Reply to: Working away from home

[Scrag Meister]

I live in the South West but tend to work somewhere near London.

On my last contract i was in Sunbury and rented a room nearby and as luck has it the contract lasted 17 months. Up Sunday, Home Thursday, WFH Friday.
Currently I am commuting Monday morning, AirBnb Monday-Wed nights, home on Thursday and WFH Friday.

AirBnb is slightly more expensive on a day basis but also means it doesnt cost you anything when you are WFH for a fortnight or on holiday, over Christmas for instance.
Its proved cheaper for me on the current gig due to only being away 3 nights a week.

Check how flexible the client is.

Working away has worked for me, enabling me to keep the London rate flowing but living in the idyllic countryside.

Nothing ventured and all that.

[LondonManc]

Don't drive, it will test your sanity. Unless the other option is Southern Rail.

Travel Tuesday AM, use trivago or booking.com on Tuesday lunchtime and find a great last minute deal
Travel back Thursday evening, being aware that you'll have to wait until 6:57 for your first offpeak train.

Don't expect much of a social life outside of Friday and Saturday though tbh.

[kryten22uk]

Just to add a slightly different angle to this, as I work from home on Monday morning and then drive to client at lunch (160miles).

Whilst I had no issue with being able to still work long hours despite driving at 5:30am, I mainly moved to my current pattern to avoid the M25 morning traffic mayhem.

[Manic]

As you can see all of us are different. Sunday is my weekend so I would rather an early start Monday than lose my own time. I've been lucky that my away gigs have always afforded a Friday WFH and so I doubt i would consider a 4 night away stay.

[Batcher]

I’d go the night before.
Done it plenty of times - driving, flying etc. I also try to include the concept that if I’m working away all week, that on a Friday I leave the office so that I’m home by 6pm.

+1

Sunday evenings are quieter for travelling and often hotel prices are almost half on a Sunday night. I prefer to get up refreshed on a Monday morning with a 15 minute walk to the office rather than face the early start around 5am then the hassle of travel on a Monday morning.

[whirlpool]

Take the A134 to Betchley Park, Sorry the A154 as the A134 has roadworks at the moment.
Turn left at the turnpike-3rd exit on Slipstream Roundabout, continue to ALDI.
Make sure the chicken you buy is crisp.
Return direction and meet and greet in-laws.
Pedal metal avoiding above.

Arrive happy and content.

Do this weekly for 6 months, check bank statement. Say Hallaluyah.

[WLB2018]

Like others have said, its down to your own personal situation.

If it was me I would drive over to the client Tuesday morning, stay Tuesday/Wednesday nights and then come home Thursday evening, depending on the hours you could leave early on the Thursday.

Gives a good overall work life balance and as you said its only 6 months...

WLB.

[FMCG]

Very much depends on the person and sector of work plus personal preference.

I am more productive and enjoy being on site rather than work from home (okay sometimes I do WFH on Fridays ).

Drive/fly/whatever early Monday and return home Thursday evening or leave client site at noon on Fridays. USA gigs used to be a pain as meant weekend travel and so now avoid these.

Luckily, charge client for hotels/food/etc and have free reign to book hotels as and when I choose (eg decided to come and work on site today and so booked in last night but will be home for family/friends by the evening), so to a degree come and go as I please.

As a "seasoned" contractor - if looking back, would I earn less and spend more time with family versus freedom to pick the contracts that I enjoy............probably stick with (most of) the choices that I have made.

Working away from home is not a lifestyle that suits all eg a lot of couples experience "domestic challenges".

You have the best of both worlds with the proposed contract and will know by the end of it, if working away suits you.

[washed up contractor]

I used to do a 162 mile round trip 5 days a week and work no less than 7 hour days. Perfectly doable travelling on the day. Even when I worked away, I used to travel Monday morning and travel back on the Friday.

[WTFH]

I’d go the night before.
Done it plenty of times - driving, flying etc. I also try to include the concept that if I’m working away all week, that on a Friday I leave the office so that I’m home by 6pm.

[NotAllThere]

I always preferred to travel Monday morning, come back Friday afternoon. That way I got a full weekend at home. I'd get up at 4am Monday, shower, dress and be on the road at about 4:15. Get to client site about 7:30 and have breakfast.

Nowadays, I only go to client site twice a week and it's only an hour's commute by public transport.

[Old Greg]

All my gigs so far have been commutable from home, usually 5-10 mins and occasionally a short drive 20-30mins.

Am considering taking a 6 month contract further afield, because it's a great opportunity to improve my skills and a decent rate. 2 days WFH. Commute is around 2.5 hours.

I'm guessing drive/train up there very early on tuesday morning, work until thurs, and then get the train/drive home thursday night. 6 months is a big commitment to try this kind of lifestyle.

Any advice on doing this for the first time? Is that kind of routine good or would driving up Monday night be better? Perhaps I can negotiate something?

Try and arrange client site days:

Day 1 travel up and work 1000 to 1830
Day 2 work 0830 to 1800
Day 3 work 0800 to 1600 and travel back.

Or something like that.

[DaveB]

It's really down to you and your family.

For gigs like this I typically travel same day. I'd rather do that than have an extra night away.

[psychocandy]

All my gigs so far have been commutable from home, usually 5-10 mins and occasionally a short drive 20-30mins.

Am considering taking a 6 month contract further afield, because it's a great opportunity to improve my skills and a decent rate. 2 days WFH. Commute is around 2.5 hours.

I'm guessing drive/train up there very early on tuesday morning, work until thurs, and then get the train/drive home thursday night. 6 months is a big commitment to try this kind of lifestyle.

Any advice on doing this for the first time? Is that kind of routine good or would driving up Monday night be better? Perhaps I can negotiate something?

Depends on family situation. 2 days WFH is good especially if you're only away two nights. 5 days mon-fri away is not so good.

Is it 2.5 hours on train? I'd do that given the choice. If its early you can kip on train rather than drive for 2.5 hours. Although cost of train may be an issues (especially if its london where the train price can be a pisstake).

[kaiser78]

I only ever travel same day. I will never take a contract that requires me to be away from home or greater than 60mins commute.