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Original poster

Can my Boss make me go to London?

56 replies

SortCode · 07/09/2021 14:09

I live and work in a rural area. There's a conference in London mid Oct. My boss has asked me to go. I dont want to travel to and mix with shed loads of people on the train and tube (only way of getting there quickly) it will be morning rush hour and evening when I leave.

Im hardly going out now as it is and to go to London is making me feel really uneasy. I need to talk to him about this I know but Im so worried incase he makes me go

OP posts:
Driftingblue · 07/09/2021 15:45

My work still has a ban on requiring travel or even on requiring us to come to the office. Even if it did not, I would decline on the basis of particular vulnerability and since they are reasonable I wouldn’t expect any pushback on that.

Original poster
SortCode · 07/09/2021 15:48

My contract is old and out of date, it doesn't specific travel. I have worked from home since March 2020

Im going to leave it until nearer the time as by end of Sept and with schools going back they are already talking about a breaker arent they in October!

OP posts:
mumwon · 07/09/2021 15:49

try & see if you can book first class well ahead for set time (we use to call it apex I use to book long distance returns & it worked out quite reasonably)
Alternative is to go really early & get there before rush hour & leave after rush hour & travel as pp have said by buses or long walks (which you will have time for if you get there early)?

Hopdathelf · 07/09/2021 15:50

You’re less likely to elicit sympathy from your boss if you blindside them last minute.

JorisBonson · 07/09/2021 15:50

I've been commuting throughout and haven't had covid (famous last words!).

FfrothiCoffi · 07/09/2021 15:53

They can’t ‘make’ you, but if going to conferences is part of your role than they could discipline you for refusing. Or manage you out.

AlfonsoTheMango · 07/09/2021 15:56

I don't see a problem. I live in London and travel on the Tube approximately four times a week.

ToomuchHeat · 07/09/2021 15:58

Order a Cambridge Mask and go

PugMumm · 07/09/2021 15:59

I have done this type of thing before in the past and glad I got it over with. I've had to go on my own a couple of times and my anxiety is quite bad with travel anyway let alone into London! It may help if you travel with a group of people?

PugMumm · 07/09/2021 16:00

As well as a thick mask may I add!!

saraclara · 07/09/2021 16:03

I go into London frequently (once a week or so), and it's been fine so far. The train is far less busy than it used to be, and compliance with mask wearing is high both on my train line and on the tube.

Wait to leave when rush hour is over, if that makes you more comfortable.

I know it's hard to get back into being out in public after being at home all the time. But you can't stay in your house forever, and the longer the delay in carrying out normal journeys, the more anxious you will become. So see this as a step towards your head getting back into normality. Millions of people are back doing these things every day, already. Time to join them.

Roselilly36 · 07/09/2021 16:08

I wouldn’t want to go either, irresponsible of employers to put an employee in a position where they aren’t comfortable. These events are very outdated anyway IMHO. Tell you boss to go 😂

changingstages · 07/09/2021 16:21

@SquirmOfEels

I was surprised at how many people were wearing masks on the tube last month

TFL still require masks, and I'd say most people comply (the Tube is germ soup at the best of times!)

on working days/rush hour there's definitely more people complying. At the weekend it was noticeably different...
LaurieFairyCake · 07/09/2021 16:22

Ask yourself a different question -

If not now then when?

You're double vaxxed, it's summer. Best time to go.

Any other time in near-ish future is worse right ? - winter could mean many more in hospital as people will get flu, pneumonia AND now Covid. Plus there's not yet (and hopefully never) a variant that evades vaccines. (Apart from that new Mu variant but it's not virulent yet so don't worry)

FfrothiCoffi · 07/09/2021 16:22

@Roselilly36

I wouldn’t want to go either, irresponsible of employers to put an employee in a position where they aren’t comfortable. These events are very outdated anyway IMHO. Tell you boss to go 😂
Does that just mean in terms of Covid, or every situation where they aren’t comfortable? I mean, I’m not ‘comfortable’ presenting figures to the executive committee, but I have to do it as part of my job. Is it irresponsible of my boss to put me in that situation? I’m also not ‘comfortable’ telling people they’ve been made redundant but I’ve had to do that before too. I most certainly wasn’t ‘comfortable’ working from home full time with two primary aged DC and a toddler at home with me from March- Sep last year, but I had to do that. In fact there are many aspects of my role I’m not ‘comfortable’ with, but they’re part of my role so I do them.
TheLovelinessOfDemons · 07/09/2021 16:25

I live in London and have a CEV DS. Wear a mask, sanitise and socially distance. It's still a legal requirement to wear masks on public transport here, which makes it safer.

mummydoris2006 · 07/09/2021 16:32

When we were in London last Tuesday and Wednesday I was shocked how few people were wearing masks on the tube but also noticed how the tube was the quietest we'd ever known it.

Doubledoorsontogarden · 07/09/2021 16:37

My sector has loads of events in October so I’ve booked time off, to cover half term and a bit either side. Missing most events, can you do the same?

trumpisagit · 07/09/2021 16:38

Trains and tube surprisingly quiet when we were there.
Unless you are cev, I would go.

Sneesher · 07/09/2021 16:42

We went to London recently, through kings cross to Piccadilly, to see a show.

Never seen the trains and tube so quiet. Felt safer than it used to be when the underground was completely rammed.

NoSquirrels · 07/09/2021 16:44

When you say your contract is ‘out of date’ what do you mean, OP?

thelionqwueen · 07/09/2021 16:47

Are you not vaccinated? Where I live all restrictions are gone and life is back to normal already. YABU, it’s a reasonable request.

MiddleParking · 07/09/2021 16:47

I would go, and not mention your hesitation to him, to be honest. I think those days are over.

thelionqwueen · 07/09/2021 16:50

FfrothiCoffi

Roselilly36
I wouldn’t want to go either, irresponsible of employers to put an employee in a position where they aren’t comfortable. These events are very outdated anyway IMHO. Tell you boss to go 😂
Does that just mean in terms of Covid, or every situation where they aren’t comfortable? I mean, I’m not ‘comfortable’ presenting figures to the executive committee, but I have to do it as part of my job. Is it irresponsible of my boss to put me in that situation?
I’m also not ‘comfortable’ telling people they’ve been made redundant but I’ve had to do that before too.
I most certainly wasn’t ‘comfortable’ working from home full time with two primary aged DC and a toddler at home with me from March- Sep last year, but I had to do that.
In fact there are many aspects of my role I’m not ‘comfortable’ with, but they’re part of my role so I do them.

Spot on @FfrothiCoffi

Eralos · 07/09/2021 16:51

Are you cev and unvaccinated? I think only if the answer is yes to both that you have a good chance of not going.

Wash your hands, wear a face mask, you’ll be fine.