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?

My husband caught the 5:30am train for years to commute from Birmingham to London. His rail pass cost more than our mortgage! Doing it as a one off for training is totally normal. Training is a GOOD THING. It's an investment in your future. I actually find your posts to be pretty wierd to be honest. Most people would be happy to get a few nights away from home.

Not very costly, it's only a premier Inn, and we don't do that many site visits requiring early starts. Usually we travel same day.

It’s not unreasonable to be expected to get a 6:20am train for a 10am start, they will be covering costs for train fare and there is hotel provided for the days that are over night. It would be unreasonable to expect a hotel the night prior and I doubt this would be accommodated. 6:20 isn’t an early train ride, if it was prior to 6am then I’d appreciate the resistance. I hear the pain of getting care for the dog but that’s not down to the employer that’s something you’d have to swallow. Do not listen to advice of don’t go, this isn’t helpful and will only cause issues.

That’s good to hear.

I can gather we both agree on the importance of clear expectations on working hours (whether that’s explicitly stating or from an understanding of the nature of an industry) and a robust professional relationship between employer and employee. Where we seem to disagree is whether the expectations for OP are reasonable or not.

Given this is the first time in her 5 years in the role that this has been required it is fair to be a bit taken aback without that making her unreasonable. Which a substantial minority also agree with.

My role involves recruitment and since mid 2021 I’ve noticed a stark increase in candidates discussing better work / life balance at interview, coupled with the pandemic WFH nature, I do think people’s expectations are changing, so that reasonable and mature approach is more critical than ever, particularly for retention.

A reasonable and mature employer would surely notice if an employee with a fair length of service was feeling disgruntled and see if there was any flexibility.

I have conceded my view is possibly skewed from being abnormally affected by changes to my sleep schedule.

I would add that time off in lieu is not a given IME so influences my opinion also!

I’ve got one that’s a good sleeper and one that is not at all. Can’t remember the last time I had an undisturbed night tbh, even the DM/DMIL doesn’t want an overnight with the challenging sleeper!!

Yes I would completely rule out a holiday that needed me to get up that early, whereas in my 20s I flitted between shifts starting at that time and rolling in from the club at that time on my day off!

Hope you had a fantastic holiday

Also nonsense. I regularly left home before 6.30 for training, getting home at 9pm. No idea what job in the NHS you have to do for them to pay for this. Plus, some people work nights or leave much earlier than this as part of their regular shifts in the NHS 🤷🏼‍♀️ definitely no hotel rooms

I was questioning the person who said, ‘plenty of people have to get up at 4:45 for work’ hence the thinking 🤔 emoji lol