Would you go on this work trip at such short notice ? ( new job )

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I've not even started yet and just got an email from my manager to be, asking if I could go on a two night ( 3 day ) work trip in my second week- which is in two weeks time.

Would you do this ? Will it look bad if I don't do it ?

I have two small kids, so finding cover will be hard - but possible, probably.

I don't want to come off badly from the start. I also know that I'll need flexibility down the line, once they know and love me. So if I start putting in the good will now, it hopefully will pay off? Or would you categorically not do this ?

Thanks for your opinions !

Did you know there would potentially be travel involved when you accepted the job? I’d probably do my best to go on this one but I’d want to understand the expected level of travel going forward and try and agree how much notice they will give me of future travel.

I’d do everything I could to try and find childcare. You aren’t yet employed- they could just revoke the offer at this stage.

I think it would depend on whether travel is going to be a regular part of your job (and in your job description), or if it's a one-off thing which just happened to fall soon after you started.

If possible, I would try to accommodate it, but if it isn't a key part of your role, I'd make sure they know that you might not always be able to provide this level of flexibility. And if possible, get clarity on how much travel is expected of you. If it's a travel-heavy role I would have expected that to be made very clear at interview.

They said there would not be a lot of travel at all. Very occasional.

This would very much be expected in my company. Have you spoken to anyone else in the company to find out how regular ‘occasional’ actually is?

Yes, I'd try to make it work if at all possible. Of course, if you've not got childcare it's perfectly acceptable to decline for this reason and they shouldn't hold it against you if they are decent employers.

If possible i would go. Always good to get some goodwill started, easier if employer first one asking for flexibility rather than me because someone is sick/nativity show etc.

Context is needed. Is it an annual event? Or established meeting that they’ve realised you’ve been missed off the invite for? Or last minute your skills are needed?

two weeks is generally plenty of notice for a business trip.

So the team is split in a few locations.

The majority are here, but some others are in the other location, which is where I've been asked to go.

I was told all my enablement was going to be done locally- I actually asked, because a lot of companies fly their new employees to a location to do new hire training etc. they said I would not need to go anywhere, it would be done in my local office.

I've now been asked to go to the other location for training. In my opinion, the people who will deliver the training, can't be bothered to travel- so they'll make me travel there. It's frustrating because I asked about this explicitly.

Yes go on the trip.

It won't look good if I don't go. I need to build up good will. I have to go.

If it's for training it won't be frequent, I'd go. If it becomes a regular request, that's when to push back.
I'd reply and say I'll do my absolute best to sort childcare at short notice, I'll be able to let you know by Wednesday/Friday (whatever suits you)

Personally, I would be willing to go, but since you'd discussed the training not involving you travelling anywhere, I'd be a bit surprised with them that they've changed their minds, and point out that its very short notice, and since you weren't expecting to need to travel during your training it will be challenging for you to arrange childcare etc.

Generally speaking, people don't want to have to give up on a new recruit and start all over again - recruiting is expensive and time consuming. They do not hold all the cards here - if they piss you off, you could also walk away from this job before you've started and leave them having to try and fill your role again. They should want to make as good an impression on you as you do on them.

Of course I would do it. Don’t you want the job? Why wouldn’t you? I really don’t understand.

I had the exact same thing happen except it was a week after I started, not two. It was a trip to Germany so not a small ask.

I said no because of the short notice, nothing happened, it was fine.

How much do you want the job and to make a good impression and can you make it work? If this has made you feel the company is going to ask more than you are willing to give rethink if its the right job for you.

If you can make it work I think you should but I would also think it was reasonable to raise a caution that you weren’t expecting it and will try to arrange child care and ask when they need a definite answer by. Could you call the person who asked if you could make it and have a chat? It might be convenient for them but not essential for you to attend.

I've now been asked to go to the other location for training. In my opinion, the people who will deliver the training, can't be bothered to travel- so they'll make me travel there.

Yes, frustrating, but a) it's more economical for one person to travel, than several; and b) 2 nights in a hotel, no disturbances ...

For several people to travel to your office just to train you is a big waste of resource, really.

Because I have two very young kids and I have my work routine all set up and I did ask about this during the interview process.

Because 6 months ago I left a job because they'd initially said I won't need to travel much and they kept asking me to travel.

But I'm going this time, as it's the first time and I want to make a good impression. If it continues, I'll have a word.

There's also another new hire.

I think you have to go, but I do think, if possible you need to flag that you were not expecting it. Something like, "I was not expecting to have to travel so soon as we had discussed doing training locally. I think I can make that work but can you give me a couple of days to finalise arrangements here?"

I don't know if you have a partner at home or are a single mum, but it's not entirely unreasonable that for 2 nights away, you might need a bit of planning and prep.

once they know and love me

It’s work, they don’t need to love you.

How pedantic, surely you know what I mean.

Once I've proved myself

If I was asked to go on a work for two weeks time today the answer would be no as my husband is on a work trip that week. And my overnight childcare is on holiday.

At other times of the year it wouldn't be a problem