I'm trying not to dripfeed so I'm going to do bullet points to make it simple.
- Charlotte (not real name) has asked for a ride next week that will take between 1 and 1.5 hours one way.
- Charlotte needs ride to sort next stage of interview process but would be working in same place.
- Charlotte can't drive.
- Public transport will take anywhere from 3 hours to 5 hours with 2 to 6 changes and/or multiple walks between stops of between 10 and 30 minutes.
- Shifts may mean she can't take advantage of the shorter 3 hour journey times.
The way I see it, based on the above, if this was part of the process only with the job being local then I would be more than happy to help her as a one off. However given that at very best she can expect to commute 3 hours each way I can't see how this job can be viable. Charlotte maintains it is quicker by public transport than it is by car and she would be able to sleep (despite possibly 6 transit changes).
But is it really my place to make that decision? It feels like it would be a huge waste of time to take essentially a day out of my own schedule for something that realistically is not going to work. The company does not have any expansion plans locally and she is 1 month into a 12 month tenancy agreement (as well as having kids at secondary school).
I want to help but at the same time helping on this feels futile. Aibu to say no? And do I say why or make an excuse?