Aibu 6.20am train for a meeting

[Chantholtmouse]

Is it unreasonable of my workplace to expect me to get a 6.20am train to attend work meetings and training 300 miles away? I absolutely don't mind attending but a 6.20am train seems unreasonable. It's the only one that would get me there in time. I'd have to be up at 4.45am to quickly shower, dress, walk the dog around the block (I also have to find someone to pick him up) and drive to the train station which isn't that close.

It's then 3 full days of meetings and training which I'll be shattered for. I'll get a bit of time back but it still seems a big ask. There's no option for paid accomodation to stay the night before.

Aibu?

I refused in a similar situation and they paid for a hotel room for me.

I would refuse.

I don’t think that’s unreasonable personally. Plenty of people start their commute at that time. Have you told them you’re not happy about it? Could you go up and stay the night before?

If it's a one off I dont think it's too bad. I've been covering at another plant over an hour's drive away for the past three months and have to be there by 7am, so I'm up at 5am every day atm.

It’s a one off. I would do it to show willing. If you are that concerned tell them either you need accommodation the night before or you will be late

Presumably the alternative is being away for 4/5 days instead with days for travel. 6.20 trains are full of people travelling for business - really don’t think it’s a problem for a one-off.

true that plenty of people do commute that early

I've had to go down to London from the NW a few times for training and needed to get a similar train. If it's all the time then yes, it becomes unreasonable. One off? Fine

Routinely I would agree it's unreasonable, but if it's a one-off and you're staying there for the duration of the event then I would just deal with it.

Why is there no option of a hotel closer to the venue? You're staying over 2 nights so they should just book a third night, or start at lunchtime. Is anyone else travelling a similar distance?

What if there's problem with the train and you're late?

isnt it 3 days in a row?
not a one off

I wouldn’t do it unless I was on brilliant money or it was giving me the opportunity to better myself.

I've done it plenty of times and never found it to be particularly unreasonable

I’ve had to catch the “red eye” as I call it, on occasion. I try to go down the evening before if I’m needed in the morning

I don’t think they’re being unreasonable - I often get a 6am train when asked to go to London. I just get an early night the day before. However, if there are reasons why you can’t, you should just ask them to get you a hotel the night before.

Do you mean you have to do it every day for three days, OP? That would be unreasonable. I thought you meant you would go down on early Mon, stay Mon and Tues nights and back later on Weds, for example.

are they paying your train fare?
wouldnt it be better and cheaper to stay there?

I think that's fine tbh, as long as they aren't expecting you to travel back the same day (which it sounds as though they aren't). Lots of people start a commute that early.

I travel to London once a month (ish) and that means starting my train journey at about the same time (between 6:15 and 6:30). It’s a bit annoying but has never seemed unreasonable to me. I think something one-off or not regular starting after 6 is fine, anything before then I’d expect to have accommodation the night before.

Too many "it depends" here.

I've done this in a previous role, in fact I've caught a 5:30am train on several occasions to be at a meeting. It isn't great.

Current employer is of the opinion that it's perfectly reasonable to book a hotel the night before in order to be fresh for the meeting. This is much better for me.

They won't pay for another night as the meeting starts at 10am so they say it isn't needed. I don't live the furthest away but it's an awkward journey as my nearest station isn't on the mainline. I'm on pretty rubbish pay for what I do (£30,000 approx) and will already have to pay out for dog care for the 3 days (probably about £100) so feeling a little more annoyed than I usually would. I used to regularly set off for work at 6.30am but somehow a 300mile train journey at that time seems worse than a 45 minute drive at that time.

If it's only for the first day and you're staying over the middle nights seems reasonable as a one off, though my work would start at 10 on the first day to give people a bit more time.

Arrive late?

My dh does this every week.
It's what you need to do if your meeting is early.