u/Ja3k5

Hi everyone, keen for a reality check before I hit offer stage.

Me:
4+ yrs Customer Success in tech startups (Sydney). Married with two kids under 5. Finances are okay but daycare/mortgage life is real.

Current role

• ~$110k + OTE (up to 10k) +10kish stock vesting yearly (4 years)
• Likely promotion to Team Lead in Q3
• Mostly WFH (office once a fortnight + occasional client days)
• Series B startup, great team/culture/benefits
• Very good work–life balance

Potential new role

• ~$150k base + annual cash bonus in place of stocks
• 5 days in office
• Series B startup, founders have track record of exiting multiple $100m+ companies

The dilemma
Money and growth are tempting, but I’ve barely done office since COVID and worry about the lifestyle hit as a dad (commute, sick kids, flexibility, time with family). I also genuinely like my current team.

Questions

• Anyone gone from mostly WFH → 5 days office recently? How bad was the adjustment?
• Is ~+$40k enough to give up flexibility at this stage of life?

Keen for honest takes 🙏

EDIT: Around 50-min door-to-door one way for commute, 1hr in total if including kids drop off/pick up.