Being unreasonable, or just standing my ground?
Discussion
Wondering if I could have a second opinion on this please.
A few years ago, the company I work for was bought out, which involved my job moving 65 miles away. The company agreed to put me up in a hotel for 3 nights a week, at their cost, while on Fridays I worked from the previous - close - office.
About 12 months ago the local office was closed, and I was told that I was to work at head office 5 days a week. Discussions around working from home 1 day a week were hopeless because my manager is old school, and doesnt believe in people working from home.
Recently another member of my team resigned, and the company have asked me to take on some of his work. There is nothing in my contract to allow them to do it without my agreement, as the work is different to my role.
I have agreed to take on my colleagues work, in return for them letting me work from home 1 day a week. In my opinion, they have shown no flexibility and so I am not keen to be flexible either. At the moment we are at deadlock, with no agreement.
Now... am I being difficult or fair? Living away from home has been an absolute pain in the arse, while I have no wife or kids, its been difficult to work on my house, play rugby, see my friends, and hold down a girlfriend while spending 3 nights a week in a hotel, and 3 hours driving on a Friday. It is something I feel very strongly about, and when I find another job more local will be leaving, but the industry is quite small and jobs few and far between.
A few years ago, the company I work for was bought out, which involved my job moving 65 miles away. The company agreed to put me up in a hotel for 3 nights a week, at their cost, while on Fridays I worked from the previous - close - office.
About 12 months ago the local office was closed, and I was told that I was to work at head office 5 days a week. Discussions around working from home 1 day a week were hopeless because my manager is old school, and doesnt believe in people working from home.
Recently another member of my team resigned, and the company have asked me to take on some of his work. There is nothing in my contract to allow them to do it without my agreement, as the work is different to my role.
I have agreed to take on my colleagues work, in return for them letting me work from home 1 day a week. In my opinion, they have shown no flexibility and so I am not keen to be flexible either. At the moment we are at deadlock, with no agreement.
Now... am I being difficult or fair? Living away from home has been an absolute pain in the arse, while I have no wife or kids, its been difficult to work on my house, play rugby, see my friends, and hold down a girlfriend while spending 3 nights a week in a hotel, and 3 hours driving on a Friday. It is something I feel very strongly about, and when I find another job more local will be leaving, but the industry is quite small and jobs few and far between.
Only you can decide if you are being unreasonable. If they turn around and say sod off, how would that make you feel. Be realistic, would it be a real problem,or a real joy? That will tell you if you are being unreasonable.
If they are stillputting you up in a hotel after 3 years, they do sound as if they are helping you out as much as possible.
If they are stillputting you up in a hotel after 3 years, they do sound as if they are helping you out as much as possible.
ikarl said:
3hrs to travel 65 miles. 
My OH used to have a job with a 40 mile round trip which took three hours - mainly due to the M62's hapless "smart" motorway. Well, either that or the fact that the majority of the UK's incompetent drivers appear to gravitate to that miserable stretch of motorway to have their daily accidents.Condi said:
Discussions around working from home 1 day a week were hopeless because my manager is old school, and doesnt believe in people working from home.
Does he believe in the cost of hotel rooms? Or the existence of video calls?If you can reasonably do your job at least as well from home, it seems like they want you gone. I'd take the hint and get cracking on finding another job.
Fittster said:
Condi said:
the industry is quite small and jobs few and far between.
Unless its very well paid I think long and hard if you want to stay in the industry let alone your current job.ikarl said:
3hrs to travel 65 miles.
Noooo.... hour and a half each way. 3 hours round trip. ikarl said:
3hrs to travel 65 miles.
Sounds about right for some trips.I live near Hitchin and used to commute to Sunbury on Thames, and it would regularly take 3hrs+ for that journey, although a little less to get back in the afternoon.
Employer had a 'no contractors WFH rule' so I had no choice but to be at the office at 9am, with someone checking their watch as I walked through the door. It was awful. Not even a good daily rate made it bearable.
timetex said:
Employer had a 'no contractors WFH rule' so I had no choice but to be at the office at 9am, with someone checking their watch as I walked through the door. It was awful. Not even a good daily rate made it bearable.
Does make me laugh how companies can treat individuals doing some of their most necessary and valuable work as the lowest of the low.
timetex said:
Sounds about right for some trips.
I live near Hitchin and used to commute to Sunbury on Thames, and it would regularly take 3hrs+ for that journey, although a little less to get back in the afternoon.
Employer had a 'no contractors WFH rule' so I had no choice but to be at the office at 9am, with someone checking their watch as I walked through the door. It was awful. Not even a good daily rate made it bearable.
If you're a contractor putting up with sI live near Hitchin and used to commute to Sunbury on Thames, and it would regularly take 3hrs+ for that journey, although a little less to get back in the afternoon.
