Transitioning from full remote to 5 days a week in office

Posted by Various_Word_9179@reddit | ExperiencedDevs | View on Reddit | 47 comments

Hey everyone,

I am currently a full time remote employee making 230k a year in a VHCOL location. My WLB is good + remote but everyone at my job is quitting and the culture is horrible. My company also recently laid off 20% of engineers with practically no severance. I was recently offered a position at a high growth startup for 270k a year + options (lots on paper lol). Overall the position seems like a great career opportunity and I’ll be working on what I consider to be a super interesting project. I also liked the people at the new role a lot. The startup has around 120 people and is extremely well funded and looking to increase to 250 people.

Overall the new job seems great, but I would be transitioning to 5 day RTO with a ~25m commute (I could move closer) each way.I also think this new job may be pretty intense from a working hours perspective (45hr a week is what an eng there told me). I’m wondering if anyone has any experiences transitioning from full remote to full in office like this and if it was worth it. I currently have a lot of luxury at home but I’m a social person so perhaps I could adapt to going back to 5 day rto.

Honestly just looking for thoughts and experiences around this move. I have no kids currently and won’t for 4 years. I also have a very high income partner which allows me to take more risks.

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revolutionPanda@reddit

Not after you consider an hour commute each day, transportation costs, eating out, and the tax bracket they are already in.

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Whitchorence@reddit

The commute is the only one of these that's even worth thinking about imo

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revolutionPanda@reddit

When i worked in office, I'd eat out quite a bit just to get away from the office for an hour.

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StrawberryWaste9040@reddit

and I'd eat at my desk to just get out one hour earlier.

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nsxwolf@reddit

For most people all of that is a no brainer for thousands more a month

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revolutionPanda@reddit

Just did some really quick math and the after tax (assuming they live in CA) is a 2k difference.

That doesn't include gas, oil changes, maintenance, depreciation, and other transportation costs. It doesn't include the increased cost of eating out vs eating meals at home. It doesn't include other stuff like buying additional work clothes if needed.

Conservatively, the trade off (according to the numbers by OP), would be around making an additional $1,500 per month with an additional 20 hours a month driving to give up all the benefits of working at home. If I was already making 225k/year, I don't think that's a big enough incentive to give up remote.

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Kaimito1@reddit

Got to factor in OP's current job is toxic apparently

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stingraycharles@reddit

Taking this new job is not the only option. They could be taking another fully remote new job instead.

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hoosierscrewser@reddit

Can’t be as toxic as a job where your bosses think they need to tell you where to sit.

StriderKeni@reddit

„WLB is good“ „The culture is horrible“

How’s that possible?

$45k is hard to turn down

UysofSpades@reddit

Rmb that 45K extra is only maybe 20k in your pocket. Considering that tax bracket and taxes are around 30-40% all in.

Plus you’d have to factor in maintenance of your car, gas. Not to mention the indirect consequences of in the office, it will affect the family dynamics, etc..

Not worth it, but that’s me

budd222@reddit

Where could you possibly come up with only taking home 20k? This isn't Germany.

225K/year. Avg tax for that salary is around 30-45% (includes federal and state tax), 78K/yr dedicated to taxes.

The difference between original salary and new salary is 45K is which also subject to that 30-40% tax, comes to about 29K of that 45K.

Sorry I was 9k off from my original statement

The Eisenhower administration perhaps.

No way, that’s not how federal tax brackets work. You’re keeping more than 30k of that.

the-code-father@reddit

It’s not the same as 45k, because the marginal tax is much higher going from 225k to 270k. At 45k you are going to pay like 3k in income tax and make around 42k. A 45k bump at that salary is going to be taxed at 32% and you’ll be making more like 30k

30k. $2500 a month. What I can afford to spend on a laptop once every 5 years, every single month.

boomer1204@reddit

While this is a RIDICULOUSLY true and factual statement in almost every way, when you get into that salary range 45k really isn't as big of a game changer as some ppl think.

u/Various_Word_9179 I think the biggest thing here is you hate the culture and ppl are quitting which usually means there is a problem you can't control. The job market is "weird" and your market will decide how bad it is (took me about 2 months to get my second job with a recruiter but I have experience which you also do so do your due diligence)

Personally I wouldn't give up remote work for a 1 hr drive each day but if you don't have much faith in the current company having a job is far better than not having a job

The other thing to think about is your "new job" if you take it is a startup (also my first job). Ppl only remember the ones that win but "most" startups fail and as you brought up traditionally have less of. WLB

In my personal opinion I think this is less about money and more about you personally and that's kind of a decision you have to decide.

