people who work away
Discussion
Who works away/travels round the uk for their job?
Ive had a job offer for more money which would require me to go between different places in my region 3 days per week, i would stay in hotels 1-2 nights a week depending on how long the commute is, the commute is between 1 hour to 3 hours there and same back, i can stay in a hotel whenever i want.
Would i hate it or is it not that bad? I believe they try and put at least 2 of the shifts together
Does anyone do similar and how do you find it?
EDIT: I ONLY ACTUALLY WORK 3 DAYS THE OTHER 4 IM OFF WORK
Ive had a job offer for more money which would require me to go between different places in my region 3 days per week, i would stay in hotels 1-2 nights a week depending on how long the commute is, the commute is between 1 hour to 3 hours there and same back, i can stay in a hotel whenever i want.
Would i hate it or is it not that bad? I believe they try and put at least 2 of the shifts together
Does anyone do similar and how do you find it?
EDIT: I ONLY ACTUALLY WORK 3 DAYS THE OTHER 4 IM OFF WORK
Edited by dieseluser07 on Tuesday 3rd March 19:24
Yazar said:
When single: Good fun.
When in a relationship: Harder but doable.
Wife and kids: Occasional travel including being away is fine, but as a fixed part of the job = no thanks.
Top tip - hotels are crap. It means you packing/unpacking all the time and not having normality e.g. being able to just walk into a kitchen and make something. If you are to work anywhere for a decent period, rent a studio flat/house share etc nearby.
in a serious relationship but not planning on kids for a while, do you still think it would be hard doing 3 days a week as opposed to the usual 5 people do?When in a relationship: Harder but doable.
Wife and kids: Occasional travel including being away is fine, but as a fixed part of the job = no thanks.
Top tip - hotels are crap. It means you packing/unpacking all the time and not having normality e.g. being able to just walk into a kitchen and make something. If you are to work anywhere for a decent period, rent a studio flat/house share etc nearby.
Edited by Yazar on Tuesday 3rd March 12:43
FredClogs said:
I'm away 3 nights a week, I've done it for 12 years, and in that time got married and had 3 kids, so it's do able. I do all my "me" stuff in the days I'm away with work, gym, martial arts, golf, washing, ironing, work work, arguing with people on Piston Heads etc... and when I'm at home I'm as close to 100% on my kids (and wife) as practical. It works for me and I think they get a better me than they would if I was coming home at 7 every night and going of to do "me" stuff at weekends, I think my wife agrees although there are times when she's complained. But it's personal circumstance.
The only tip I would have is to avoid hotels if you can, a family run type B&B or lodgings is much preferred. 6 months in the Cheltenham Travel lodge drove me as close to suicide as I can imagine.
I believe i would get a choice of hotels and i think some have gyms which would keep me busyThe only tip I would have is to avoid hotels if you can, a family run type B&B or lodgings is much preferred. 6 months in the Cheltenham Travel lodge drove me as close to suicide as I can imagine.
As i said i think i would stay in hotels 2 nights a week, the third day id just do the long commute home
FredClogs said:
There was a thread about long commutes on here a while ago and it amazes me some of the commute times people do, I'm 90 miles from home in my current job, the commute ranges from 1.5hours to 2.5 hours depending on traffic, I've tried commuting it and it nearly killed me, apart from the hours on the working day and trying to find time to make up that "dead" time I just found it impossible to make plans or be where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there... I like my car but really don't want to spend 16 hours a week in it, you can do a lot of other stuff in 1 hours a week.
Depending on the site i work at depends on the length of the commute it was vary between 1hr to 2hr30, occasionaly 3 hours but they would put 3 days together in that instance.Dan_1981 said:
If your only on site for a day or two the 90 minute commutes should be fine.
Hotel living is OK, ensure they get you one with a restaurant - very occasionally I used to get stuck in a Premier Inn or similar on the outskirts of Liverpool - it didn't have a its own food but did have take away menus for the local places that you could order - sounds great but a week of s
tty take away food really takes its toll on you.
Its not a bad life style if you have lots of "you" interests - biking / gym / golf - make sure you take a book to read too.
A couple of nights a week, and being pretty flexible sounds pretty good to me - especially if the job will provide some good experience!
Well theres not much i could do when im away from home as i work long days, im on site for 3 days, they try to combine sites and days together but doesent always work out so i might have a long commute for 3 daysHotel living is OK, ensure they get you one with a restaurant - very occasionally I used to get stuck in a Premier Inn or similar on the outskirts of Liverpool - it didn't have a its own food but did have take away menus for the local places that you could order - sounds great but a week of s
tty take away food really takes its toll on you. Its not a bad life style if you have lots of "you" interests - biking / gym / golf - make sure you take a book to read too.
A couple of nights a week, and being pretty flexible sounds pretty good to me - especially if the job will provide some good experience!
andy-xr said:
BTDT - would never go back to it. I dont mind the odd bit of travel, I'm off to Germany later in the month and maybe Sweden next month, each for a couple of nights.
