To start, I was offered a fully remote position that pays similarly to the one I have now, but with far less benefits and less job security. My current job is 60 miles away from my house as it was 1) the only thing close by in my field and 2) didn’t require years of experience to start. The remote position is not in my field and wasn’t even the company I applied to, my resume was forwarded onto them.
Back in January, I took this current job with excitement. It was my first full time job with benefits, and a Union, plus in my field. The major draw back the commute. I’ve commuted to jobs that paid less before so I thought what the heck.
Well, a month goes by and my training is complete, but gas prices rise with the war in Ukraine beginning. A couple of weeks go by, no major change in the gas prices but a real change in my income.
I approach my boss three weeks ago, and asked for one to two days remote as I am more comfortable with the system and am struggling to afford the commute over. She said she hired me to answer the phones and that I need to be in person everyday to complete that role. She said she would get back to me and understands the struggle as she too commuted during 2008 when gas prices were at an all time high.
A week goes by, no news. I ask her the news on my request. She said HR did not approve it and said I should hold out for my pay increase in July, which is about two and half dollars more per hour. I take a step back and think well $20 an hour does sound nice maybe the commute and the gas won’t be that bad.
Fast forward to today, I get an offer to go fully remote with a company outside of my field. The annual salary is 35k. Yes I won’t commute and will have 15 hours of my life back, but they have some weird retirement policies and this wasn’t the company I originally applied to, my resume was forwarded onto them. I sit on it for the weekend, ask my family members, friends, and even current co workers their advice.
This morning, I asked my manager over an email if I could meet with she and her supervisor, the main HR person at my unit. A few hours go by, no email or response back, so I approach them face to face and ask for some time to talk.
I tell them up front, I got offered another job it’s pay is similar and it’s remote. However, I really enjoy working with them and that I like the job itself, the commute is a financial burden, and I ask if I can work remotely one day a week.
They nod their head and don’t say a whole lot. Then the supervisor asks, “well have you filled out the Flex Work Form?” To which I said, “no, what is that?” She explains that it’s a WFH request form. Not only did my manager withhold that request form, they were upset that I even approached them, stating I should just hold out until the pay increase.
I ask how long do these requests take to process, and she said a little over a week. I also asked, how often do they get approved, and they said we don’t really know that.
I tell her I don’t have a week and would need to know within this working week.
They told me they don’t even approve the request either. So I explained my situation for alligator tears.
What do you think? Should I wait it out, keep putting in requests? Or take the leap and work this remote job?