[Advice Needed] How much is telecommuting worth?

[phatrabt]

Hi all! I'm looking for some advice and I'm hoping all you other folks can help out. Due to restructuring in my division, I've been applying to internal jobs in the company. Two of these jobs led to an interview and to an offer letter, which I'm considering. The part I'm having trouble with is that one of the jobs (the one I really want) is a lateral move with no increase in pay but I can continue to telecommute, saving me about 2 hours of commute time a day. The second offer is a promotion and a 10% raise, but I lose the ability to telecommute since I have to be there from 0900-1700 every day. What do you guys and gals think? Thanks!

 

[tw1164]

worth = hourly wage x time saved by telecommuting

Personally I'd telecommute

 

[Zombie]

From what I have seen telecommuters don't usually get promoted.

 

[kranky]

It's not as simple as figuring your hourly wage as part of the cost of not being able to telecommute. It's been shown that telecommuters do not get promoted as often. They do not get the same assignments which give them the chance to develop. The lack of "face time" with superiors and others holds them back. Trying to run a project as a telecommuter is far more difficult.

You have to factor all those things in as well. If you want to move up, I think telecommuting will be a hindrance. If that's not an issue for you, then saving two hours a day could be well worth taking the lateral move.

 

[rivan]

2 hours in the car every day isn't worth 10% to me. Not to mention the added freedom you gain working from home.

Need to schedule a service appointment? Accept a delivery? Leave the car at the shop an extra day? Get up late and need to postpone the shower? Lots of intangible freedom you gain by telecommuting.

 

[Double Trouble]

I agree with Kranky, there's nothing wrong with telecommuting one day a week or something like that, but if you strictly telecommute, you don't get important face time. People won't know you as much, you'll tend not to get included in the interesting opportunitites etc.

Personally, I'd go for the position without telecommuting -- all other factors being equal of course.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years and which is the right path to take for that? Will the promotion help you further your career? While it's a valid point to figure out what gas will cost you, your time, the hassle, etc., you should look at the future and not just the short term effect.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: kranky
It's been shown that telecommuters do not get promoted as often.

I had no idea that was the case. Weight your ambition accordingly as well, then.

 

[phatrabt]

I thank you all for your input so far. I'm not worried about promotions or anything and I'm happy doing what I do, so here's a few more things to throw into the mix:

For the job with the promotion:
1. I'll be implementing configs that are designed by the IP Engineering group on routers and switches.
2. T-shooting will be part of the job since I'll be the one implementing the changes, I'll have to t-shoot them as well.
3. I'll work on some core equipment that I haven't worked on (Juniper, Cisco 12000, etc)


As for the job that's a lateral move:
1. The area I'm responsible for is 9 states, so a lot of the work I do is remote.
2. The team I'll be with is only 4 people, 1 of which isn't even in this state. The others all telecommute just like I do.
3. I'm very happy with what I'd be doing (IP Engineering, MPLS, ATM, etc), plus I get to work with the guy that built the network and gain some understanding from him.
4. My understanding is that this group will be involves in some next generation stuff soon, but there's no other information than that.

 

[FoBoT]

i would take into consideration the longer term career path implications