Would you travel this much for work?

[Happyfeet82]

I'm looking for some advice or perspective.

I recently accepted a job offer for an admin/marketing role that was advertised as fully remote, with occasional travel as and when the business needs. I was absolutely thrilled to get the offer and really excited to start.

I'm due to begin next week, and I had a call with my manager to discuss the onboarding. During the call, she said I'd need to travel up North for three days in my first week, with overnight stays (I live in the South, so it's about a 4.5-hour train journey each way). I was a bit surprised, but I agreed.

Then she went on to say I’d be expected to travel up north every other week, plus to other parts of the country as needed. This was never explained during the interview process. I had assumed travel would be local and infrequent – maybe once a month at most.

I brought this up with her, and she admitted she hadn’t explained it clearly during the interview. She said travel is a core part of the role (although expenses are covered) and told me to take some time to think about whether the job is really right for me.

Now I’m feeling really deflated. I’m quite an anxious person, and the idea of travelling solo so frequently is stressing me out. I feel like I’ve been misled or mis-sold the role, and I’m second guessing everything – especially before I’ve even started. I have been very tearful and feel like I have made a mistake.

If I didn’t have commitments (kids and dog) then it wouldn’t bother me. But it doesn’t sound like this role is right for you OP. It should have been made clearer before accepting the role yes.

You have been misled, I would consider it false advertising. I think it is incompetence at best and deception at worst. Once a fortnight is not occasional.

Unless you cannot manage without the job, I would not take it. Or start and be looking for another job. And try to get all the expenses you have incurred repaid to you, if you have not received them.

Probably too late for the government bill going through Parliament to have a new clause to stop this kind of behaviour from employers. Far too many instance where a wfh or hybrid job is advertised very differently from realty.

Once a fortnight travel is regular, not occasional. Have you left another job for this one?

I would and have travelled that much for work, but I wouldn’t if I had signed up for a fully remote job with ‘occasional’ travel. You’ve been misled and I would assume that the manager is incompetent.

That sounds like a lot of travel to me.

Nope, definitely not.

Is the travel in the first week for induction/training? I don't think that would bother me. But a long journey every other week is not occasional and I wouldn't be happy with that given that they weren't upfront about it.

On what basis did you assume the travel would be local? From what you've said, I not sure you can dispute the distance of travel but you have definitely been misled about the frequency.

Pre-kids I did a job that involved similar levels of travel and was fine with it but I wouldn't do it now I have a young family. Depending on your personal circumstances - and whether you have a job to go back to if this falls through - I would perhaps give it a go and see how you get on.

You've been totally misled and mis-sold. Similar nonsense happened to someone I know. Funny how it rarely happens the other way around, a job advertised with the need to travel for hours around the country actually ends up being almost fully wfh. I think they have bet on you not wanting to lose the job now you’ve taken it, and their assertion that you should think about if you want it is manipulative, ie, well you had the chance to back out so you now can’t complain. I’d be furious. Did you give notice on another job for this? I think I’d turn it down if I was in a position to, or take it and immediately look for another position. So sorry, it’s a horrible position to be put in.

Yes I would happily travel and have done extensively for work BUT not in your situation where both the advert and the interview were misleading. Is there an HR department you can speak with?
If you are already employed and haven't resigned, bin the new job. If not, maybe see how it goes as you may find it really enjoyable if you don't have too many home commitments.

I'd love it but it's not for everyone

Did you not clarify in the interview rather than just assuming?

Just another thing to consider if you do go for it - if travel time will regularly take you over your contracted hours make sure you will be compensated for that. I used to get time off in lieu for day trips but would get paid overtime for attending conferences that involved overnight stays.

Did you ask in the interview where the travel would be and how often?
I hate travelling so always ask what’s expected if you did and they said rarely and have changed the goal posts I wouldn’t accept the role as who knows what else they’ll change once your start

You've been misled certainly, and that isn't fair. You'll have to consider whether this is the right job for you, and perhaps it's not because you say "the idea of travelling solo so frequently is stressing me out".

But to answer your original question, as long as it wouldn't affect my life at home (no young children for example) I would have absolutely no problem traveling that much for work. I love traveling by myself! A four and a half hour train journey and an overnight in a hotel is my idea of heaven!

I hate it when employers mislead people in the job ad and at interview.

It would be a deal breaker for me and I would tell them that this was not what you signed up for and that you will not take up the job after all.

Yeah I travel a lot for work and love it but it’s not for everyone.

Do you have DC/other commitments?

The first week is to be expected for induction so I wouldn’t be bothered about that. But every other week isn’t occasional

Occasional travel I would have thought was maybe once every 6-8 weeks, like a bi-monthly team meeting.
Travelling every couple of weeks all over the country is regular, if not frequent.With decent planning, you could make it so that you're away Wed -Tues, so you essentially get a week at home, a week away. How flexible are they about your working hours, does it have to be Mon to Fri?
It depends on whether you can overcome your worries about the travel, but presumably if you don't start this job you'll be unemployed, so I would be giving it a go. At least you can look for another job to move to if you really hate the travel.

I wouldn't do it personally, I would need to be at home most of the time to look after pets and be there for teenager and so would be very annoyed at being misled. I would go for day trips perhaps, but definitely not lots of overnights.