To tell them to sod this meeting

Yeah I wouldn't show willing on this one and I'd have a prior commitment on the Sunday that I couldn't get out of. No further explanation necessary. I would offer to patch in remotely, of course.

You simply can't be treating key employees as an afterthought, no matter how low down the food chain they are. Time for these bosses to learn that valuable lesson.

In your position I’d do it this time (because you don’t want to annoy the client) but point out to your colleagues that they forgot to check the time with you, that time is hugely inconvenient because of the Sunday travel, and ask that next time it needs a different day it the week, or after lunch.

Why can't you be patched into the meeting via Zoom?

@Lazykitten I would be letting them know I wouldn’t be entertaining travel on a Sunday except as an exception. Therefore going forwards you will not be available for client meetingsnon Monday morning (or Tue after bank hol) or Friday afternoon. If this is to work then they need to work with you and consult. Block out the times on your calendar.

Just stand up for yourself and say you can’t get there by 9.30 Monday. If you are important they should have included you in the planning process. If you are not important it won’t matter that you’re not there. No one will stand up for you and the value of your time if you don’t do it yourself.

I'm the only person with the technical knowledge despite being much lower down the food chain

No @Lazykitten does not have to work their way up the food chain they are key to all operations

I’m not technical but understand technology and understand you will fail on everything without the technical knowledge

This. I’m old-fashioned, so I say work hard, show willing, and work your way up the food chain so that YOU are the one making the arrangements.

I would definitely take the time of in lieu though. A half day on Friday next week. Don’t ask, just explain you’re doing what you have moved from Sunday.

I would reply and say that unfortunately you have a standing personal commitment on a Sunday and since the time they have agreed would involve you travelling on a Sunday to be there in time, it is not going to be possible for you to attend. Suggest times going forward, offer to attend remotely and leave it at that. I would really be putting my foot down.

(If they ask what your commitment is tell them its the day its your turn to watch over your crazy uncle who is chained up in the attic for public safety reasons, or that it is the day you help toads cross the roads, or something crazy. Or, better yet, tell them that your commitments in your own time arent something you are comfortable discussing but are they really suggesting that you should not have weekend plans because of work?).

Pretty sure you are attending my wedding on that Sunday.....

Edited to add, no you dont know me and no im not getting married 😂

If you did have to travel on the Sunday I know you have said that you would get your travel expenses paid for but would you also be paid for the Sunday hours? I imagine if the meeting was end of day Monday you would be paid while you are on the train on the Monday so would you also be paid on the Sunday or are they purposefully scheduling it so that they don't have to pay this?
(I hope that makes sense?)

I think you need to make this a problem, because you mentioned it politely before and no one took any notice. Why should you give up part of your weekend? Just say unfortunately you were left out of the email chain and you're unable to get from Birmingham to Maidstone in time for a 9:30 meeting on a Monday morning. If you let them take the piss then they will and you can bet they won't appreciate it.

I live north of Manchester and drive to Maidstone area quite frequently. Takes 4-4.5hrs.

I don't think multiple people should have to specifically check your diary, but yes they should include you in discussions when looking at dates and times.

I think if this happens a handful of times a year you haven't really got much grounds to kick up a stink over it.

Annoying. Get it part of the client system/files that in-person meetings will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only, scheduled so you’re in the region to minimise cost of your trip and maximize client face to face time effectively Add in your manager and hr and you appear like a contentious cost-saving person!

My husband's company has a lot of employees who don't live in Dorset where the office is based but live elsewhere - London, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Midlands etc. Their contracted office is Dorset, so they are required to attend meetings etc, at specified times. Unfortunately, if you are contracted at a London office but live in Manchester and someone has arranged a 9.30 am meeting, yes you can be pissed off, but you can't refuse to attend. All you can do is say to those in charge, that you'd appreciate a later meeting time next, due to the distance you need to travel. They aren't obliged to do this for you though, and all you can do is ask.

I would absolutely say you have an event on sunday so are not able to travel down the night before.

This is nothing to do with people working from home or anything else that people use to suggest others are lazy.

if the meeting was at 11pm and you would be allowed to count the time from when you left the house as "work" then the same applies every other day -i.e your workplace counts travelling time as work time. You don't get paid to work on a Sunday, you are not contracted to work Sundays therefore organising a meeting that you physically cannot attend unless you work on sunday and give up your free time is not appropriate.

Even thinking of the company, presumably if it was at a reasonable time you could just drive there and back, making you go the day before is costing them a hotel.

If you do go I'd absolutely rinse them, get the nicest hotel you can with their money and take the whole day to drive back home if it counts as work time - after all its recommended to have frequent stops for driver safety!

If you have a dp/friend who fancies it I'd bring them with you, make a day of the sunday in London and have a little mini break on their money.

For them to 1. exclude you on the emails arranging the time and 2. to make both this meeting and the last one first thing in the morning feels rather pointed!

Surely you could get the train in less than 6 hours? I reckon about 3-4 including a change. Head off at 6 on Sunday, stay overnight.

I think I’d simply decline and say that you’re unable to attend due to the commute and it being on a Monday. If you’re vital to the prep then they will rearrange.

I arrange lots of client meetings and I’d not think bad of you for declining or asking for it to be in the middle of the week or an afternoon meeting

"Sorry, the earliest I would be able to attend on that day would be x o'clock. If you're unable to rearrange the meeting, please let me know if you'd like me to send a deputy"

So you say 'Sorry Mondays really don't work for me due to the fact I have to travel down the day before, going forward please assume my availability is Tues-Fri only'

Can you claim the travel time back in lieu?

Has no-one discovered Teams or Zoom yet? I know it's meant to be in person but a 9.30am in Maidstone is asking for it.

Do they not pay travel and hotel expenses for you to travel the night before?

@SunshineAndFizz but the meeting is in Maidstone not London.

getting to London from Manchester is easy, to Maidstone it isn’t

If you’re technically employed from the London office then I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect you to attend meetings in London, and I don’t think others should rearrange diaries to accommodate your travel if that’s technically your base and where your clients are.

Annoying for you? Yes, very. But if it’s a problem you need to move to a local office/client base.