when does it stop being worth it?

[TheAngryDog]

I work away from home Doing 4 on and 4 off. That means spending 4 days away from home, whice I do not enjoy. I average 42 hours a week working time, minus lunch breaks of 90 minutes when I can actually get one.

I spend around £740 a month on travel, parking, rent and food when i am away, which leaves me with around £1250 a month for everything else.

I spoke to my manager recently and there is no budget for pay increases so I am stuck in what I have earned since the start of 2014.

I worked out that my equivalent wage before deductions is about £17500 (taking travel out of the equation) which is over £10k less than my current top line.

I get very little job satisfaction, very little training, and often just feel like a PA while the other guys get to do the interesting work. It isn't through want of asking to be involved in work either.

The only positive of the job is the 4 days off!

But at what point does someone decide enough is enough and look for something closer to home that is less paid? Ironically I turned down a job for £6k less a year on paper but 20 miles away from home rather than 150, and that was still doing 4 on and 4 off but permanent night shifts, as I was scared about future earning power!

So what say you oh sensible (and not so sensible ) PHers say?

[alolympic]

Depends on what you feel you are missing out on at home?
I commend you for doing it so far, I would hate to be away from home for more than a night at a time, but I have a daughter who is 3 and I don't want to miss out on her.
I remember hearing a saying that time is the most precious thing in life, but the thing we have no way to control, and the thing that we waste most.

[TheAngryDog]

I've been doing this for 6 months upto now. I do not have any kids thankfully but I can see your perspective and if I did I'd feel the same way as you do.

I spend 8 hours or so a week traveling to work and back as well.

Re missing out at home, just being with my girlfriend and not being unhappy and permanently tired I guess!

Financially I am probaby better off working locally for £25k a year too, though that would put me back in desktop support.

[GT03ROB]

There's really not a right or wrong answer. It's only something you can decide. Only you know the work/life balance thats right for you.

I work away for weeks on end. I've not seen my wife this year. I've spent 1 night at home since mid-October last year. I won't spend my next night at home until mid-March. Would this be worth it to you?

[TheAngryDog]

GT03ROB said:

There's really not a right or wrong answer. It's only something you can decide. Only you know the work/life balance thats right for you.

I work away for weeks on end. I've not seen my wife this year. I've spent 1 night at home since mid-October last year. I won't spend my next night at home until mid-March. Would this be worth it to you?

I guess it's relative to the job you do and the rewards you get from it. I don't think I'd Be able to do that though Rob.

[eggchaser1987]

I was working away all week up until last year. Leaving the house at 4 on Monday and getting home around 8 or 9 if the traffic was good on a Friday. I was looking to go but luckily they were looking for people to make redundant.
My name cropped up and at the time I was gutted, but now working a 5 minute bike ride away from home and its the best thing that's happened.

I don't have kids but now the OH and I see each other and talk rather than me just grumbling as I'm so tiered and not looking forward to a long drive away Monday morning.

Do it, leave and find.something closer

[GT03ROB]

TheAngryDog said:

GT03ROB said:

There's really not a right or wrong answer. It's only something you can decide. Only you know the work/life balance thats right for you.

I work away for weeks on end. I've not seen my wife this year. I've spent 1 night at home since mid-October last year. I won't spend my next night at home until mid-March. Would this be worth it to you?

I guess it's relative to the job you do and the rewards you get from it. I don't think I'd Be able to do that though Rob.

And that was really my point... and why it's only you who can decide. Would I work away from home if I could earn the same as if I was home every night of course not. Do I have a value on being away from home.... yes. I won't do it unless it delivers a certain figure. My figure will be different to yours. I could give you a figure you would do it for, even though you you don't think you'd be able to do it!!

[TheAngryDog]

GT03ROB said:

And that was really my point... and why it's only you who can decide. Would I work away from home if I could earn the same as if I was home every night of course not. Do I have a value on being away from home.... yes. I won't do it unless it delivers a certain figure. My figure will be different to yours. I could give you a figure you would do it for, even though you you don't think you'd be able to do it!!

Tbh yes you could probably give me a figure id do it for short term, but not for years mind! I don't earn alot (just over £30k before deductions) and i could possibly get something that paid that a bit closer, but it would likely be in London. My girlfriend earns about the same as me and gets to walk to work! It's not all about the money, but what I pay out each month isn't helping the saving for a mortgage fund!

eggchaser1987 said:

I was working away all week up until last year. Leaving the house at 4 on Monday and getting home around 8 or 9 if the traffic was good on a Friday. I was looking to go but luckily they were looking for people to make redundant.
My name cropped up and at the time I was gutted, but now working a 5 minute bike ride away from home and its the best thing that's happened.

