Who is back in the office? (Boston, Cambridge: apartment, rental, student loans)

[simplexsimon]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Hello....commuting time to and from an office is not paid time if you're salaried. It's personal time that you aren't getting compensated for.

Hi, if a job pays $50k with no commute and $80k with commute, I'd consider that time that's being compensated for.

How else can you quantify if that $275k job in Cambridge is worth it?

And secondly, have you looked to see if that $275k job is available? Depending on the role and industry I would not be surprised to see similar disparities between central MA and Boston jobs like the previous poster experienced.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Yes, I think from Marlborough....that's a terrible daily commute into Boston.!

That's correct but you're probably talking about a job that's mainly either in 128 or Boston/Cambridge. 128 would be better from Marlborough but it wouldn't be that great.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I'm actually still amazed the Reading commuter rail stop is still pretty empty in the AM. I drive past it around 8:45 if i'm taking backroads, and there is still tons of available parking. Pre-covid, if you weren't there very early, it was tough to get a spot.


Looks like i'll be WFH for the next few weeks. Water pump on my car decided to start leaking today. $3K estimate and can't get it in for 2 weeks. There goes some of that safety fund as well given the impending doom and gloom. (Layoff rumors starting to pick up at my office). Fun times.

Yep, I know some folks who recently got laid off about 3 weeks ago. They are in biotech. So, when it starts to hit that sector you know things are getting bad!

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

And secondly, have you looked to see if that $275k job is available? Depending on the role and industry I would not be surprised to see similar disparities between central MA and Boston jobs like the previous poster experienced.

I'm guessing 275k is extremely unrealistic for what she does. Like if she's making 175k, her bosses' boss likely isn't making that.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

Hi, if a job pays $50k with no commute and $80k with commute, I'd consider that time that's being compensated for.

How else can you quantify if that $275k job in Cambridge is worth it?

And secondly, have you looked to see if that $275k job is available? Depending on the role and industry I would not be surprised to see similar disparities between central MA and Boston jobs like the previous poster experienced.

Well if I'm making just shy of $200K now WFH and as I mentioned before if someone offered me $30K more per year (so say $230K) it wouldn't be worth it to me to take a job that requires a commute into Cambridge. $275K, then maybe we're talking. I'll get the $30K to cover the cost of aggravation and wear and tear on my car for the commute I now have to endure plus an extra $45K per year that I didn't have before. That's how I'd look at it anyway.

[simplexsimon]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Well if I'm making just shy of $200K now WFH and as I mentioned before if someone offered me $30K more per year (so say $230K) it wouldn't be worth it to me to take a job that requires a commute into Cambridge. $275K, then maybe we're talking. I'll get the $30K to cover the cost of aggravation and wear and tear on my car for the commute I now have to endure plus an extra $45K per year that I didn't have before. That's how I'd look at it anyway.

Right, it's good to have a number in mind, maybe it's out there. I was just curious how many people actually do that and may be leaving money on the table by not looking.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

Right, it's good to have a number in mind, maybe it's out there. I was just curious how many people actually do that and may be leaving money on the table by not looking.

To be honest, I haven't looked. I've been pretty happy with my current set up. However, depending on how much layoff gloom and doom starts happening maybe that will incentivize me more to brush up my resume and give it a whirl.

[msRB311]

Some people have gone back to the office because they want to. Not everyone enjoys working from home alone in the house all day...or not alone in the house all day.

I will say that most of the people I know who have gone back are men. Men who have kids and probably don't want to be distracted. And yes most are hybrid.

I'm with the others who said that after 3 years of WFH I'd need a big raise to go back to commuting and sitting in an office space all day. I think a lot of people are feeling that way. Life is so much easier being able to be remote.

I had a call last week with a woman who said she was told she needed to be in the office 3 days a week so she left and got another job.

Im just definitely seeing a pattern where it's men who are happier to be in the office. Is it an old boys club thing?

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Some people have gone back to the office because they want to. Not everyone enjoys working from home alone in the house all day...or not alone in the house all day.

I will say that most of the people I know who have gone back are men. Men who have kids and probably don't want to be distracted. And yes most are hybrid.

I'm with the others who said that after 3 years of WFH I'd need a big raise to go back to commuting and sitting in an office space all day. I think a lot of people are feeling that way. Life is so much easier being able to be remote.

I had a call last week with a woman who said she was told she needed to be in the office 3 days a week so she left and got another job.

Im just definitely seeing a pattern where it's men who are happier to be in the office. Is it an old boys club thing?

Old boys club, plus probably many want nothing to do with pitching in extra for childcare duties or house chores is my guess!

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Old boys club, plus probably many want nothing to do with pitching in extra for childcare duties or house chores is my guess!

Could be, but it seems like in many cases they tend to be the bread winner, don't want the distraction so off they go.