Not to take job as it's 1 hour commute ?

[pollyputaket]

Basically I've been looking for a job for a while now and the only job I've been offered is 1 hour commute.
It's a 5 min walk from my house to train station
Then 50 min train journey
Plus 5 min walk from train station to office.
£11 train per day travel
So that is £55 on fares per week
Aibu not to take it for this reason ?
What would you do?

If everyone in the Home Counties declined a job 1 hour commute away there would be a lot of unemployment and unfilled jobs. Many people commute daily into big cities plus towns all over the UK and trade,government etc would grind to a halt if the jobs not filled. It's impossible for everyone to live within 15- 30min commute.

Why did you apply for it in the first place? Presumably you knew where the job was based. If I was the prospective I would be pretty hacked off having spent time and money interviewing someone, offering the job only for them to turn it down because they didn't fancy the commute.

It's impossible for everyone to live within 15- 30min commute.
I said this (but my only reference is London/East/south east) but apparently this is not the case in northern towns/cities where accommodation is not so prohibitively expensive.

I would take it if it's otherwise a good job. 50 minutes will pass quickly in getting through emails and other bits you need to do.

That's called 'having a job'. You're not going to find something on your doorstep.

@Brefugee

well you've been very lucky up to now. Here in Germany a one hour commute isn't considered grounds to refuse a job offer so you don't get benefits

Travel costs are tax deductible in Germany though I believe?

It sounds like an easy commute to me, OP. And very cheap!!

I think some people may have missed this:

OP'S COMMUTE WILL NOT BE ONE THROUGH TRAIN, IT WILL BE 2, she will have to change at some point. Just for all of those saying how relaxing it will be to have a through journey and how much she can get done en route.

Plus, commuting in the rest of the country is not like commuting on the London Underground for frequency and reliability.

Yeah it's two trains.
One from Sunderland -Pelaw
Then pelaw-four lane ends
Then 15 min walk
I ended up turning the job down
I'm looking for something more than min wage I think

I think it was a good decision, there is no way that working for so little in exchange of so much hassle will help, especially if you are feeling unwell.

I would do it for a decent salary but if I am going to end up paying extra childcare, transport, adding 10 hours to my working week to end up earning a grand total (once all costs are deducted and the extra time and expense to get there are considered) of £2-3 an hour is not worth risking your health or decreasing the time you spend with your family.

There are thousands of people who would be relieved to simply have a job so grab it while you can! You may also not be offered another for ages.

@MuddlingMackem

I think some people may have missed this:

OP'S COMMUTE WILL NOT BE ONE THROUGH TRAIN, IT WILL BE 2, she will have to change at some point. Just for all of those saying how relaxing it will be to have a through journey and how much she can get done en route.

Plus, commuting in the rest of the country is not like commuting on the London Underground for frequency and reliability.

It’s all about mindset sometimes. When I lived at home I used to get 4 buses a day to get to work (2 each way). I didn’t earn a lot it was just in a coffee shop job. The people were great and till this day it’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.

It wouldn’t be forever that OP had to travel and to be blunt I would do it rather than be on benefits any day.

@KarmaNoMore

I think it was a good decision, there is no way that working for so little in exchange of so much hassle will help, especially if you are feeling unwell.

I would do it for a decent salary but if I am going to end up paying extra childcare, transport, adding 10 hours to my working week to end up earning a grand total (once all costs are deducted and the extra time and expense to get there are considered) of £2-3 an hour is not worth risking your health or decreasing the time you spend with your family.

OP is a single person and unless she has some form of degree? Sorry if I’ve missed that part realistically there’s only so much OP is going to earn. She doesn’t have kids yet and it would be a stepping stone job she wouldn’t be there till retirement.

She is down with anxiety, I cannot imagine having to take 2 trains every morning and back on top of the learning curve at work is going to help her mental health and make her feel better.

Something else will come along.

Id say, taking two trains, sooner or later there will be a connection problem and your entire day ends up being ruined...
Not worth it for minimum wage, definitely, especially in the North.

The OP isn’t commuting by actual train. It’s the metro, a light rail system like the tube. She won’t even have to change platforms to change metro and she’ll only have to wait about five minutes for her connection. If the trains stop running a bus replacement service is operated.

Oh, missed the last post. OP isn’t commuting anywhere. She’s staying on benefits. Having been offered a job which would allow her to work from home after six months, in the middle of a pandemic related double dip recession. Oh well.

@QuantumQuality the bus replacement doesn't begin for a while after any metro breakdowns ..if you follow the metro Twitter you will see hundreds of people weekly complaining they were late for work because of failed trains etc

@QuantumQuality

Oh, missed the last post. OP isn’t commuting anywhere. She’s staying on benefits. Having been offered a job which would allow her to work from home after six months, in the middle of a pandemic related double dip recession. Oh well.

The op is in the ESA support group, not the WRA group. The DWP don't make that assessment lightly. It would be reckless of the op to take a job that would damage her health further.

I used to commute an hour to my work and I wouldn't do it again. So yes personally for me I think an two hours commute per day is too much.

It depends how easy you find it to get a job and what your circumstances are.

Take it

Forget it, just read the whole thread

It's a perfectly reasonable commute, don't be idle OP!

@KarmaNoMore

She is down with anxiety, I cannot imagine having to take 2 trains every morning and back on top of the learning curve at work is going to help her mental health and make her feel better.

Something else will come along.

Something may come along, although in this difficult times it's less likely. I started a job I hate in December after being out of work for 8 months. I drive 40 minutes each way, maybe more so if we ever get back to normal and they'll be more traffic to battle.I have bills to pay and kids to feed, I can't be picky

I would take the job, look for something else in the mean time.
I'm looking now for something but I can assure you, there's little about.
I'm grateful I have a job, albeit one I don't enjoy

Yes but you are jot in receipt of ESA due to Heath problems, that’s the big difference.these assessments are not taken lightly.

Disliking your job is definitively not the same thing.

@KarmaNoMore

Yes but you are jot in receipt of ESA due to Heath problems, that’s the big difference.these assessments are not taken lightly.

Disliking your job is definitively not the same thing.

No, you're right, it isn't. My mental health suffered when I wasn't working. Being in the house not seeing anyone, no money because on benefits and just about scraping by every month to pay bills made it worse.

I believe being in work helps with metal health, you're around people, and you are earning, that has to help with your out look? I was more anxious out of work than I ever was in any job. But that could just be me. 🤷‍♀️