I don't have kids but now the OH and I see each other and talk rather than me just grumbling as I'm so tiered and not looking forward to a long drive away Monday morning.

Do it, leave and find.something closer

It's good that it worked out nicely for you. I think I may start looking but as I have a holiday booked in March I may need to leave it while after then before being in a position to do anything.

[Bullett]

I've done the travel/work away thing (10 days at a stretch) and I'm done with it. I did 24x7 rotated support shifts living in digs when I was 'on' and driving 150 miles home when off. I will now only consider home based roles, I've being doing documentation/design work and not left the house for the last two weeks. I hardly ever have more than one night away but I'm in the US for a week at the end of the month. That will be tough for me (it's Vegas though so I'll probably be able to console myself somehow).

Ultimately this has built my experience to a point where I can dictate terms a bit.

You are in a strong position. You have a job.
Start looking to move now, you might not get interviews, you might not like the company. Don't forget when you are in a job you don't need the new one so they are selling to you as much as the other way around.

[Hoofy]

TheAngryDog said:

But at what point does someone decide enough is enough

When you start a thread about it on PH.

A while ago, I quite a job in the city and was willing to take a pay cut because I just couldn't be arsed with the commute. Funnily, I got £1k more when I found a replacement job.

[MadDad]

I think you know the answer to your question but are looking for validation!

I have worked away from home on and off for the last 8 years - longest stint being 2 years in Torquay. I have decided enough is enough, a couple of nights away I am fine with but no more Mon-Fri - it damaged my relationship with my kids and turned my wife into a single parent (and I have to admit that the money was good but has not made a significant difference to our lifestyle).

I would rather sleep in my own bed and be around for my family, it means a compromise as I will have to take a contract that is available rather than one that I like the sound of but it's a compromise I am happy to make (as long as the bloody contract market picks up soon)!!

[Jasandjules]

As others have said, in effect your question has been posted because you are unhappy with your current situation and you wish for others to tell you it is time to find something else.

That is enough for me to tell you to find something else!

[GuinnessMK]

I stopped contracting this time last year. Took a hit on my day rate. But;

• Work is a 7 minute bike ride away, which allowed me to
• Sell one of the cars, which allowed me to
• Save on tax, insurance, fuel and servicing (as well as depreciation),

• I'm now home every night for tea with my wife and kids,
• I'm at home every morning to have breakfast with them,
• I get (lots) of paid holidays,
• I have a (very) generous pension scheme.
• Work pay for getting additional qualifications.

Overall, if it doesn't add up for you, do something else. Never look back.

[TheAngryDog]

Bullett said:

I've done the travel/work away thing (10 days at a stretch) and I'm done with it. I did 24x7 rotated support shifts living in digs when I was 'on' and driving 150 miles home when off. I will now only consider home based roles, I've being doing documentation/design work and not left the house for the last two weeks. I hardly ever have more than one night away but I'm in the US for a week at the end of the month. That will be tough for me (it's Vegas though so I'll probably be able to console myself somehow).

Ultimately this has built my experience to a point where I can dictate terms a bit.

You are in a strong position. You have a job.
Start looking to move now, you might not get interviews, you might not like the company. Don't forget when you are in a job you don't need the new one so they are selling to you as much as the other way around.

I did 11 days once - that was difficult! I do 24x7x365 rotated shifts as well and like you were are 150 miles away - very similar circumstances.

I am kicking myself for turning down a local role because I didn't want to earn less on paper and because I didnt feel that the job was sending me in the direction I wanted to go in, but in hindsight I could've done it while home learning etc.

I'd never walk away from this job without one to go, I may be angry but im not crazydog .

Hoofy said:

TheAngryDog said:

But at what point does someone decide enough is enough

When you start a thread about it on PH.

A while ago, I quite a job in the city and was willing to take a pay cut because I just couldn't be arsed with the commute. Funnily, I got £1k more when I found a replacement job.

You make a very good point. For my role experience and skills count, and I am lacking in both. I am well paid for someone with my skill set, and if I lived closer to work (not possible) then I'd be happy with my lot.

Like you I worked in the city and I hated the commute - trains and buses but I did sleep in my own bed every night.

MadDad said:

I think you know the answer to your question but are looking for validation!

I have worked away from home on and off for the last 8 years - longest stint being 2 years in Torquay. I have decided enough is enough, a couple of nights away I am fine with but no more Mon-Fri - it damaged my relationship with my kids and turned my wife into a single parent (and I have to admit that the money was good but has not made a significant difference to our lifestyle).

I would rather sleep in my own bed and be around for my family, it means a compromise as I will have to take a contract that is available rather than one that I like the sound of but it's a compromise I am happy to make (as long as the bloody contract market picks up soon)!!

