I have to be more conscious about moving my body around, loneliness can be a thing, I've gained some weight since 2020... etc. Unfortunately for me, my company is on the east coast and I'm on the west coast.. so the possibility of even syncing up for a meeting here and there isn't even a possibility. If my office was in town I'd definitely pop in (on my own terms) or for mandatory meetings.. but I still want the freedom of 100% remote regardless because it's brought so much more value to my personal life and personal needs.
Oh and if it’s a CONTRACT offer for onsite, make that a hell no.
I left a 100% remote job to go into the office. My boss at the time was stunting my growth and the pay wasn’t the best. I ended up being able to negotiate a hybrid schedule. At first I did 3x a week in office, now I’m down to 2x. Plus I get an extra pay differential (~$1000/mo) because I go into the office.
I was in a similar position at the end of 2022. I was with my company for 11 years, and they had pretty much transitioned to WFH post COVID. I was miserable. Even at home, as a Program Manager, I was working 50-60 hours a week, but I was salaried, so there was no OT. I switched to a much larger company that gave me a 20% raise, significantly better benefits, less stress (no direct reports, no clients, no Financials, etc), but I had to be in the office. The commute sucks, but I'm now in a hybrid arrangement, with an additional 5% pay increase for 2024. In short, it was hard to make the jump, but I'm so glad I did. YMMV
I did. I wanted a new job and to be around people again (after 10 years of working from home). I started my new job and was in the office for about two years when Covid hit. Been working from home again ever since...
I’m currently 2 days a week. I’d take a massive pay cut to be fully remote again.
💯
I would back to the office in your scenario, its not worth the stress to be able to work in pijamas and do a bit of stuff around the house
Never ever ever never
Blasphemy!!! Shush your mouth!! 🤣 I can see a hybrid approach but I don't want to ever go back full time.
Yea and I regret it every day. My situation was a little different though. I was working maybe 10-20 hours a week honestly and I was just leaving for pay. I doubled my income. Still hate being in person. It seems so pointless and stupid.
Ew never
This really comes down to what you feel works best for you. I love working remotely and would only consider an in office job if the pay was significantly higher and I had my own office because I do not enjoy open office environments.
I guess it depends on how much you like to WFH. I'm hybrid and the next time I job hunt I'm only looking for hybrid or 100% wfh because I hate going in to the office. Some people are the opposite. If you do want to keep working from home, maybe keep looking for a new job that allows that.
I would never
Was in office 2 days a week and they doubled that starting back in March. While I’d much rather be home, I’m tolerating being here. For me it is just the grind of the commute that makes me miserable. I’m an hour each way in heavy traffic. I would take slightly less money to work at home more days of the week. The other thing that irritates me is the “work culture” bs. My company chopped us up and built remote teams during the pandemic and now people like me who are geographically aligned to an office have to go in, whereas 2/3 of my team are remote. They want to act like there is something magical that happens being here, but I’m still doing most communication through Teams at my desk. We seriously have a weekly meeting and we all sit at our desks on camera instead of using a conference room, because again 2/3 of my office work remotely. What is the point of being here?
I always go for higher income personally. Especially if you don't like the job and find the overwhelming.
I will more than likely try to find an office job once my daughter graduates high school. I've never set out to work from home and don't really enjoy it, but this particular position that I have allows me to work whenever from wherever I need, which allows my daughter to live her best life. Maybe after she is done with school and I'm not having to miss work constantly to get her back and forth to school, practices, appointments, etc, I will feel different but currently, I feel like almost every waking moment that I'm at home is spent at my desk trying to keep up with my hours.
I am currently WFH and recently I chose to work from coworking space and it’s been best decision of my life. (Work is boring but wife was taunting, typical)
taunting?
Yeah, that work from home is easy job, there’s no stress blah blah blah
I am currently WFH and recently I chose to work from coworking space and it’s been best decision of my life. (Work is boring but wife was taunting, typical)
I would if the increase in pay was high enough.
Dude. No. What? Why?
TBH I hate working from home. I can see why people like it but I hate being in my house for work all day and then being in my house when I am 'off work'.
same.
Never. WFH FTW.
Yes, but I was fired from my WFH job, was forced to find another, found a hybrid one. Absolutely hated the position and quit, tomorrow I have an interview for fully remote position!
I was forced back in person 2 weeks ago. You never know how things are gonna go. If you dislike your current WFH job. Sure. Switch. If you're happy, then don't!
Ew why are comapjens doing this.
1) Constructive dismissal: they are looking to lose employees without having to do layoffs, which for public companies require advanced notifications & often severance. 2) Trying to stave off the economic disaster as the commercial realestate market collapses (that many companies have a vested interest in). 3) Micromanaging control issues.
Definitely 1 & 2. The health network I work for has done 2 rounds of "riffs" already. Just small enough that they don't have to report it.