Advice - Stick or Twist

CORK20

First time poster
I've to decide between moving from my current job or staying put, I've 2 offers on the table
OPTION 1 is to work from home as an PAYE worker for an established and well managed consultancy that treats employees well, its in a niche area and has a team of experts built up over the last 16 years, I will be replacing a person that retired last year, I am a suitable replacement, they are finding my skill set difficult to come across.
It's 37.5 hours/week with 2.30pm finish on Fridays, I can choose my own suitable hours, all work is office based and each contract will on average be 2-3 weeks in duration. I will be paid overtime for any extra hour I work, but to avoid burn-out the company prefers you not to work beyond the 37.5 hours. I will receive a considerable salary increase by moving.
If I move and work from home I'll no longer have the day to day contact with workmates this might be an issue I feel? the work is quiet specific and won't vary a whole lot from project to project so may be a bit boring.

OPTION 2 My current employer who I've been with for 2 years are an established Irish company, but have contracted in size over the years, the environment is nice to work in and my specific role is enjoyable to me because I'm branching into new areas with the work I'm assigned to. The work hours are flexible with 5 weeks Holidays per year, The company is willing to match the salary increase and want me to stay.
If I stay the company isn't in the best financial situation isn't managed very well either but the work I do is interesting.

What would people choose? Option 1 or Option 2

Blacktie.

Option 1 without a doubt in my mind for 2. The benefits far outweigh the risks by the sounds of it.

jimmycrackcorm

I presume you aren't married with kids, but if that were to happen down the line then option 1 is a clear winner when it comes to time to drop and pick up kids.

Not many people get a chance to work from home like that.

Stavro Mueller

1 sounds more attractive to be honest and a better bet long-term.
On the lack of day to day contact with colleagues, could you come to an arrangement whereby you could come into their offices, say one day a week, and work there? That's what happens in my job where we have people who work from home. In their case it's written into their contracts that they come in on an agreed day each week .

CORK20

Thanks for the replies.
The company in option 1 is based in London so I won't be able to commute to the office there will be occasional travel to customers (UK or mainland Europe) for meetings but nearly all my time will be spent at home.
The thought of not having daily face to face time with colleagues is what concerns me the most I think, I like a lot of the people I work, I think I'll miss that if I go.

Stavro Mueller

I don't know what your family circumstances are but if I showed this thread to a member of my family, I'm pretty sure she would walk a mile over hot coals and seize Option 1 with both hands. She's married and has a very good, well-paid job. Problem is, the industry where she works has a culture where long hours are expected. Now that she has a young family, those late night finishes are a bigger headache than they ever were. She's on a treadmill of sorts, juggling family life and a demanding career. Apart from the isolation issue, your Option 1 job sounds ideal. It's in a stable company, they pay you well, they don't want you to work long hours and you appear to have flexibility.

By the sounds of things, the other company's not as stable. It might be more interesting but what happens if the issues you've identified lead to it folding. Especially if you're in something of a niche industry. Another job may be hard to come by. An issue that could become even more pressing should you have a mortgage and a family.

In my opinion, the isolation issue is one that can be overcome. You can still pick up the phone to talk to people, you'll have conference calls etc. It is possible to build working relationships with people you don't meet very often in person. What you also could do in your own working day is to ensure that you have human contact. Do you have any family or friends locally who would be around during the day/at lunchtime to meet up with? Or if there raen't, make sure you organise activities for yourself in the evenings so that you will meet other people.

Stheno

Stavro Mueller wrote: »

In my opinion, the isolation issue is one that can be overcome. You can still pick up the phone to talk to people, you'll have conference calls etc. It is possible to build working relationships with people you don't meet very often in person. What you also could do in your own working day is to ensure that you have human contact. Do you have any family or friends locally who would be around during the day/at lunchtime to meet up with? Or if there raen't, make sure you organise activities for yourself in the evenings so that you will meet other people.

I regularly work from home unless I'm on-site with clients and can understand the ops concerns its an issue that's been recognised for home workers, my oh permanently works from home and finds it isolating despite doing everything you've suggested above

If op is quite social and likes regular interaction with people in person they may struggle with option one

CORK20

I feel that option 1 would sound appealing to a lot of people and if I was totally logical I should go with it but I can't convince myself for 2 reasons
1. Lack of regular interaction with people
2. The work I'll be carrying out means that I'll rarely get to physically see the end product, I feel that this will mean I am in a strange way performing like a machine in the process now this wouldn't be an issue if there was no choice involved but because I have, it is.
I'm leaning to staying where I am & I appreciate the comments you all have expressed.
BTW I am married with 3 kids ages 15 ,18 ,20, own house, no mortgage

Stheno

CORK20 wrote: »

I feel that option 1 would sound appealing to a lot of people and if I was totally logical I should go with it but I can't convince myself for 2 reasons
1. Lack of regular interaction with people
2. The work I'll be carrying out means that I'll rarely get to physically see the end product, I feel that this will mean I am in a strange way performing like a machine in the process now this wouldn't be an issue if there was no choice involved but because I have, it is.
I'm leaning to staying where I am & I appreciate the comments you all have expressed.
BTW I am married with 3 kids ages 15 ,18 ,20, own house, no mortgage

I'd go for option two so if I were you if they are going to match the other salary

Only concern would be their questioning your loyalty