I guess I am in some ways, but also looking for people's advice who have been there and done that. I guess I would be happier doing a job local to home that isn't fully what I want, but it would need to be paid reasonably well as I have some ambition. I've taken a pay cut for a job before but it was small so wasn't too hard to get back to what I was on before and have since improved on that, and I'd prefer not to do it again but it seems I might have to.

Jasandjules said:

As others have said, in effect your question has been posted because you are unhappy with your current situation and you wish for others to tell you it is time to find something else.

That is enough for me to tell you to find something else!

I spoke with my manager tonight. When I explained all of the facts he said I made a very compelling argument to get a job closer to home. Even he thinks I should consider leaving!

[TheAngryDog]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It does seem to be a recurring theme!

GuinnessMK said:

I stopped contracting this time last year. Took a hit on my day rate. But;

• Work is a 7 minute bike ride away, which allowed me to
• Sell one of the cars, which allowed me to
• Save on tax, insurance, fuel and servicing (as well as depreciation),

• I'm now home every night for tea with my wife and kids,
• I'm at home every morning to have breakfast with them,
• I get (lots) of paid holidays,
• I have a (very) generous pension scheme.
• Work pay for getting additional qualifications.

Overall, if it doesn't add up for you, do something else. Never look back.

It wouldn't be so bad if my work sorted training out for me, but it seems that my training is classed as "if someone helps me, that is training". Not sure about that one. I have a few months to brush up on some stuff I guess and then I can start looking local.

[All that jazz]

TheAngryDog said:

I work away from home Doing 4 on and 4 off. That means spending 4 days away from home, whice I do not enjoy. I average 42 hours a week working time, minus lunch breaks of 90 minutes when I can actually get one.

I spend around £740 a month on travel, parking, rent and food when i am away, which leaves me with around £1250 a month for everything else.

I spoke to my manager recently and there is no budget for pay increases so I am stuck in what I have earned since the start of 2014.

I worked out that my equivalent wage before deductions is about £17500 (taking travel out of the equation) which is over £10k less than my current top line.

I get very little job satisfaction, very little training, and often just feel like a PA while the other guys get to do the interesting work. It isn't through want of asking to be involved in work either.

The only positive of the job is the 4 days off!

But at what point does someone decide enough is enough and look for something closer to home that is less paid? Ironically I turned down a job for £6k less a year on paper but 20 miles away from home rather than 150, and that was still doing 4 on and 4 off but permanent night shifts, as I was scared about future earning power!

So what say you oh sensible (and not so sensible ) PHers say?

What's your experience in your field like? Are you very good at what you do? Any contacts? Maybe look into going it alone and contracting. Although I work in a different industry to you I was faced with a similar situation to yourself many years ago. Decided to hop on the agency circuit with the sole intention of being a cut above the rest and overly accommodating to the clients so that I was asked for by name and then cut out the agency altogether and go direct. Worked a treat and I basically doubled my income and have never been so secure financially as I am now.

[AdamR]

I was in a similar position to the OP, working 120 miles from home on a mixed shift pattern, working 4/5 on and 4/5 off. I could of happily stayed in the job earning fairly decent money for the next 16 years guaranteed. However, I want to settle down with my partner, live in my own home and sleep in my own bed. I made the big decision back in December and am now preparing my escape!

I'm sure I wont struggle to find a job, but, my biggest fear is not finding the job I want!

All the best OP!

[Pit Pony]

TheAngryDog said:

I work away from home Doing 4 on and 4 off. I do 4.5 days on 2 days off

That means spending 4 days away from home, whice I do not enjoy. I spend 4 nights away from home and 3 nights at home


I average 42 hours a week working time, minus lunch breaks of 90 minutes when I can actually get one. I average 43 hours a week plus lunch of 2 hours (i have lunch of 30 mins on 4 of the days

I spend around £740 a month on travel, parking, rent and food when i am away, which leaves me with around £1250 a month for everything else. I spend £365 on rent, £98 on Council Tax, £5 on contents insurance, £50 on electric and £18 on Broadband, plus £200 on deisel and £100 on food when I am away - luckily it is all tax deductable



I worked out that my equivalent wage before deductions is about £17500 (taking travel out of the equation) which is over £10k less than my current top line.

I take an income of £10K and Dividends of £7K before tax, meaning that I probably end up with slightly more in my pocket than you

I get very little job satisfaction, very little training, and often just feel like a PA while the other guys get to do the interesting work. It isn't through want of asking to be involved in work either. work is just a means to an end for most people

The only positive of the job is the 4 days off! Don't waste it. Imagine if you started a business on 2 of those 4 days, or took up a hobby or just helped out in a charity shop

But at what point does someone decide enough is enough and look for something closer to home that is less paid? Ironically I turned down a job for £6k less a year on paper but 20 miles away from home rather than 150, and that was still doing 4 on and 4 off but permanent night shifts, as I was scared about future earning power! You can't afford to spend so much money on travel in the short term.

