New office - 3hr rtn journey

[BrilliantBetty]

AIBU to be considering leaving a job due to the commute.

We were WFH for the last 18 months but have now returned to a new office. It took me 20 mins by car to get to the old one which was brilliant. I now have to take public transport due to the central location and it's 90 mins each way.

I work 6 hours per day and spend 3 hours travelling.

DH thinks it's a normal amount (his commute is similar). I just don't want to continue like this, it's exhausting!

Yeah that sounds rubbish! Can you not ask to continue WFH part time?

I've always done that. Never less than 1hr 15 mins

That's London. For me anyway. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’d definitely consider looking for a new job. My commute is half that, and it feels like plenty, thank you very much!

I’d say that that is a very significant change to your terms. Is there a sweetner of any kind? When my office moved, there was about 12 months staff consultation beforehand and people with longer journeys were paid a travel allowance for 3 years. Work also block booked 100 parking spaces in the car park across from the office, 50 available before 9am, 50 after (we work flexitime).

Yeah that would be too much for me tbh.

This is what tax office employees in Cardiff are facing. Virtually no city centre parking so public transport only feasible option...which is already over utilised.

I know a few people working there and there have been some bridging agreements but quite a few have handed in their notice because they don't want a city centre commute.

Only you can decide if it's too much for you really but it's not an exceptional commute.

Is that door to door ? If so doable just , if you have to get to station on top then no . Mines an hour drive , from kitchen to desk . But I love my job and only 2 days a week . Is this one worth an extra 15 hours unpaid?

Nah, fuck that.

Life is too short to spend three hours a day commuting.

This has been pretty standard for me… you get used to it, if the jobs worth it.

If you’re not loving it, I’d start looking for something else.

Standard 1.5 hours commute here from London zone 5 to 1. 3 tube lines. You get used to it.

Fair enough, some people do it and that was part of the job they applied for. You didn't, so the fact that they travel for hours a day doesn't help you much.
Is there any room for negotiation as suggested above? Maybe part time WFH? If not how much do you want to work there? I'd be job hunting.

The commute itself is nothing unusual but the fact that your work moved their office so significantly is the real issue. I would be having a conversation with management/HR.

We live in a commuter town and I'd say that is pretty average. That said, I'd rather earn less and have more time, so work closer to home. Means I look worse than most of the school mums though because I don't have the disposable income to spend on clothes and beauty treatments etc. All about priorities I guess.

I would ask either to wfh some days, or to extend my shift times so I was working fewer days but for longer each day. 6 hours seems very short working time for that length commute, although I have done much longer commutes than that.

Mine is like that and I agree it’s a lot of time.

Particularly since the pandemic and wfh, when it seems to have become normal to start work really early, ie work had taken over the commute time. It shouldn’t do though!

@ActonSquirrel

I've always done that. Never less than 1hr 15 mins

That's London. For me anyway. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Me too. I worked a standard 40 hour week with three hours commuting every day. I didn’t really mind it, I got through a lot of books.

Me too. I worked a standard 40 hour week with three hours commuting every day. I didn’t really mind it, I got through a lot of books.

But OP only works a six hour day @Blossomtoes - it seems very silly to commute three hours just to work six.

This has been pretty standard for me… you get used to it, if the jobs worth it.

You also get used to low level back pain, doesn’t mean it’s something you want.

I really enjoy my job, but I never got used to not being home in time to have dinner with my family all week. WFH has reinforced that I don’t want to go back to doing that type of commute full time so I’ve agreed a 3/2 split. Life is to short to spend 3 hours a day travelling.

If you're on megabucks or a career path to megabucks, it might be worth putting up with. Otherwise sod that, life's too short! Can you do condensed hours on fewer days if you don't want to leave that job?

www.gov.uk/employer-relocation-your-rights

I look at it that 15 hours a week is another 2 working days. If you are earning £££ then yes maybe it’s worth it. If you’re not, then I really don’t see the point. Life’s too short!

Cross posted with a pp, but great minds think alike

Only you know what works for you, and it sounds like you know this doesn't. Your DH can't make that decision for you. I would apply for permanent WFH if possible. If you don't ask you don't know.

For me 30 mins each way commute is pretty much my max. I've never commuted more than that except for short term (6 months). I'm prepared to compromise on the job for that need to be met.

The fact your working day is only 6 hours makes it harder to swallow. Any chance of condensing your hours? Do four days of 7.5 hours, or some of them at home?

Could you do fewer days but longer hours per day?