There were times when I'd be sent to California for 2-6 weeks at a time. You cant hold down a relationship properly, and friends stop inviting you out to things because they expect you're somewhere abroad. Skyping people isnt the same as being there.
I like a change of scenery so an office doesnt work for me, but there has to be a balance in everything. Mine would be a couple of nights away per month
Yeh i would not like going away for 2-6 weeks eitherThere were times when I'd be sent to California for 2-6 weeks at a time. You cant hold down a relationship properly, and friends stop inviting you out to things because they expect you're somewhere abroad. Skyping people isnt the same as being there.
I like a change of scenery so an office doesnt work for me, but there has to be a balance in everything. Mine would be a couple of nights away per month
el stovey said:
But when your dad wasn't on the rig he had 4 weeks at home with you lot.
That's very different to the op having a few nights away and still having to work when he's not away in hotels.
I work on them 3 daysThat's very different to the op having a few nights away and still having to work when he's not away in hotels.
the other 4 days i dont work i do what i want its a 3 day working week
Olivera said:
I worked away for just over a year, commuting home at weekends and staying in a rented flat Monday-Friday. I'd say it's fine providing a few conditions are met:
1) It's only temporary and not for years on end. Or if the latter then split up with periods at home.
2) You are earning a good above average salary for your profession to make it worthwile.
3) You can afford to stay in somewhere decent during the week, not a skinflint Travelodge filled with the dregs of society.
I was thinking of doing it for 2 years possibly a bit longer depending job availability.1) It's only temporary and not for years on end. Or if the latter then split up with periods at home.
2) You are earning a good above average salary for your profession to make it worthwile.
3) You can afford to stay in somewhere decent during the week, not a skinflint Travelodge filled with the dregs of society.
It would pay me a good wage for my profession
As said i would have to stay in hotels 2 nights a week on average with 2 days of long commuting aswell but 4 days off
AB said:
I tend to spend 1 or 2 nights a week in a hotel. Some weeks more, some less. Depends where in the country I need to be that day/the next day. If I have a meeting more than a couple of hours away and the next day I'm further away or in a similar area then I'll stay in a hotel.
OH is at home with the dog to keep her company.
I don't really mind it, I like to sit in the bar with my laptop and have a sandwich and a pint before going back to my room, getting up in the morning, having a full english and not having to make the bed.
This sounds very similar to what i would do 1-3 times staying over, long commutes on the days i dont stay overOH is at home with the dog to keep her company.
I don't really mind it, I like to sit in the bar with my laptop and have a sandwich and a pint before going back to my room, getting up in the morning, having a full english and not having to make the bed.
miroku said:
Did this for 20 years. The only good bit about it was coming home.
Missed my kids growing up. The money was good but, you tend to spend to compensate.
If you can work it into family life then great. If not then think hard.
Some guys I know love it but, not for me any more.
Jeez thats a long time to do that for, how many days a week did you do?Missed my kids growing up. The money was good but, you tend to spend to compensate.
If you can work it into family life then great. If not then think hard.
Some guys I know love it but, not for me any more.
ReaperCushions said:
I used to travel periodically in the UK and abroad with work. Some observations from me:
- Avoid travelling on sunday evenings as much as possible, it halves your weekend.
- Avoid getting back late on friday nights (combined with above is a killer).
- Restaurant / gastro pub food becomes the norm. Not good for the waistline or having a nice meal out when at home.
- I never liked to do more than 2 days away at any one time if at all possible. Unless a big trip, of course you might not have the choice.
- Make sure you are well paid for what you do, and your companies expenses policy is also generous.
- See as much of the locality as you can, all hotels / taxis / airports blend into one in the end.
- Avoid bad habits like snacking at petrol stations / motorway service stations purely out of boredom.
- When flying, try to work as much as possible during the travel time if your work allows for it. I found that saving emails / calls for when I got home or to the hotel meant it ate into even more of my off time.
I think id get up early on the day i need to travel unless it was over 2 1/2 hours, the days would be random for me- Avoid travelling on sunday evenings as much as possible, it halves your weekend.
- Avoid getting back late on friday nights (combined with above is a killer).
- Restaurant / gastro pub food becomes the norm. Not good for the waistline or having a nice meal out when at home.
- I never liked to do more than 2 days away at any one time if at all possible. Unless a big trip, of course you might not have the choice.
- Make sure you are well paid for what you do, and your companies expenses policy is also generous.
- See as much of the locality as you can, all hotels / taxis / airports blend into one in the end.
- Avoid bad habits like snacking at petrol stations / motorway service stations purely out of boredom.
- When flying, try to work as much as possible during the travel time if your work allows for it. I found that saving emails / calls for when I got home or to the hotel meant it ate into even more of my off time.
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