So what say you oh sensible (and not so sensible ) PHers say?

I say, working from home is a means to an end, taking a low salary, can only go on so long. You have some options. You could seek to minimise the travel costs (Try www.spareroom.co.uk which might make accomodation cheaper), you could move closer, you could change jobs, you could use your 4 days off to build a massive media empire (this time next year rodney), you could get a second job. You could do an open university course. There are so many ideas you might have.

[TheAngryDog]

All that jazz said:

What's your experience in your field like? Are you very good at what you do? Any contacts? Maybe look into going it alone and contracting. Although I work in a different industry to you I was faced with a similar situation to yourself many years ago. Decided to hop on the agency circuit with the sole intention of being a cut above the rest and overly accommodating to the clients so that I was asked for by name and then cut out the agency altogether and go direct. Worked a treat and I basically doubled my income and have never been so secure financially as I am now.

Not so good. I've been in IT of sorts since I left school in 1997, but most of that has been desktop support / software support. To set up on my own / contracting, I would need a lot more experience. I had a job interview towards the end of last year and I came up quite short on the technical side. They liked me and still offered me a job doing something else (effectively made a job for me I think) but at the time I had the "If I earn less now, it'll make it harder to earn more" issue.

AdamR said:

I was in a similar position to the OP, working 120 miles from home on a mixed shift pattern, working 4/5 on and 4/5 off. I could of happily stayed in the job earning fairly decent money for the next 16 years guaranteed. However, I want to settle down with my partner, live in my own home and sleep in my own bed. I made the big decision back in December and am now preparing my escape!

I'm sure I wont struggle to find a job, but, my biggest fear is not finding the job I want!

All the best OP!

It is difficult spending so much time away from someone when you want to settle down with them. I have plans and to put those into place I need to be at home full time really. Thanks for the good wishes - I hope you manage to find a suitable job for you as well!

Pit Pony said:

I do 4.5 days on 2 days off

I spend 4 nights away from home and 3 nights at home

Is that working Monday to Friday?

I average 43 hours a week plus lunch of 2 hours (i have lunch of 30 mins on 4 of the days

I rarely end up taking lunch breaks so effectively I do an average of 42. Some weeks I will work 48 hours (like this and next two weeks) because of how my shift patterns fall, but then I'll technically only do 36 hours the next week.

I spend £365 on rent, £98 on Council Tax, £5 on contents insurance, £50 on electric and £18 on Broadband, plus £200 on deisel and £100 on food when I am away - luckily it is all tax deductable

I wish mine was tax deductible! At least it would make it a little more worth it!

I take an income of £10K and Dividends of £7K before tax, meaning that I probably end up with slightly more in my pocket than you

That seems pretty low?

work is just a means to an end for most people

Not for me, but its just being given an opportunity to do more.

Don't waste it. Imagine if you started a business on 2 of those 4 days, or took up a hobby or just helped out in a charity shop

I spend my time doing revision, house work and a day to relax, especially if the first day home is the one when I have just come off nights and I've worked 12 hours and driven for 4. I'd love to have my own business but I couldn't possibly think of what I could do.

You can't afford to spend so much money on travel in the short term.

Yep, its a negative gain really.

I say, working from home is a means to an end, taking a low salary, can only go on so long. You have some options. You could seek to minimise the travel costs (Try www.spareroom.co.uk which might make accomodation cheaper), you could move closer, you could change jobs, you could use your 4 days off to build a massive media empire (this time next year rodney), you could get a second job. You could do an open university course. There are so many ideas you might have.

My salary isn't low per say, well unless just over £30k PA is seen as low? I already rent a room via Spareroom and it was one of the cheapest ones available close to work. The problem with a second job would be that sometimes I have home during the week, sometimes it is over weekends, so I would imagine it might be harder to get one, plus I wouldn't want to be working when the gf was off work as that would be country productive.

I did think about an open university course, but I already do stuff for MS / Cisco training on line.

[johnfm]

GuinnessMK said:

I stopped contracting this time last year. Took a hit on my day rate. But;

• Work is a 7 minute bike ride away, which allowed me to
• Sell one of the cars, which allowed me to
• Save on tax, insurance, fuel and servicing (as well as depreciation),

• I'm now home every night for tea with my wife and kids,
• I'm at home every morning to have breakfast with them,
• I get (lots) of paid holidays,
• I have a (very) generous pension scheme.
• Work pay for getting additional qualifications.

Overall, if it doesn't add up for you, do something else. Never look back.

Your kids drink tea? How very civilised...