To quit my job due to roadworks

[turbohamster]

I have a 22 mile commute to work, mainly along a motorway. Over the last few months due to roadworks a 35 minute commute has turned into an hour 5 on a good day but more typically 1 hour 25 minutes. Roadworks will be in place until end of 2018. Is it rash to decide I can't do this for another year and leave my job?

[furryelephant]

Are there any back roads you could take? If not I wouldn’t do that commute unless I really really loved the job!

[Mrsdarcyiwish10]

Nope, I have spent so much of my life in roadworks.

[scurryfunge]

Can you find another route or set off in off peak times? Depends whether you need the money or would easily find another job.

[turbohamster]

A river limits alternative options.

Think I'd find another job in time, can afford to live with no income for a bit.

[BikeRunSki]

Is this a smart motorway scheme by any chance ?

I gritted my teeth through 2 years of the M1 smart motorway works south of Leeds and it’s been so worthwhile! But I really like my job.

[dantdmistedious]

Find a job then quit?

[turbohamster]

Yes, smart motorway. Not sure what's smart about it as the section further North just taunts you with 40mph signs whilst sat stationary

[AlternativeTentacle]

Roadworks will be in place until end of 2018.

We have this at the moment, in whichever direction we go, it is roadworks. It takes an hour to go a 5 minute journey at the moment, and will be until end of next year, as there are 5 major roads/bypasses/improvements etc being built at the same time. I have to get to the train stn which would usually be 5 mins, and have to leave an hour before my train is due to guarantee getting there on time. It is a nightmare.

[BeardofZeus]

I feel you! Though not with roadworks... just congestion...accidents...congestion..! I do a 28 mile stretch of dual carriageway A road that in the mornings takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 20 but can take up to two hours if there has been an accident /sobs

[WeAllHaveWings]

Can you change your hours to start/leave early to miss peak times, or maybe work from home a day or two a week to take the pressure off.

I’d find a new job before packing in the current one (maybe reduce hours to miss peak times while looking so you at least had some money coming in)

[turbohamster]

I already have some flexibility with start times but anytime between 7am & 9am is the same.

[Caulk]

Train?

[DeadGood]

I would talk to your employer and say very frankly that you are considering leaving, despite loving the job (even if you don't love it, it's always good to play up the positives in a chat like this), due to this circumstance.
Maybe they can come to an arrangement where you work from home for the morning (is it that kind of job?) and then travel off peak.

[Ifailed]

a 1 hour 25 min commute is not unusual, and it'll be over in a year. If that's all it takes to make you consider leaving your job you don't sound that happy with it, so why not look for another one?

[VeganIan]

A river limits alternative options

How well can you swim?

[Trafalgarxxx]

Sorry but I wouldn’t be leaving a job with nothing else planned for roadwork.

By any means, look for another job and when you find something, then leave.
In the mean time, look at all other options. Starting later, earlier, asking if work would be happy for you to do your 5 days work in 4 days, if you can do some work form home etc... look at trains too.
But it’s worth remembering that even though 1h30commute might be much more than you were doing before, it’s still quite common for a lot of people to do.
In particular, if there are some particular such as a river around where you live, what is telling you you will find a job in an area where you dont need to use said motorway? And that actually this is something you will have to put up with regardless of the job you can find?

[Scottishlassie81]

I moved jobs due to road works. It was major ones and they were planned for 3 or 4 years. This plus the rush hour traffic meant my bus journey went from 25 mins to over an hour each way. I wasn't in love with my job so I just looked for another one.

This was also at the time when I was training as a gym instructor though so I needed those 2 hours back a day to get in to the gym, keep fit and do the homework. Added all up, I decided to move jobs.

My commute now is about an hour as well due to the infamous Forth Road Bridge saga and I am willing to put up with it as I like my job.

[turbohamster]

No direct trains, and the connections and frequency mean that the train is still not a better option.

I don't dislike my job, but i wouldn't love any job and life's too short to spend 3 hours a day sitting in a car imo

[Inertia]

I think it would be rash, yes- the future financial climate is looking increasingly dicey, and if you've been in your current job for long enough to acquire employment/ redundancy protection then that could prove to be very valuable.

Can you negotiate a day or two of working at home, or does your role need you to be in the workplace?

I think you do need to accept rush hour traffic as part of life - my 3 mile journey sometimes takes half an hour (and I have to carry several heavy bags, so walking/ cycling not an option).

[agedknees]

Is it the M6? Can take my dh over 2hours to get home now due to roadworks.

[deepestdarkestperu]

By all means look for another job and then quit, but I think you would be daft to quit with nothing else to go to.

How long have the roadworks been in place? Another year doesn’t seem so bad.

[NeganLovesLucille]

Find another job first before you give this one up.

[turbohamster]

Quitting with nothing to go to doesn't bother me. I've done it before and despite some treating it as though it's one of the seven deadly sins I've never been without a job for more than a week.

I'm aware that in London those sorts of commute times are commonplace but in my area it's very unusual unless on 100,000+ salaries. Incidently I could get to London on the train in an extra 10mins over my current commute!

[GlitterGlue]

Definitely find another job first. Having to give your reason for leaving as ‘roadworks’ makes you sound a bit flaky. Although I do sympathise.