So here is my thought process that may make absolute no sense or some sense to you so just bare with me

- You say you are in a VHCOL area so how much more expensive is moving closer to this new job???

- Is that area I move into gonna be more "fun" when i'm not working

- What is the social scene in that area

Now if you are a home body you probably are reading that and cursing at me but that's why I think this is more of a "personal choice" and not a "financial" decision

dystopiadattopia@reddit

30 min commute is nothing

FartedManItSTINKS@reddit

It is when theres a P1 at 5:58pm

What is the value add of going to the office? Free lunch? Social/face time? Happy hour?

That commute is going to add up in time management and vehicle depreciation as well as the risk of fault/no-fault accidents.

Personally id stay remote and trade in the commute for a walk around the neighborhood as well as eating whole foods. The whole grab and go lifestyle isnt for me.

I understand in person makes for easier promotions but if you're happy with what you have why push for more.

Everyone's different.

Colt2205@reddit

I wouldn't go 5 days in office from a WFH setup even for that kind of a pay bump. Mentally, I think it is worth it to find another job if the current one is not working out. I am definitely in that kind of a world right now myself considering looking for another place of work and also being fully remote. But transitioning to office again is not what it sounds like.

There is this sort of illusion that going back to office means easier communication and less stress. What I found is that people go to work, sit at their desks, do the same thing they'd be doing otherwise, and then have a lot more interruptions since there is no barrier. This has gotten worse due to open office configurations.

CheithS@reddit

Most of this is very personal and really up to your preferences.

Back before WFH was trendy I went from 10 years WFH to 5 days in the office. I was very happy with it - I enjoyed having in person interaction again but that is definitely different for everyone. WFH can get old for some.

I don't consider a 30 min commute particularly unusual - though easier if you can do it using public transit.

And, finally, if the job is really interesting the chances are you will work the extra hours without really noticing it. If it is M-F and doesn't impinge on your weekend then meh. 45hrs pw compared to how it can go is nothing.

razzmatazz_123@reddit

I'd stay and find another, better job that's remote.

pfc-anon@reddit

I'd do it if I were you, considering you can move closer and your situation allows you to take risks.

Since your new company is looking to hire more mind sharing a referral if you do decide to join?

danknadoflex@reddit

I would not take this role. A remote job is far too valuable the extra money is not enough to justify the headache.

Well, I was made to start coming in while I was doing the same job and it sucked because anyway none of my coworkers were there. But overall, I think if the commute isn't long (30m sounds reasonable) being in person is a bit preferable to being remote just in terms of being more social/more face-time with people who matter/etc. I don't think it makes sense to stay in a job you really dislike because of the remote benefit.

Suitable_Speaker2165@reddit

$225k TC or base? Because for TC in a VHCOL area, that's not super impressive. Also you don't mention your years of experience which makes it tough to gauge how good of an offer this is.

couchjitsu@reddit

if it was worth it.

That's going to have to be a question you answer for yourself based on your immediate needs and career goals.

Reading your first paragraph it sounds to me like you'd like to make the switch (more pay, better team, better company growth, more interesting problem). The downside is your WLB might suffer.

Do you want to work 45h/wk? That's 9 hour days, assuming you eat lunch, it's basically 11.5 hours away from home (30 minute drive, 9 hours work, 30 minute lunch, 30 minute drive home). Will that work for you and are you okay with that commitment?

The-Wizard-of-AWS@reddit

30min + 9hr + 30min + 30min = 10.5hr

dogo_fren@reddit

Ignoring the lunch time its 5 dollar less on the hour, unless I miscalculated (very likely).

