To think this meeting is too far to travel to?

[Martha5983]

I joined a new team at work during the lockdown. The team live all over the UK.

A 2 hour face to face meeting and lunch has been arranged in May. I’m only allowed overnight accommodation in very specific circumstances- for example if I complete a site visit the following day. It starts at 11.30 to ‘allow travel on the day’. The journey will be 6 hours - meaning that to attend the meeting I’ll need to be on a train at 5:30 - probably up at around 4am. Journey home will mean I am home around 10pm. I don’t have a company car and my normal working week is 9-3 four days a week.

It’s in the middle of my daughters SATS week - so I’m not keen on an overnight for that reason.

I feel pressured to go because it’s important for team building and on the basis that I’ve worked from home and travelled minimally for the last few years. I don’t mind being flexible with my working pattern. But even before covid the max travel I’ve done in one day would have been a journey of around 2 hours.

AIBU to say that this journey is unreasonable and that I’ll join remotely or will I risk looking like I’m not a team player and miss out on the face to face contact?

Whether it's a 10 hour round trip or a 12 hour round trip it's for a two hour meeting and so bloody ridiculous. Surely other people in your position aren't doing it? Don't set a precedent by going would be my advice, knowing how some companies will then see it as a green light to take the piss.

Sympathies OP, Norwich is also my nearest station, it's a pain to get anywhere other than London. If you are new(ish) to the job it would probably be useful to go in person. Would point out to manager that the 5.30 train arrives at 10.27, and does not give much leeway for delays and of course you still have to get to meeting venue - so ovenight stay would be much better. Someone else has suggested the 6.04, but I would not want to risk that.

I get you point re daughter with SATS - but DH/DP will be at home? (apols if you have already said)

It's a pain the Norwich to Manchester flight is no longer in operation (as far as I know) - had booked onto that once for meeting in Manchester, arrived at airport to discover it had been delayed by two hours (at least) and so had to bin the meeting. Obv not my fault though.

OP - can you clarify whether or not your employers are offering to pay for hotel accommodation the previous night or not?

If not, its not a reasonable enforcement of a clause in the contract of employment.

It doesn't look like it @SucculentChalice - "I’m only allowed overnight accommodation in very specific circumstances- for example if I complete a site visit the following day"

It's a 500 mile round trip, which is quite a long journey by car. The direct route across country is an hourly service taking 4:45 hours, and there is no 6:04 on the current timetable. Other services involve changes and go via London terminals using the tube at an eye watering price. I'd be happy to do it occasionally if I was paid the overtime

@Martha5983 have you spoken directly to your line manager and explained what getting to the meeting involves - excluding the bit about the SATs as that's irrelevant. And then gauge from their reaction how important being there in person is?

@sillysmiles I agree. Some people now think it’s their right to refuse to leave home, rather than a privilege to be able to WFH when they never had a WFH contract before covid. Their refusal to even meet employers half way or be flexible at all are, in my opinion, the most likely ways to ruin flexible / hybrid working for everyone.

I think given the notice you have been given and that it is a one-off, you should look to find some way of attending. I think approaching your employer about an overnight stay would be appropriate.

I don't think the OP has commented yet on the distance to this event compared to the distance from her home to the place of work in her contract. I know she's nearer another location, but she didn't specify (unless I've missed something) whether that was her actual place of work, or just a random office owned by her employer.

@alltheteeshirts

I don't think the OP has commented yet on the distance to this event compared to the distance from her home to the place of work in her contract. I know she's nearer another location, but she didn't specify (unless I've missed something) whether that was her actual place of work, or just a random office owned by her employer.

By car it's a 4.5 hour trip. I doubt her contracted work location is anything like that far from her home.

Dp goes to 3 hour meetings on other continents, sorry but 5 hours is fine

Where are you getting 5 hours from?

@Tschecked Doesn't answer the question. As an example, my last employer would hire people who lived much further away, but it was then their problem if they got called in for a meeting. The fact that they lived nearer to other offices was irrelevant - their teams weren't based there and their contracts didn't say they worked there.

When it was originally 6hours door to door I was going to say YANBU. But if it just over 4.5 door to door I doing think that’s too bad. I usually do that at least once or twice a month for meetings and also fly to Europe and back in a day for site visits. However, for me there has to be a bloody good reason for said meeting to make it worth my time travelling.

@Martha5983

Sorry - just to be exact - 4 hours 45 mins.

As a one off, and on the train, this is absolutely fine. You can sleep/work/read on the train. And I'd grab a day back in lieu as you're working double hours.