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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

work trip not what it seemed :/

259 replies

biokult · 15/04/2022 11:04

Accepted a job of which international travel was involved, was very lucky in that I had a couple offers, which I turned down for my current position. Country is considered unsafe, however the insitute I would be based at is in a tourist-y area which is why I was comfortable agreeing.

Things have been very rushed due to lack of staff, and feel like my queries are not being answered.

My current dilemna is thus: a member of the team mentioned they would be based at a certain site, which was not the area I had expected to working in. I would then be expected to commute there via taxi, or "maybe collegues can drop you". I said no problem, assuming that if it was part of their company the area would also be fine.

Have since looked up the area and it is dodgy AF, yougov strongly recommend avoiding this and similar neighbourhoods. If you must go there you should have a local guide/security. Cabs will often refuse to pick you up from there due to high crime rate. I do not want to rely on collegues I do not for lifts in case they let me down and I am stuck.

I have agreed to the trip, although had this detail been made clear I would've said no. I feel like no precuations have been put in place, or discussed with me.

Please help me navigate this. My sister & her partner (who I live with) are being incredibly unhelpful, telling me to quit on the spot and no job is worth my life or being assualted etc etc. Obviously this is true, but I also want to maintain good working relationships and ideally not be unemployed!

Pretty pissed off tbh, anyone been in similar situations?

OP posts:
nearlyspringyay · 15/04/2022 11:12

You need to raise your concerns with your employer ASAP. Is the employer UK based or in the country you are going to? Can you say where it is?

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:13

I posted a query on a travel forum about the area, and got many many replies warning me against going there.

This is included one saying "Are you aware of the exceptional rate of rape and murder of first world white women who come to these neighbourhoods".

It's upsetting - I don't understand a) why the team out there are happy to work there, and b) why my work seem fine with me going there with no mention on contigencies.

I feel like it's being so pompous to say it's fine for the local team to work there, but I don't want to.

OP posts:
Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:14

@nearlyspringyay

You need to raise your concerns with your employer ASAP. Is the employer UK based or in the country you are going to? Can you say where it is?
Thank you.

I emailed my line manager as soon as I realised. No travel has been booked yet thank goodness.

Employer is UK based, reputable, I'm not sure if these issues have fallen through the cracks due to lack of staff.

OP posts:
LeroyJenkinssss · 15/04/2022 11:16

Where is it? I know of some places in my home country which aren’t great if you’re a (flashy) tourist but no concerns if you actually live there.

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:19

@LeroyJenkinssss

Where is it? I know of some places in my home country which aren’t great if you’re a (flashy) tourist but no concerns if you actually live there.
Mexico - I completely agree that sometimes replies can be overeactive, however I did post on a forum for locals.

I also think the foreign office tend to give fairly balanced advice on this, and they do not recommend going to this area.

OP posts:
mrsrobin · 15/04/2022 11:31

I have been all over Mexico and have stayed in a lot of the places the foreign office do not recommend going at all. Honestly, I found no problems - I was long term travelling with my partner but did venture out often alone. BUT I stuck to main central areas - not suburbs etc. Even dodgy neighbourhoods sometimes have a safe area. If I took notice of what the foreign office said about Mexico, I wouldn't have went anywhere! On a good note - I absolutely loved it there - the people are fab :)

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:36

@mrsrobin

I have been all over Mexico and have stayed in a lot of the places the foreign office do not recommend going at all. Honestly, I found no problems - I was long term travelling with my partner but did venture out often alone. BUT I stuck to main central areas - not suburbs etc. Even dodgy neighbourhoods sometimes have a safe area. If I took notice of what the foreign office said about Mexico, I wouldn't have went anywhere! On a good note - I absolutely loved it there - the people are fab :)
Thanks @mrsrobin, I'm glad you had a good time :)

This is my issue - I can't stick to main central areas as the site I am because asked to commute to is in a dodgy suburb.

I was really excited about going for all the reasons you describe, but my specific situation sounds dire!

OP posts:
mrsrobin · 15/04/2022 11:36

For example, Michoacan has a terrible reputation - roadblocks by cartels etc - but we travelled around this area fine (always in daylight, sticking to main roads) and stayed in a lovely city for a while. Yes, the cartels do have roadblocks, but they always waved us through. Things always sound terrifying, but as a PP said, when you are actually there, things are fine (I do not speak as a flashy tourist - things could be different then).

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:38

sorry not sure what happened there Blush Have taken the DNs out for a picnic and all a bit manic.

I can't stick to main central areas as the site I'm being asked to commute to is in a dodgy suburb.

OP posts:
mrsrobin · 15/04/2022 11:38

What does the employer say about the dodgy area? Is it poor? Is getting held up and robbed an issue?

ApocalypseNowt · 15/04/2022 11:40

If your employer is UK based then I'd assume they would have business travel insurance, in which case they should also have risk assessments for any countries or areas rated by the FO as Amber or red.

