Discussion
Evening all,
Just started a new job last month and I'm really enjoying it so far. The only drawback for me is there is potential for quite a bit of travel to other sites within Europe. I've not made any trips yet, but feedback from others and witnessing foreign visits to our site have lead me to the following:
At present I am studying a very rigid distance learning course alongside working - it takes up a vast amount of my free time, if I manage to get any after long hours at the office. When traveling it really impinges on the progress I can make as I need all my resources from home.
Much of the time spent whilst away is absorbed by meetings where little useful information is taken from them, it would be much easier to receive the info we need in an email and work from that.
These meetings appear to be a bit of a 'political/social' event where people who have very little else to do can feel involved with the process.
Finally, for my sins, I have a food allergy which makes eating in foreign restaurants an absolute minefield. Nobody in my company knows of my allergy yet as I am a little embarrassed of it. It makes life difficult where there is a risk of me becoming ill and also being socially incompatible where I have to eat very bland or strange foods and often can't go to the places where our 'hosts' suggest.
Finally, in addition to all of this - I bloody hate work travel in general, makes me feel anxious about whats happening at home, if the family are OK etc.
I'm not sure where to go with this in regards of letting the boss know or just go along with it anyway and hope they don't invite me too often!
P.s. I'm sure there are lots of people on here who've been doing 900 hour weeks in Iraq for the past 20 years about to tell me I'm being a fanny.
Just started a new job last month and I'm really enjoying it so far. The only drawback for me is there is potential for quite a bit of travel to other sites within Europe. I've not made any trips yet, but feedback from others and witnessing foreign visits to our site have lead me to the following:
At present I am studying a very rigid distance learning course alongside working - it takes up a vast amount of my free time, if I manage to get any after long hours at the office. When traveling it really impinges on the progress I can make as I need all my resources from home.
Much of the time spent whilst away is absorbed by meetings where little useful information is taken from them, it would be much easier to receive the info we need in an email and work from that.
These meetings appear to be a bit of a 'political/social' event where people who have very little else to do can feel involved with the process.
Finally, for my sins, I have a food allergy which makes eating in foreign restaurants an absolute minefield. Nobody in my company knows of my allergy yet as I am a little embarrassed of it. It makes life difficult where there is a risk of me becoming ill and also being socially incompatible where I have to eat very bland or strange foods and often can't go to the places where our 'hosts' suggest.
Finally, in addition to all of this - I bloody hate work travel in general, makes me feel anxious about whats happening at home, if the family are OK etc.
I'm not sure where to go with this in regards of letting the boss know or just go along with it anyway and hope they don't invite me too often!
P.s. I'm sure there are lots of people on here who've been doing 900 hour weeks in Iraq for the past 20 years about to tell me I'm being a fanny.
MrBarry123 said:
Just to make sure I'm getting this right...
You don't like travelling on business yet you've opted for a new role which requires a significant amount of travelling?
I've had a very similar situation as well recently. You don't like travelling on business yet you've opted for a new role which requires a significant amount of travelling?
Took a job. Then turned out I'd be expected to go to Europe for 2-4 days at a time, for about 6 or 7 weeks.
This was not mentioned at all during the interview process.
Not for me and certainly not with no paid overtime.
I got a different job and my friend took my job, he got a good payrise and I got a role more suited to me, so it was quite painless.
First port of call would be to talk it over with your boss, voice your concerns and say that you didn't know this was the case when you took on the job. Unfortunately it may not be the right job for you so you could have to look elsewhere, sh*t happens, but the boss may be able to adjust the role accordingly.
I work for a very big multinational where you'd think business travel could be frequent but they actively discourage it now as it's expensive and most of what can be done on a trip (especially sitting in on long boring meetings) can be done using Skype for Business. This allows presentations to be made, videoconferencing, instant messaging as well as common old telephone calls. In the 6 years since we got taken over I've had one business trip and that could have really been done on Skype but we just fancied an evening and a day in Czech. Perhaps you could encourage your new company to move with the times and make a huge saving on their expenses bill in the process!
I work for a very big multinational where you'd think business travel could be frequent but they actively discourage it now as it's expensive and most of what can be done on a trip (especially sitting in on long boring meetings) can be done using Skype for Business. This allows presentations to be made, videoconferencing, instant messaging as well as common old telephone calls. In the 6 years since we got taken over I've had one business trip and that could have really been done on Skype but we just fancied an evening and a day in Czech. Perhaps you could encourage your new company to move with the times and make a huge saving on their expenses bill in the process!
C0ffin D0dger said:
First port of call would be to talk it over with your boss, voice your concerns and say that you didn't know this was the case when you took on the job. Unfortunately it may not be the right job for you so you could have to look elsewhere, sh*t happens, but the boss may be able to adjust the role accordingly.
