Work conference

[thepurplehen]

Without giving too much away the business I work for has an annual conference each year. I have never been, no other staff member has ever been either but I am now the longest serving member - 9 years. We are a small franchise - 3 part time staff.

The boss asks me every year to go and I have always made excuses.

This year she has said she will pay the conference fee (several hundred pounds) and a nights accommodation in the hotel.

The conference takes place over a weekend and is a 4 hour drive each way.

We are all expected to be there for 9:30am on Saturday and pay our own cost of travel. If we want to stay on Friday night (Friday is my day off too) we are expected to pay £132 for the nights accommodation but can get a lift with the boss. It is also a black tie do, so I may need to buy an outfit. We will not be given any time off in lieu.

The business I work for is a franchise and a small business.

What's reasonable here?

I think in your industry, assuming it's a small for-profit company, it would be the norm for everything to be paid. It sounds like she's being cheap. She's not going to buy you an outfit to wear, but travel, accommodation and conference fees should be paid. I work in academia where it's a bit different and we are often expected to self-fund conference attendance and travel. Sad perk of working for a university. Sometimes we get a conference travel budget which covers a portion of the cost, but otherwise, we mostly just pay for it ourselves. Either you go and self-fund because it's good for your career and networking, or you can't and don't. Mostly we're all just grateful to be employedBut I've never heard of anyone working for a profit-earning company being asked to pay out of pocket for conference attendance. I think she's being a bit cheeky. I think having to get up early to travel up is fine (that's often expected of work travel), but you should have that time compensated, usually by a day or two off later in the week or month.

Problem solved. Compromise reached.

We have negotiated the boss to pay the additional night in a premier inn rather than the expensive hotel.

And also got a day off in lieu.

Don’t make excuses. Tell her you’re not prepared to spend your own money and precious time attending.

Result

Why haven't you just said that you expect the 'business' (not her personally) to cover the cost? It's not unreasonable. You shouldn't have to compromise, that's bonkers. Stand up for yourself!

Well done!