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

[gahga]

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 !

Two weeks is a decent amount of notice for a work trip, especially when it's only 2 nights.

I was starting a new job on Monday (that I'd been told may require occasional travel to Munich but that was it) and I got a call on the Friday before I started asking if I could fly to Texas on my first day. I said yes of course. No idea why I was going or what I would be doing there (or how I should dress - formal vs casual) but sometimes you just have to run with it.

How old are the kids? Would they be open to restructuring the training over 2 longer days rather than 3 so only one night away?

It doesn’t sound like this job is for you. I can’t believe you have ask if you can say no to go on a training course, before you’ve even started. And to plan to not go on future trips, once they love you.

How old are the kids? Would they be open to restructuring the training over 2 longer days rather than 3 so only one night away?

I'm another one who thinks this might not be the right job for you, OP.

What's the job market in your industry like at the moment? Could you find another job easily?

Why is it not the right job?

OP was told all the training would be done locally so the employer has moved the goal posts. I suppose she will have to go but should point that out to them. It's not giving much notice. Not every parent will have childcare available.

Often work trips aren't actually necessary and can be carried out other ways.

There are options to make the job more accessible for people who don't want to travel. If it's training why not a single overnight with longer days of what needs to be shown, then maybe a couple of zoom/teams sessions etc later on as she gets into it? Board meetings can be done online also - companies with international offices do it all the time.

@freedohm that's so unfair. I don't mean I won't go on trips if required.

I just mean that there will undoubtedly be times where I will need flexibility, if my kids get sick or something or if I'm sick.

Not the right employer more like.

@gahga Because two weeks' notice for a business trip is causing you problems. It really is not that short notice (I've had 2 days before...), it will likely happen again and you've already decided you're going to opt out of this part of the job. Could you secure another job where no travel is expected? What's the market like at the moment?

Not the right employer more like.
@HarrisObviously

Yes, that's what I mean.

I mean if you want the job then yes

2 weeks, and we'd bust a gut to make it work.

The only one I turned down flat was as I was leaving the office one evening, asking if I could leave at 5am the next morning to visit a customer. No chance - me being away required DH to flex his shifts, and he'd already left for the day.

We found out on Friday that DH is away all the week - but we knew it was possible, so planned as if it were happening.

Sounds like both our businesses work on different timescales to you - that might be worth considering too. More notice makes life much more straight forward!

I just mean that there will undoubtedly be times where I will need flexibility, if my kids get sick or something or if I'm sick.

But you need more flexibility than this, I.e. the ability to opt out when you can't find childcare, not just when your kids are sick. Are you confident this new employer will offer this? From the beginning and before they love you etc.?

Still much better to go to the trainers.

Ok being sick is obviously different, but it is just that two weeks notice is quite a lot. Maybe it’s the way you worded it. I do wish you good luck.

Then they should have said that when she asked, they didn't, they said the training would be local!!
@gahga I think you've made the best choice, but definitely keep it in your pocket! They ARE being unreasonable, you might be best keeping an eye on the jobs coming up at other companies.

They have given you advanced notice before you have even started, seems reasonable to me

Given this:

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.

I think you need to stand your ground and say no. You wouldn't be building goodwill, you’d be capitulating on something you had been clear about in advance.

@SaveMeFromMyBoobs

Companies don't send you on work trips without reason. This idea that everything can be done virtually is rubbish, clients want face to face, many people need to be face to face to communicate effectively and as for the board, you definitely are more included in person plus you can see body language.

What about the kids' dad? Can he not cover?

@HesGotHisTrombolyse yup he can, but my kids get sick A LOT. So we both have to juggle it.

I get it OP. So this is the job for you, you left a previous employer because they wanted you to travel frequently so asked the question at the new job interview if you would be expected to travel for training... they said no. its perfectly reasonable to be asking MN for advice here and not to be told you shouldn't be doing the job🙄 anyway, my advice is to politely mention that at interview you were told you wouldn't need to travel for training but understand the reasons for their request. Make it known that for future trips you may need more notice as you have a young family and would prefer to do 'zoom' call training / meetings etc. set the boundaries now you have signed the contract.

If they get sick a lot (poor kids btw!) then maybe you need another way of handling this. Or that means that you or the kids' dad will regularly have to miss work, right?