Am I crazy? Job change/commute related

[agnes]

I just had lunch with a friend (old coworker) that said her work is looking to fill a position I've had 5+ years of experience in.

She says they are a great place to work for. You can see she is visibly happier. She's happy to say that she's feels she's being over paid in her new position. One of her coworkers has a 10hr x 4day work week which I would absolutely love.

If I applied to this job I'd most likely get it right away.

The catch is that it's almost 20 miles away and traffic could be horrible on the commute. Like an hour to get there and 2 hours to get home in rush hour traffic.

My current commute is 20 minutes in the morning and up to an hour at night.

For the local peeps, I would be going from somewhere like Irvine to somewhere like Bellflower.

I do not know what the compensation would be, yet. My conservative guess would be probably the same $$ or 10% more than I make now. Possibly less expensive medical. Other benifits would be the same.

I am not happy in my current environment but not unhappy either.

I would love to work with this friend again. We worked great together.

[heightsyankee]

I think if you could work the 9/80 schedule that the other person works, a whole Friday off every other week would be worth the extra commute. And I hate to commute.

We spend so much time at work, we deserve to be as happy as possible at our jobs. Sounds like you would be happier, paid more and have better benefits. I would take the job and if it's a really winner, could you possibly move down the line to reduce the commute?

[alleinesein]

It doesnt hurt to apply for it and see if they have any type of flex scheduling options to accomodate for traffic.

I live 16 miles away from my job; my morning commute can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 75 minutes and my evening commute is always between 50-75 minutes.

Do you go to the gym?? You could go after work to kill some time while waiting for traffic to die down.

[rubytue]

May 19, 2012 16:57:45 GMT -5 agnes said:

One of her coworkers has a 10hr x 4day work week which I would absolutely love.

The catch is that it's almost 20 miles away and traffic could be horrible on the commute. Like an hour to get there and 2 hours to get home in rush hour traffic.

I do pretty close to this now. It sucks. The advantage is that because of the 10 hour days, I don't leave the office until after 6pm and I get home in under an hour (its 1:15-1:30 to get in). I also have one day of teleworking. So I'm home 2 days a week. It still sucks. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday - I'm useless. I get home about 7 or 7:30, eat dinner around 7:30 or 8. Watch one TV show, surf the web a bit, and go to bed (since I have to get up at 5:45 to do it again). Oh, and if I want to do anything, like go to an HOA meeting or anything else, I have to take vacation time and leave around 3pm (if I leave after 4, I don't get home until 6).

Anyway, just wanted to give you a perspective on what that schedule + long commute is like. I forget if you have kids, but I would NOT do that schedule with kids.

[yellowumbrella]

If you're working 10 hours days 4x a week would you be traveling during peak times? Or would your longer schedule keep you in the office earlier and later than most people?

[agnes]

To address a few questions...

I do not have kids.

The sucktastic commute would be during rush hour. I looked on googlemaps to map out and it says it would take 23 minutes right now with no traffic at all.

Moving is not an option for another year or two. And I wouldn't really want to move to that area. I'm very happy with where we are now.

My cousin lives a few miles away from the potential new job. I could possibly hang out with her before heading home every once in a while.

I have looked in my area and have not had much luck.

[rubytue]

Well, 10 hour days usually gives you flexibility to miss rush hour at least on one side. Maybe both. My commute is 40 miles, and 50 minutes is the no traffic version.

[agnes]

May 19, 2012 17:30:43 GMT -5 yellowumbrella said:

If you're working 10 hours days 4x a week would you be traveling during peak times? Or would your longer schedule keep you in the office earlier and later than most people?

Presumably the longer schedule would mean I'd have less traffic. I would be going in before rush hour and leaving after rush hour.

Or if I could get a schedule of 7:30 to 4 (5 day work week)I would also miss rush hour traffic.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2012 16:57:45 GMT -5 agnes said:

For the local peeps, I would be going from somewhere like Irvine to somewhere like Bellflower.

Nightmare.

[agnes]

Oh maybe I should clarify after reading what miso quoted. It sounds like I'd be driving from Irvine to Bellflower. That would be a nightmare and I wouldn't even be considering it. I didn't mean that.

It'd be like I currently work in Irvine and the new job would be the opposite direction in Bellflower.

[agnes]

You are correct Farmer.

Fountain Valley to Bellflower/Lakewood

[agnes]

The main freeways would be the 405 to the 605 to the 91 or 405 and side streets if it's really bad on the 91 and 605.

[agnes]

Thank you!

[agnes]

I always over think things.

[SpicedApplePie]

I dont have any idea where these cities are, but my "no traffic" drive would be 25 minutes and I commute an hour in the morning. On my drive home, it could be up to an hour and 25, but that is only if I leave right at 5. Even leaving at 5:45, I can be home by 6:45, and if I leave after 6, it is only about 40 minutes. If you work a 10 hour work-day, you might not have such a bad commute. I would check the traffic times every day this week and keep a file. Check them every 30 minutes from as early as you can until 9ish, then from 3-6ish just to see what the times are like and see if you could get a schedule that accommodates traffic well.

[keh2oblue]

In the LA area, isn't that kinda par for the course?

I'd apply and get the details.

[whitepicketfence]

I'd apply and see what happens. I wouldn't worry about the details of the commute just yet. You can always figure that out later if you are offered (and want to accept) the job.