Travelling to London every week for work

[GilmoreGirl84]

I joined a company where we mostly work remotely. I was told there would be occasional in-person days and that seemed fine. My main reason for moving jobs was to have more flexibility for family/school pick-ups.

It has been two months, however, that I have had to travel to London every week, for various reasons. Our company is two hours away from London and sometimes this has meant waking up at 4am to get the train at 5:30am. Once I got back home at 10:30am after a very long day.

We have a time in lieu policy but I am not sure how to account for this massive chunk of travelling time/antisocial hours. Obviously it would be the exception if it happens sporadically, but can I be expected to do it every week?

I think only your employer can answer this question!

Where does your contract name as your place of work? If you are two hours away that does not seem an unreasonable weekly commute, bit not clear if you have to go further than that.

I have a colleague in this position who was taken on during lockdown and has been told she was wanted in the office at least 3 days a week, and in reasonable office hours ie9-5pm. For her it’s a 3hr journey each way. She has agreed to 2 days a week and arrives around 9.30, leaves around 4.45pm. It’s a pretty miserable 2 days for her but most contracts allow the employer to dictate where you are required to do the job, so it depends on what yours says and what your employer says about what is necessary…

Colleague was full time wfh for first 18m.

I think it depends on your company/ contract. I travel every week (should be asleep right now as have early start tomorrow!), started last year with expectation that it would be once a month and realistically it’s every week.

To be honest I just need to suck it up, at least for first year, as that’s how the job has turned out but appreciate that not everyone would have this view

As I am salaried I don’t get paid extra for travelling and anti social hours but do get expenses while I am away so that makes up a little, as all meals covered

If your company is based 2 hours away from london, for what reason are they sending you there so regularly?

When they told you about the occasional in-person days, did they mention that those days would involve trips to London as opposed to days at the company's site?

Thank you for your replies! My company is 2 hours away from London as stated, but I am travelling to the City regularly to meet clients. Of course I expected the occasional business trip but didn't realise it would be a weekly occurrence.

As there is no pattern it's quite hard to arrange childcare around this. DH is helping a lot but there are some days where he couldn't do it for example.

That’s a really long time I’m not surprised you’re asking this question! I couldn’t do a day as long as that every week

Of course first steps are asking your employer I think