I work for a very big multinational where you'd think business travel could be frequent but they actively discourage it now as it's expensive and most of what can be done on a trip (especially sitting in on long boring meetings) can be done using Skype for Business. This allows presentations to be made, videoconferencing, instant messaging as well as common old telephone calls. In the 6 years since we got taken over I've had one business trip and that could have really been done on Skype but we just fancied an evening and a day in Czech. Perhaps you could encourage your new company to move with the times and make a huge saving on their expenses bill in the process!
Yep, this is the one!I work for a very big multinational where you'd think business travel could be frequent but they actively discourage it now as it's expensive and most of what can be done on a trip (especially sitting in on long boring meetings) can be done using Skype for Business. This allows presentations to be made, videoconferencing, instant messaging as well as common old telephone calls. In the 6 years since we got taken over I've had one business trip and that could have really been done on Skype but we just fancied an evening and a day in Czech. Perhaps you could encourage your new company to move with the times and make a huge saving on their expenses bill in the process!
Sparkzz said:
C0ffin D0dger said:
First port of call would be to talk it over with your boss, voice your concerns and say that you didn't know this was the case when you took on the job. Unfortunately it may not be the right job for you so you could have to look elsewhere, sh*t happens, but the boss may be able to adjust the role accordingly.
I work for a very big multinational where you'd think business travel could be frequent but they actively discourage it now as it's expensive and most of what can be done on a trip (especially sitting in on long boring meetings) can be done using Skype for Business. This allows presentations to be made, videoconferencing, instant messaging as well as common old telephone calls. In the 6 years since we got taken over I've had one business trip and that could have really been done on Skype but we just fancied an evening and a day in Czech. Perhaps you could encourage your new company to move with the times and make a huge saving on their expenses bill in the process!
Yep, this is the one!I work for a very big multinational where you'd think business travel could be frequent but they actively discourage it now as it's expensive and most of what can be done on a trip (especially sitting in on long boring meetings) can be done using Skype for Business. This allows presentations to be made, videoconferencing, instant messaging as well as common old telephone calls. In the 6 years since we got taken over I've had one business trip and that could have really been done on Skype but we just fancied an evening and a day in Czech. Perhaps you could encourage your new company to move with the times and make a huge saving on their expenses bill in the process!
I would certainly speak to your boss. If travel is such a large part of the role, this should have been made clear during the recruitment process as this would have informed your decision to go for the role.
That said....
I strongly urge you to give it a go. Being paid to travel to a different country is a rare and golden opportunity for self-betterment. Travel really does broaden your horizons and will stand you in very good stead in the future. There are downsides; you've touched on some of them. But the upsides outweigh them considerably.
That said....
I strongly urge you to give it a go. Being paid to travel to a different country is a rare and golden opportunity for self-betterment. Travel really does broaden your horizons and will stand you in very good stead in the future. There are downsides; you've touched on some of them. But the upsides outweigh them considerably.
Sparkzz said:
Much of the time spent whilst away is absorbed by meetings where little useful information is taken from them, it would be much easier to receive the info we need in an email and work from that.
These meetings appear to be a bit of a 'political/social' event where people who have very little else to do can feel involved with the process.
And that's why the company wants you there. Skype is good and much can be done remotely. But nothing replaces actually being there and in many countries, culture dictates that face to face is the way business is done. These meetings appear to be a bit of a 'political/social' event where people who have very little else to do can feel involved with the process.
CAPP0 said:
Sparkzz said:
CAPP0 said:
Blood & Custard???
What?
xjay1337 said:
How does going to the airport, flying, hotel, customer site all day, hotel, and flying home broaden your horizons? 
Since 2007, I've had the pleasure of working in 21 countries, the majority of which I would never have thought of visiting and more than likely ever had the chance to do so. At the top of the pile is New Zealand. At the bottom is Sierra Leone. In between are places like Georgia, Bosnia, Azerbaijan amongst others.I've amassed some very good friends in all these places and the exposure of differing cultures and ways of doing things have afforded me a far wider perspective on a wide variety of things from the seemingly inconsequential to a more broader understanding of how geo-politics works. You also learn how to use the English language in an international sense which makes you a more effective communicator in a wider variety of situations.
I go to these places to do a job of work but that doesn't mean that I operate in ignorance of my surroundings. Many choose to do so, retreating to their chain hotel each evening for room service and low-grade pornography; rather than taking a stroll through the town or a market, eating in a local café and generally avoiding immersing themselves into the society that they are temporarily in.
Whilst a lot of this benefit is what you might call 'cognitive', there are practical benefits too; learning how to engage with people from different countries and understanding their norms...not sitting on a pedestal believing that 'we know best' and 'how we do things is the right way'.
If you're the sort that prefers the 'work > room service > porn > work cycle' of international travel then I can understand how the thought of working overseas may loose its appeal and how you might gain little from the experience. If you open your eyes an mind a little, it is an endeavour of abundant opportunity.
