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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can my boss refuse me mandatory training?

99 replies

Advicewel · 12/10/2019 00:45

I told my boss I was looking for a new job, which could take months due to finding it difficult to travel to work as I don't drive and local public transport has been cut, which would mean an hours walk from a train station which isn't bad during the day but at 10pm finishes could be risky.
My boss was putting me through a qualification which would of had me stay for 2 years which was why I had to tell her that I couldn't do it and was looking for something closer to home, I thought that by telling the truth everything would be OK until the other day when I was due to go on a mandatory training course with a few other staff members to be told it was cancelled to another day and that I was excluded from it. I just feel down, I've always done overtime and in my own time done alot of unpaid work for the company.
AIBU for feeling a bit depressed by being treated that way?

OP posts:
Winebottle · 12/10/2019 00:55

It makes sense from their point of view. If you are going to be leaving soon anyway, there is no point training you up. I think it's fair enough.

I get that you feel excluded but you are rejecting them as well by being open about wanting to leave. I don't see the benefit of telling your boss you are looking for another job. Tell them when they need to know ie when you are ready to hand your notice in.

Comefromaway · 12/10/2019 00:56

Is it mandatory training or statutory I n that it would be illegal for you to continue in your job without it?

Original poster
Advicewel · 12/10/2019 00:58

They were telling staff that they were funding our qualification but the stipulation was to stay 2 years or pay full cost. That's why I had told them

OP posts:
OrchidInTheSun · 12/10/2019 01:01

Do you want to pay for the training? If you don't, then surely it's a good thing you're not doing it if you're going to leave?

Have I missed something? What are you upset about ?

Pringlemunchers · 12/10/2019 01:04

Are you in or out?

Original poster
Advicewel · 12/10/2019 01:07

Getting left out. I've done alot for the company and most times never asked to get paid. I'm naive to think that they'd understand that my safety was important because what woman wants to walk an hour in the dark to get to a train station to take her home.

OP posts:
Cordial11 · 12/10/2019 01:30

Sorry you feel that but your not being left out, they are just not investing further money for training as you are leaving. This is just business sense.

heartsonacake · 12/10/2019 01:36

YABU. You have told the company you are planning to leave so of course they won’t waste money training you up. It doesn’t make practical business sense.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 12/10/2019 01:53

YABU. You've told the company you want to leave and are looking for a new job so why would they want to invest in you?

Lanurk · 12/10/2019 03:38

Even single training sessions cost money so why would they waste it on someone that’s trying to find somewhere else to work? They’re running a business after all Confused

Also I’m a woman (34) and I regularly finish work at 11 pm in a city centre and I manage to get home just fine. The commute isn’t much fun on a Friday or Saturday night but I’ve not had any issues.

Frannibananni · 12/10/2019 03:48

Yabu. You are not staying, they don't have to train you unless you pay for it yourself.

slashlover · 12/10/2019 04:43

They were telling staff that they were funding our qualification but the stipulation was to stay 2 years or pay full cost. That's why I had told them

So are you prepared to pay the full cost back if/when you leave? Why should they spend money/time effort to train you so you can work somewhere else?

EmpressLesbianInChair · 12/10/2019 04:48

It sounded to me as if the mandatory day training course is separate from the two-year paid qualification. Is that right, OP?

Dyrne · 12/10/2019 04:57

I agree with others OP - you may feel like you’re being deliberately excluded but from the companies’ point of view; they have a limited training budget and they don’t want to waste investing in your skills when they know you’re planning on leaving.

Would the new qualification have resulted in extra pay? Just wondering if you could have used it to either pay for driving lessons or a cab to ease your safety concerns?

YobaOljazUwaque · 12/10/2019 05:39

Its a bit foolish to tell an employer you are job hunting. Too late for hindsight now obviously but it would have been better to find a way to opt out of the 2 year training without telling them the entire reason. Obviously now you are considered "on the way out" and this missed single day training is just one example of why. If it takes you a while to find a new job there will be more examples. You won't be on the shortlist for any additional opportunities.

That said, I don't think you've explained the use of mandatory in the thread title. While you are still there they do have to follow the law and their own policies. If there is some bit of training that there is a legal requirement for you to have every x years then you have to have it. But I would expect that if there's a requirement like that, the original booking would have been made for a time that is months before the actual legal deadline so nothing wrong has happened yet.

daisychain01 · 12/10/2019 05:40

OP you haven't "done a lot" for the company. You've done the job you were paid to do.

Telling your manager you're leaving before you've even got another job means that as far as they are concerned, you have already left. They won't invest another penny piece in your development.

You need to get into the real world, you sound naive.

LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 12/10/2019 05:49

This sounds like my organisation, we pay for s post graduate professional qualification for some staff but they sign a contract to say they will stay for two years after. It's a very much in demand qualification in the industry and not one you can do without a professional sponsor. O other companies will offer your a higher salary to attract someone qualified and it costs us £20k to put someone through it, I think a two year stipulation is very reasonable. As for the other training our continuing staff all have training they have to do new things and refreshers, I would only put someone who read leaving on anything absolutely essential that would lead to them doing their job dangerously if they didn't attend. Anything else I'm not sending them on anymore, I'm then training another company's future staff member at my cost. Your transport to and from work is not your employer's consideration. Can you drive closer to the station?

Original poster
Advicewel · 12/10/2019 07:11

1you misread that, there's been times I've done overtime and never been or expected to get paid for it. I've done it off my own back.

OP posts:
Hopoindown31 · 12/10/2019 07:14

You've learnt valuable lesson. Never tell your employer you are looking for a new job. The first they should know about it is when you hand your notice in.

itsboiledeggsagain · 12/10/2019 07:20

If you did unpaid overtime without complaint at the time they are not going to feel thry owe you one now.

How mandatory is this training?

From what you have said so far yabu

Cat1nthehat · 12/10/2019 07:30

They are paying for you to do training and you have turned them down?! You are crazy! Why don’t you learn to drive or move closer to work?

PlatoAteMySnozcumber · 12/10/2019 07:35

I don’t get your gripe at all. You weren’t ‘doing the decent thing’, you told them because you had no intention of staying for two years and therefore didn’t want to be liable to repay the amount spent on your training as per the contractual agreement for said training.

You’re lucky they don’t look to claw back what they have spent already on it.

KatherineJaneway · 12/10/2019 07:35

Working free overtime in most companies does not get you special treatment. You told them you are leaving so I totally get why they will not pay for you to attend a course. Why invest money in an employee who says they are leaving?

Personally I would have found other ways to travel home on late nights and undertaken the course providing it would result in higher earning power.

Sooverthemill · 12/10/2019 07:37

Are there two different training events you are talking about? 1) the one that costs a lot so you have to commit to stay for 2 years or you pay back the lot? Eg higher level training like MA 2) a different job related training that is mandatory for staff in the job? Eg safeguarding trainjng
Because if so I think you were right to tell boss you may not be around for 2 years and didn't want to waste their money But boss incorrect to exclude you from other mandatory training if it is essential for the job you are paid to do as you and they don't know how long it would take to get a job

MmmBlowholes · 12/10/2019 07:40

It was silly to tell them you were looking for a new job. I'd have just carried on as normal until I was given a new job.