Employer had a 'no contractors WFH rule' so I had no choice but to be at the office at 9am, with someone checking their watch as I walked through the door. It was awful. Not even a good daily rate made it bearable.
t like that, then you're doing it wrong.zippy3x said:
If you're a contractor putting up with st like that, then you're doing it wrong.
Actually no.t like that, then you're doing it wrong.This employer had some even more 'odd' onsite rules. If you were seen walking up/down the stairs without holding the handrail, you received a warning. People did get escorted offsite for this.
To say this company took 'safety' to the nth degree would be putting it mildly. However, their office, their rules.
I stuck it out there as a favour to someone for longer than I should have, particularly as the contract wasn't in my usual field (the work was incredibly junior, but at a high day rate) but that's just how it was.
timetex said:
zippy3x said:
If you're a contractor putting up with st like that, then you're doing it wrong.
Actually no.t like that, then you're doing it wrong.This employer had some even more 'odd' onsite rules. If you were seen walking up/down the stairs without holding the handrail, you received a warning. People did get escorted offsite for this.
To say this company took 'safety' to the nth degree would be putting it mildly. However, their office, their rules.
I stuck it out there as a favour to someone for longer than I should have, particularly as the contract wasn't in my usual field (the work was incredibly junior, but at a high day rate) but that's just how it was.
I'm not referring to any particular rules or idiosyncrasies of any particular client, it's up to the individual contractor (or employee) to decide how much of a deal breaker any single rule is.
What I'm talking about is, and I quote "It was awful. Not even a good daily rate made it bearable".
As a contractor (unless you're a permie-tractor) then the temporary nature of roles is part an parcel of the job. If you want any kind of mental security, you need to have a CV good enough to get you interviews and an interview technique good enough to get you a role.
Once you have these things in place, the real beauty of contracting is to be able to pick and choose roles that excite you, reward you and/or fulfil you.
If you're staying at a role that makes you feel "awful" and you find "unbearable" then you're doing it wrong. If you don't have the CV or skills to quickly get a new contract, you're doing it wrong.
IMHO
timetex said:
zippy3x said:
If you're a contractor putting up with st like that, then you're doing it wrong.
Actually no.t like that, then you're doing it wrong.This employer had some even more 'odd' onsite rules. If you were seen walking up/down the stairs without holding the handrail, you received a warning. People did get escorted offsite for this.
To say this company took 'safety' to the nth degree would be putting it mildly. However, their office, their rules.
I stuck it out there as a favour to someone for longer than I should have, particularly as the contract wasn't in my usual field (the work was incredibly junior, but at a high day rate) but that's just how it was.
At a different, but close, location I did get scolded (by a contractor no less) for buttering toast whilst being on the phone. Laughing was the only appropriate response.
timetex said:
Actually no.
This employer had some even more 'odd' onsite rules. If you were seen walking up/down the stairs without holding the handrail, you received a warning. People did get escorted offsite for this.
To say this company took 'safety' to the nth degree would be putting it mildly. However, their office, their rules.
Was it a US pharma co? This employer had some even more 'odd' onsite rules. If you were seen walking up/down the stairs without holding the handrail, you received a warning. People did get escorted offsite for this.
To say this company took 'safety' to the nth degree would be putting it mildly. However, their office, their rules.
bga said:
timetex said:
zippy3x said:
If you're a contractor putting up with st like that, then you're doing it wrong.
Actually no.t like that, then you're doing it wrong.This employer had some even more 'odd' onsite rules. If you were seen walking up/down the stairs without holding the handrail, you received a warning. People did get escorted offsite for this.
To say this company took 'safety' to the nth degree would be putting it mildly. However, their office, their rules.
I stuck it out there as a favour to someone for longer than I should have, particularly as the contract wasn't in my usual field (the work was incredibly junior, but at a high day rate) but that's just how it was.
At a different, but close, location I did get scolded (by a contractor no less) for buttering toast whilst being on the phone. Laughing was the only appropriate response.
I empathise with your situation.
Usually if the different work you have been asked to take on is at the same grade you are currently on and you have suitable training then it is a reasonable management instruction.
The question is whether the location of your work is suitable alternative employment to the role you originally accepted. It is worth looking at your contract of employment to see what they say about location. It's always worth asking for independent advice.
The final consideration is your reference. Depending on how insular your industry is then it's worth playing the long game.
Best of luck - you'll be fine.
Usually if the different work you have been asked to take on is at the same grade you are currently on and you have suitable training then it is a reasonable management instruction.
The question is whether the location of your work is suitable alternative employment to the role you originally accepted. It is worth looking at your contract of employment to see what they say about location. It's always worth asking for independent advice.
The final consideration is your reference. Depending on how insular your industry is then it's worth playing the long game.
Best of luck - you'll be fine.
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