I had a project running in Cairo for two years. In the same office was a guy on a related project working for a different company who'd been there for three weeks. I asked him what he thought about the Pyramids and turned out that he hadn't been! "I'm here to do work, not be a tourist!" was his response. He'd had two weekends to himself there and had not thought to jump in a cab and go take a look. It was the first thing I did. First day after work, head to the Pyramids for the Light and Sound show then a few beers and grub with local colleagues afterwards. Happy days!
Some folks are so narrow-minded, it boggles the brain.
Roughly 95% of jobs do not experience regular foreign travel. You are extremely fortunate to have gotten the role.
Jobs with foreign travel not only broaden the mind, they usually pay more than average. The job will in all probability make your brain and bank account richer.
And once you have experience in a European-travel role, you can start looking for a global-travel role, and see the world for free.
You will soon learn how to tap a short holiday onto the end of a biz trip, fly the wife out on expenses or airmiles, get a free trip from a client, and so on.
Just in the last few years, I've seen North Korea, Great Wall of China, Table Mountain, and many others. All completely free on expenses.
Don't waste such a rare opportunity
Roughly 95% of jobs do not experience regular foreign travel. You are extremely fortunate to have gotten the role.
Jobs with foreign travel not only broaden the mind, they usually pay more than average. The job will in all probability make your brain and bank account richer.
And once you have experience in a European-travel role, you can start looking for a global-travel role, and see the world for free.
You will soon learn how to tap a short holiday onto the end of a biz trip, fly the wife out on expenses or airmiles, get a free trip from a client, and so on.
Just in the last few years, I've seen North Korea, Great Wall of China, Table Mountain, and many others. All completely free on expenses.
Don't waste such a rare opportunity
Yipper said:
Some folks are so narrow-minded, it boggles the brain.
Some folks just don't like it as much as others. You need a certain mindset to be able to do it regularly and you either have it or you don't. A former colleague of mine found it hell despite being on of some of my favourite trips.I enjoy it and end up travelling a fair bit. Without the travel, I would find it all rather dull. Mostly I go to the US and Europe now and still look forward to a trip even if all I see is airports, meeting rooms, uber drivers and hotels. In the past, I have done, China South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, HK etc
Next week for example, I am off to Dallas, Oklahoma City, St Louis and Boston all in 4 days. If I didn't like flying / food, I could well imagine it would be hell.
Depends on the job and role. And often the duration of the stay.
I don't travel much internationally these days but when I did it was often a daytrip or 1 night with a packed schedule so little time to get to know the place.
If you travel to places for extended periods a week or longer and if there are weekends of free-time available then I'd take it.
Even one night, I try and get out of the hotel and try local food if possible. I'm on expenses so its a good opportunity.
I don't travel much internationally these days but when I did it was often a daytrip or 1 night with a packed schedule so little time to get to know the place.
If you travel to places for extended periods a week or longer and if there are weekends of free-time available then I'd take it.
Even one night, I try and get out of the hotel and try local food if possible. I'm on expenses so its a good opportunity.
You forget that most people who travel are going purely for work purposes and they go so for a handful of days in the middle of the week.
In an ideal world what you said is true, and when taken advantage of can be beneficial, but for most people who aren't powerfully built directors usually are going for stupid business meetings or for project work (IE installing stuff be it computer networking, CCTV, shop fittings etc).
I know that's the case with my old job that my friend has. I think he had half a day to look around, it's hardly a holiday.
In an ideal world what you said is true, and when taken advantage of can be beneficial, but for most people who aren't powerfully built directors usually are going for stupid business meetings or for project work (IE installing stuff be it computer networking, CCTV, shop fittings etc).
I know that's the case with my old job that my friend has. I think he had half a day to look around, it's hardly a holiday.
StevieBee said:
I would certainly speak to your boss. If travel is such a large part of the role, this should have been made clear during the recruitment process as this would have informed your decision to go for the role.
It's a bit odd that it wasn't mentioned at all - firms often talk about it as if it's a perk. Perhaps the schedules are horrendous and the expenses policy mean.In 25 years of business travel at all levels from grad to partner I don't think I have had more than a handful of trips where I haven't been able to build something into the trip to see something of where I'm going if I've wanted to. It's all about imagination and planning.
Some of the most stand-out experiences of my life have been on business trips. As an example, I remember a few years ago standing on the deck of a client's beach-house in Rhode Island, eating the barbecued lobster that we'd caught that afternoon when he took me out on his down-easter to fish and check his lobster pots, watching the sun set and thinking "I'm actually getting paid for this"
Some of the most stand-out experiences of my life have been on business trips. As an example, I remember a few years ago standing on the deck of a client's beach-house in Rhode Island, eating the barbecued lobster that we'd caught that afternoon when he took me out on his down-easter to fish and check his lobster pots, watching the sun set and thinking "I'm actually getting paid for this"
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