Doh I can't add

I'll leave it for my own humility

It happens. You did have me seriously questioning if I knew how to add. 😂

IncandescentWallaby@reddit

Are you me from 3 months ago?

I left a very slow and lazy job that was decently paid and almost entirely WFH. I left due to an uncertain future for a near 100% in office job for a bit more money.

It is really hard. I don’t miss my old job, but I miss the convenience of being near home for simple errands or things that you need to be home for.

Losing an hour a day in a car sucks. Having to plan around appointments is annoying.

It sounds like you need out of your current job, not much to say there. It will be a hard adjustment and I wouldn’t have done it if money was the only thing on the table.

Idea-Aggressive@reddit

Wow! 225k or 270k crazy

Competitive-Sky712@reddit

If the culture is bad in your current role, this may be a valid enough reason for a change. Change is usually a good thing under multiple dimensions

samelaaaa@reddit

I'd do it if I didn't have kids -- if you think you might in four years, then I'd take advantage of this period for career growth. You'll want to take a step back and above all not have to commute once you have kids and you have to pay for every child-free minute of your day.

apartment-seeker@reddit

What do you want anyone to tell you?

A lot of us wouldn't make this trade. Some seem to. It's a personal choice. You're the one who has to live it. None of us know you IRL, so it's not like we could bring up anything relevant that you haven't already thought of.

Not_Ayn_Rand@reddit

In my head each additional in office day per week is worth about 10% bump in total comp. I'm in 5 days a month right now so to bring me back 3 days a week I would want ~20% more and 40% more to be full time in office. Would not count options in the comp, but would count rsus and cash bonus

Separate_Parfait3084@reddit

Something to keep in mind is if 100% of the company is in the office. If you drive in to take all of your calls at your desk it is soul crushing. I won't take an in office position where 100% of my team is not in the office (including contractors).

I'll buy the culture and collaboration argument but they have to put their money where their mouth is.

Rocketninja16@reddit

I did a 'soft' transition a few years ago.

I went from full time wfh to hybrid.

As I'm sure you know, there are pros and cons to both. I'm hybrid in the sense that unless there is something happening that requires my presence, I can choose home or office.

Generally, I'm more productive at home. I have my own stuff, kitchen etc.

But, the office also allows me to separate mentally from work in a way that is harder for me to do when at home. I find it harder to 'shut off' when I'm home and tend to work more than I should, at times.

I also find it's easier to champion things and run projects if you're on site. It shouldn't really matter and in previous wfh jobs, I didn't feel like we weren't getting things done, but the face time seems to make things move a little smoother.

Now, there are two caveats here, would you have your own office, or be in a cubicle or hot desking and second, most obvious, the people are what make or break it, whether on site or remote.

But like the other poster said, $45k is hard to turn down :D

jjd_yo@reddit

At what point is money no longer a justification for quality of work/life sacrifices? You’re making almost a quarter million a year and could likely score at least an equal position if you’re being offered 270 elsewhere.

Is (assuming a few things here) giving up your own office with no rules, getting sick more often, having a commute of any duration, and more you can probably think of worth a measly 40k in the context of 220?

If you’re social, thats totally fair. Still a downgrade IMO

SofaAssassin@reddit

Aside from the mandatory in-office, your company sounds like mine in terms of stats. I give zero weight to all the paper options I have, but from a practical perspective $270K is a lot of money.

My biggest concern would really be the working hours. 45 hours is a normal job to me when you're talking about the pay involved, but I wouldn't be very surprised to hear that people also live in the office.

Beli_Mawrr@reddit

You're now working 50 hours a week so a 40k pay raise probably isn't worth it from just an hourly wage perspective.

If they tried to transition me to in person they would be transitioning me to a new job.

FerengiAreBetter@reddit

What position level is this at?

shto@reddit

No experience, although I will move to in-office 3 days / week myself, but I'm looking forward to it. I was remote for years. It sounds like a great opportunity. Lots of companies are moving at least partially to in-office, so even if you switch to another company later on, you'll probably get a similar in-office presence request.

Also, if 20% of the technical org got fired, then I guess you should expect an increase in the hours worked anyway – more work on your plate.