Aibu to think my boss doesn't get to decide how I travel to training courses?

[Startworkbob]

Only been in my new job 6 months. No one in my team likes my boss and all warned me when I started that he was challenging to work for. I have no interest in getting involved in the office politics and just keep my head down and get on with my job without joining in with any of the discussion about the issues there. So up until now I've ignored all the micro managing behaviour and unprofessional behaviour from my manager.

He's booked me on a course in 2 weeks time with 3 of my colleagues. I have a 1 hour 40 minute commute to work. And the training course is 35 minutes from my home. My colleagues all live within 5 mins or our work place and are travelling to the course together. So I would need to travel 1 hour 40mins to work and arrive earlier than I usually would (which is difficult because I would need additional childcare to get there early) in order to share a life with my colleagues. So I said I would travel to the course from my home and then drive myself back to work after the course. I can see no issues with this but my manager is very controlling and is not happy with this and wants me to travel with the others rather than meet them there. He has no good reason and got quite frustrated with me when I asked why he would prefer me to do this. Other members of my department went on this course a while ago and some people travelled separately because it made sense based on where that lived. But they were all sensible enough to not discuss this with the manager first because they know how he would behave.

So aibu to feel that I, as an adult, can decide how I travel to and from training courses and my place of work? Do your managers dictate to you how you must travel to work and which colleagues car you must go in?

I feel that as long as I'm in work at the required times and do my job/participate in the course I decide how I get to and from theses.

(as an aside, I have a new job that I am moving to in February which my boss knows about but it seems he is quite keen to make my working day as difficult as possible so that I leave earlier than the agreed time so they can advertise my position)

I know this isn’t your question, but if you’re leaving in February it might be worth checking your contract about training costs. My current and previous jobs have both had a clause that says if you leave within a certain amount of time following a training course, you have to pay back the cost of the training. It sounds like your boss might be the type to book you on the course, knowing you’re leaving, and then take it out of your final pay.

@HollowTalk and @Howdoyoudoit31 are spot on. I'd just close down the discussion as Howdo suggests.

If he kicks up a fuss afterwards, have a word with HR as there is no need for him to try to manage your travel arrangements in your own time.

It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Repeat this. Not everything needs to be discussed with your micromanaging boss. Honestly. Use some common sense!!

If you’re leaving why are you going on a training course?

Bit of an aside but if he knows you're leaving why shouldn't he advertise your job in advance?

Agree with everyone else. Just nod and smile and tell your colleagues not to wait for you.

If you’re leaving why are you going on a training course?

Because the boss decided to book OP onto it.

OP, I agree with the earlier suggestions to check company policy about training courses, and the possibility of having to repay the cost. However, you can point out, if they try to claim the cost off you, that your manager booked you onto the course knowing that you were leaving, so I'd argue that you shouldn't have to pay.

How high up the ladder is he? Is there a boss of him? Why has he been allowed to behave like this for a long time?
Unless you need a reference from him in the future I think you should travel as you wish.

And if you have an HR department make sure you do an exit interview and spell out exactly how awful he is.

If you don't intend to put a mileage claim in (which you should be able to IME) then I don't see what difference it makes to him!