oh no the miles

[unicornduke]

Just actually sat down and did the $$$ math on potential new job. Went something like this: 

Summer (May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept) - commute 4 days/wk -> 16 commute days/mth x 5 mths = 80 commute days/yr
Spring/Fall (Apr, Oct) - commute 3 days/wk -> 12 commute days/mth x 2 mths = 24 commute days/yr
Winter (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) - commute 1 day/wk -> 4 commute days/mth = 20 commute days/yr

Total of 124 commute days.

Said commute is 88 miles one way, 176 miles round trip

total miles commuting is 21,824 miles. Using federal mileage reimbursement for 2023 of 65.5 cents per mile, that puts my commute cost at:

$14,294

Potential increase in salary? gone. It only would make a difference if the 8% raise kicks in but I'm not relying on that. So uhh. not taking the new job if I don't make more money and I have to drive 3 hours a day. I could take part time shifts at the local employee owned gas station chain and come out ahead. 

Comments

[tielan]

Ouch. Yeah, that's helpful math to do.

[graydon]

This is the point -- if you otherwise want the job -- to tell them this. ("I did the math, and with the increased commute I would be losing money compared to my current employment.") And then see what they say.

But you only do that if you otherwise want the job.

[unicornduke]

The impression I have from the initial offer conversation is that they won't increase it any more than 50k for both budget from grant and parity reasons for the other person at the same level as this position. I'll ask but even if they did, it would need to be a lot more to make up for the drive time and mileage costs. It is a job I want and makes sense to take in a lot of ways, other than the drive. But the drive is costly and I don't really want to move.

[graydon]

It makes complete sense to not switch jobs when the new one would make you worse off!

Asking is in part so they know you didn't got "eww" because things change and maybe in a few years it'd be a possibility again for one reason or another.

[redstapler]

OOF.

I'm glad you did the math before you signed anything.

[reedrover]

Quantitative analysis is sometimes quite clarifying. Now you know *exactly why* the proposed commute was making you wary of the new job.

I hope you and the organization can part on good terms. Maybe they will have a more home-based research job for you someday.

[unicornduke]

Maybe! I doubt it, but I'm keeping my eyes open for other opportunities too.

[annofowlshire]

I had been thinking the cost of fuel + actual time lost might not make the change worth it. Not to mention the wear and tear on the vehicle.

Is working from home more often a possibility? Or is this not the kind of role that would work in?

[unicornduke]

No, I work in agriculture and this job, which is very similar to my current role has a lot of field work and farm visits during the summer. So days working from home are limited. Maybe it would be 3 days a week in the summer if I planned it right but it's still too much I think.