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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this a rubbish system?

11 replies

Lastofyou · 07/03/2023 19:21

I have been completing a higher level training employment program for the last two years. At the start of the program you are allocated an office location based on preferences. My preference took into account the location of my DC school which is out of catchment but on the way to my office. At the end of the training you are guaranteed a job. You are made aware that it might not be in the office you do your training but they state that they are flexible and take into account personal circumstances. At the end of the training you have to fill a form in with options for a final office location and where you can state any personal circumstances. I would be due to start this new job in 3 weeks.

I have had my office allocation today and unfortunately they have allocated me an office which is 40 minutes in the wrong direction from school. Meaning that to do the school run I would need to travel for an hour and twenty minutes (and that's with no traffic) but I would also not be able to work my hours as I couldn't drop off early enough or pick up later enough to accommodate the extra travel time even with wraparound care.

I'm not going to accept the location as it will have a really detrimental impact on us as a family and the associated pay rise would not cover the extra travel costs. We only have one car suitable of a commute right now so DH wouldn't be able to do the school run and me get to work. There is no public transport where we live either.

Essentially I feel like I have worked my arse off for two years for nothing. I now need to find a new job within the next three weeks and what an absolute waste for the organisation to have paid for my training for me to go on and leave (you don't have to pay back the cost of the training). This has happened to other colleagues so I know I'm not a one off.

AIBU to think that this is a really shit system?

OP posts:
Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/03/2023 19:30

Have the company been paying you the going rate for the job during trading? Or has it been a substantially lower amount? If lower, it’s a win for the company as they can claim back any educational costs against tax, so they get someone to work for less/trained for little cost for two years rather than pay someone (who’s trained) the proper rate for two years!

other than that - A) someone may have misread your application, so I would ask if an oversight has been made when allocating you your permanent office. B) check that you do not have to fulfill any requirements to work for the company for a set time after finishing the training or be faced with paying ££ back for your training.
The answer to either of these may mean you have to rethink your current decisions, and come up with another plan such as get your dh a cheap runabout car.

GreatContinental · 07/03/2023 19:31

I assume it is a way of saying that they don't want you working or them but still on paper offering a guaranteed job?

Octonaut4Life · 07/03/2023 19:36

Have you gone back to them and confirmed that you will not be able to continue working and will have to offer your resignation due to the offer you've been given, and give them a last chance to fix it?

Original poster
Lastofyou · 07/03/2023 20:21

GreatContinental · 07/03/2023 19:31

I assume it is a way of saying that they don't want you working or them but still on paper offering a guaranteed job?

Definitely not that. I'm good at my job and and scored highly on all the academic elements.
It's related to business need but they have cohorts every six months. We've just had 8 new starters but it is unlikely they'll be a job in our location for many of them at the end. They have business need in the inner cities but that's not where people want to work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lastofyou · 07/03/2023 20:22

Octonaut4Life · 07/03/2023 19:36

Have you gone back to them and confirmed that you will not be able to continue working and will have to offer your resignation due to the offer you've been given, and give them a last chance to fix it?

No but I'm going to tomorrow. Just feel so despondent about it all now.

OP posts:
Greensleevevssnotnose · 07/03/2023 20:27

you will have to pay the training costs back if you decline won't you? They won't invest thousands to train someone for them to leave at the end.

Polarbearyfairy · 07/03/2023 20:31

Is it the CS fast stream?

Redebs · 07/03/2023 20:32

Lots of companies get money to train people and dispose of them at the end. Looks like your company have no intention of offering a job at the end if they are recruiting so many every six months

NoSquirrels · 07/03/2023 20:33

At the end of the training you are guaranteed a job. You are made aware that it might not be in the office you do your training but they state that they are flexible and take into account personal circumstances.

I mean, it is a shit system that allocates offices with only 3 weeks to confirm, and it’s not hugely flexible but… it’s as flexible as they need to be, and as much as they promised you when you signed up to train. They never guaranteed you the office you wanted. Your DS’s school doesn’t make a difference to their business needs.

Is there no solution involving your DH taking over the school run? If the situation might resolve in 6 months, if allocations change regularly?

Original poster
Lastofyou · 07/03/2023 20:37

Greensleevevssnotnose · 07/03/2023 20:27

you will have to pay the training costs back if you decline won't you? They won't invest thousands to train someone for them to leave at the end.

They do! I know that they do try and offer alternatives but they are at the lower payscale.

OP posts:
TBOM · 07/03/2023 20:40

Do the employment prospects of accepting the role make it worthwhile investing in a second car?

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