Might be worth asking to see these?

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:41

@mrsrobin

What does the employer say about the dodgy area? Is it poor? Is getting held up and robbed an issue?
Huge amount of poverty & unemployment, exceptionally high crime rates including gang violence, shootings, carjackings, sexual assualts, kidnapping. Locals say that taxis often will not go there due to the risk of crime, so there is possibility of me being stuck there after work.

I haven't heard back from my line manager, but like I said the team out there are happy to be based there apparently. Although I do not know if they have actually started work there yet.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 15/04/2022 11:42

I don’t understand why, because of your colleague’s preference on location, you would be required to travel to the location.

Would ask more Qs about the travel requirements for your role, locations, and how the company takes decisions and what it does to do with safety etc. If they can’t answer reasonable Qs in a reasonable time, that’s a red flag IMO and wouldn’t take risks.

mrsrobin · 15/04/2022 11:43

@biokult

sorry not sure what happened there Blush Have taken the DNs out for a picnic and all a bit manic.

I can't stick to main central areas as the site I'm being asked to commute to is in a dodgy suburb.

Feel free to PM me if you like - if you let me know exactly where we are talking about I may have been to the area....
Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:43

@ApocalypseNowt

If your employer is UK based then I'd assume they would have business travel insurance, in which case they should also have risk assessments for any countries or areas rated by the FO as Amber or red.

Might be worth asking to see these?

Thanks yes they are UK based, and I will need travel insurance through there.

Do you know where I can find FO ratings for countries?

OP posts:
TallTrees78 · 15/04/2022 11:44

Agree with apocalypsenowt that business insurance and a risk assessment should be taking these things into consideration.

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:45

@Loopytiles

I don’t understand why, because of your colleague’s preference on location, you would be required to travel to the location.

Would ask more Qs about the travel requirements for your role, locations, and how the company takes decisions and what it does to do with safety etc. If they can’t answer reasonable Qs in a reasonable time, that’s a red flag IMO and wouldn’t take risks.

So I believe it is the whole team, for reasons that I don't know yet, although it is possible they have specialist equipment/kit there that they are wanting to use or demonstrate with me.

I think there will definitely be a "business reason" for wanting to work at this site, which is what complicates me refusing to go there. I need to find out more details specifically on this though.

OP posts:
ChiefPearlClutcher · 15/04/2022 11:47

Are you going on an expat package? What is included? Do you have a relocation agent?
Will your employer provide healthcare?
Are you going on your own?
Have your employer done a risk assessment?
Is this a secondment from a Uk job or are you joining a local team?
Have you been in contact with other colleagues that have been through the same move or been for a home-finding type trip?

Palavah · 15/04/2022 11:47

I'd expect a reputable company in the UK to make risk assessments, either using specialist stafff or external consultants, and to put appropriate measures in place and have proper insurance. They should be transparent about all this.
This would include consideration for where the meetings will be held - is it really necessary to go to that suburb? If so i might expect them to hire a driver for visiting colleagues rather than expect you to flag down taxis in an unfamiliar location.

Loopytiles · 15/04/2022 11:49

Yes, would ask for a lot of details before agreeing to the travel.

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:49

@ChiefPearlClutcher

Are you going on an expat package? What is included? Do you have a relocation agent? Will your employer provide healthcare? Are you going on your own? Have your employer done a risk assessment? Is this a secondment from a Uk job or are you joining a local team? Have you been in contact with other colleagues that have been through the same move or been for a home-finding type trip?
Hello, no so this isn't a move (thank goodness)

This trip was suggested for 2-4 weeks. Yes I would be going on my own, I haven't heard about a risk assessment although the company have confirmed I need to do one.

I would be joining a local team who my company do have strong and long term links with. Sadly I don't know anyone from the UK who has done this or worked there.

OP posts:
Bagpusssays · 15/04/2022 11:51

I've lived and worked in a developing country. You don't sound cut out for it.

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:52

An added complication which I feel irritated them is that I cannot drive - they suggested a hire car. However, this wasn't a job requirement and nor did they ask at interview.

Even if I could drive I wouldn't be comfortable driving there, particurlaly to suburbs where car break ins are common, and you're vulnerable in car parks/red lights etc.

But I feel this makes me the problem.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 15/04/2022 11:52

They’d want YOU to do the work for the risk assessment and the practical organising?

If so, that seems crap.

Is this a small, new company or something?

Original poster
biokult · 15/04/2022 11:54

@Bagpusssays

I've lived and worked in a developing country. You don't sound cut out for it.
Bit much?

I've worked in developing countries also. However I have always had appropriate protocols put in place for regions that are considered high risk such as pairing with a collegue or having a local guide.

I've never been told I would be in low crime site, and then had it sprung upon that actually I will be somewhere where travel is not recommended, without any mitigations.

OP posts: