Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think if I can't get home from work then I can't go.

155 replies

whatisreasonable · 09/01/2010 16:32

I work at night in a residential home and am due at work tomorrow night. I've called in to advise I may not be able to get there and back and to find out what the procedure is.

I've been advised I will be expected to go above and beyond what I would normally do to get there.

I live in a very rural and isolated location and we don't have a 4wd so the road is undrivable for normal cars outside our house to the main road. (A distance of about 2 miles). We did try and get out today and had to be towed home by a friendly landrover.

I can get a lift in from a friend in 4wd but the only way to get home is to walk 3 miles at 6.30am in the morning.

I'm not really happy doing this. No decisions have been made yet as I need to call tomorrow lunchtime and advise what's happening when we've looked at the road.

What do you think? (I've name changed as I know people from work sometimes look at this site)

OP posts:
Original poster
whatisreasonable · 09/01/2010 17:27

Thank you for all your advice, am hoping for a big thaw as really want to get the children back to school and me able to get to work. And just life carrying on as normal really.

OP posts:
PeachyWillNeverVoteBNP · 09/01/2010 17:28

I've done the three miles through the dark in mid winter walk,in a v ruralarea, it was scary and horrid; and I am now wimp,at teh time did a lot of hiking- but you'd have to have a death wish to choose tohike in these conditions.

From my experience of homes where I have worked, they won'tcare about you going home or childcare: if you're stuck there you can sleep on a sofa and be there for next shift, rest isn't their issue. I have v little faith in the majority of care managers I have worked with I am afraid (there's the odd oone is OK).

What's worst outiome- you not getting in or Dh not getting in? There, quite possibly,is your answer.

Laquitar · 09/01/2010 17:29

YANBU.
I really feel for you

compo · 09/01/2010 17:31

If the local people work instead of you are they casual workers or members of the permanent staff? Do they get overtime?

cheeset · 09/01/2010 17:31

whatisreasonable-I wouldn't let people make me feel bad.If your job is that essential, management would fly in the necessary people to cover?

BlueMoon1981 · 09/01/2010 17:32

my boss is annoyed with me that i havent been to work since Tuesday afternoon. we live on a hill in the middle of nowhere. the few people on our street have not been going to work either. its impossible at the minute to get anywhere by car. we are about 4 miles away from big main roads, and 8 miles from the motorway. i said i would be happy to walk up to one of the bigger roads if someone from work would be pick me up and drop me off, but guess what no one wants to! i cant see the problem myself, i work in an office, but most of my work is internet based, so have been working from home all week with no problems, and accessing email via their server. in fact i think i have been more productive as i have not been constantly interrupted by colleagues and meetings!

its made me very cross though that work arent very accomodating after all my years working there oh yes and what i actually meant to say was that no yanbu!

Hando · 09/01/2010 17:33

I don't balme you for not wanting to walk 3 miles in these conditions, in a rural area in the dark.

I walked 1.5 miles yesterday, during the day in SOuth East London. The pavements weren't cleared and I had to walk so slowly that it took absolutely ages. That was after getting up to a fresh startm not after working a full night shift.

It sounds far worse where you are. More snow overnight tonight will then be frozen by Monday morning. It's going to be terribly icy and even walking down a small slop on ice is hard enough, you've got hills to contend with! Walking on ice in the dark is 10 times more dangerous, at least in the light you can leap about and avoid the bits that are really icy / look slippery - you can't do this in the dark.

You can't stay over as you have to get the kids to school, that's fair enough.

YADNBU - I would say to work you understand how important it is to get in but you have young children at home so can only come in if they agree to find you an alternative way home. Ie. a member of management drives you home or they pay for a taxi for you.

cheeset · 09/01/2010 17:39

Back in the day,people tended to work near they lived so commuting not a problem. If companies will employ staff who live outside the area then this type of thing is going to happen.

compo · 09/01/2010 17:39

Fly in?!! Only if the carehome is attached to an airport

Lucianne3 · 09/01/2010 17:40

"Why on earth can't you walk the three miles home? That's a short enough distnace and if you have a good coat, boots etc there's no reason why it wouldn't be safe. Please tell me it's not because it will be dark! The people you work with need you to do your job. Unless your life is at risk - and it doesn't sound like it, you should go." I wonder what job you do, NorthernLurker? Do you work a full night shift then walk 3 miles along an unlit rural lane in the dark and deep snow?

Agency staff are well paid to fill in for exactly this kind of eventuality.

YANBU at all.

PeachyWillNeverVoteBNP · 09/01/2010 17:44

Dh was told off for not being at Uni Thursday. He has to use the smart car (we didnt know if DS3 was to be at school and we'vealready had him taken in only to jave to go and fetch him ourselves so the bigger car that fits us has to stay wioth me). He would ahve driven into the valleys along a road that really wsn't (and stillisnt ) safe for smaller cars,and then at 11am the Uni told everyone to go home.

Sooo worth the risk.

I understand its ahrd for employers who have to keep essentialservices running, but there is a level of risk that is unreasonable. One of the things I always note in this weather is the amount of tyre tracks on snowy /iced pavements where cars have gone off- bad enough in a well lit area with paths,in a rural area with dark streets- not worth it.

cheeset · 09/01/2010 17:45

IMO, if whatisreasonable is required to walk 3 miles home in what could be blizzard conditions in the dark and alone then she either deserves a medal or a frigging pay rise or both. They should book her into a b&b as her job is that essential.

compo · 09/01/2010 17:48

Well they said she could sleep over
nhs staff have been using hospital wards as dormitories
but if there are local casual staff let them go in

Harriedandflustered · 09/01/2010 17:50

I think a 3m walk is no biggy - wellies and multiple layers of socks. And scarves. Lots of scarves/ And maybe a backpack for a flask.

That's what I'd do but maybe that's why i'm harried and flustered ...

cheeset · 09/01/2010 17:54

YEP

hf128219 · 09/01/2010 17:56

In these weather conditions my work's policy is to walk a maximum of 4 miles to get to an office. If you are fit and able. It's not far.

Poiparcel · 09/01/2010 17:58

I'm with you, whilst struggling to make it to work I fell full bodied onto the ice just under ten times with the last flurry of snow pre-christmas, my shoulders still not right. I'm now thinking that I'd rather have some temporary work aggro than do myself permanent damage. Still, saw this as I logged on, so I'm guessing our rights aren't with us. yahoo snow rights

cheeset · 09/01/2010 18:01

They want you to walk to work alright. Are they going to be as sympathetic if your off work with ongoing medical problems encurred by these heroic actions? I don't know?

Original poster
whatisreasonable · 09/01/2010 18:09

I think if conditions stay the same, then I am not going to be happy going in / coming home. However, more snow is forecast for tonight in my area so at least I can see what is happening tomorrow morning.

If they offer to get me home then I will happily go in. It's not the work I'm objecting to its the walk after a waking night.

Roll on summer.

OP posts:
cheeset · 09/01/2010 18:10

''But of course, whatever your company's procedure you could find resentment in the office if some workers have struggled their way in while others must stay at home due to childcare commitments''-This sort of shite makes me really mad!

''Let's just hope colleagues can be understanding regarding these unusual conditions - what they probably don't realise is that after an impromptu day looking after over-excited kids you'll probably find yourself far more frazzled than them'' say no more ....

[ANGRY]

cheeset · 09/01/2010 18:12

!!!!

maristella · 09/01/2010 18:19

tell them it's just too dangerous.
the temp is usually approx 4 degrees lower in rural locations in weather like this. without a gritted pavement in sight you are fecked if you slip and break something, particularly at that time of day.
if they are really desperate they will organise a taxi or a lift.

Original poster
whatisreasonable · 09/01/2010 18:25

Cheeset-feel sorry for you, hope you are getting water soon.

BUT this whole situation could have been avoided if the road had bloody well been gritted. Either we'd have been able to drive up it in a normal car or the buses would've been running.

As it is we only have one bus an hour weekdays between 8 and 6, which is normally fine and a fairly adequate service. However as the road hasn't been gritted as it really only affects our village the buses won't run until the ice has gone due to Health and Safety.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 09/01/2010 18:26

I am familiar with rural conditions and with walks of three miles and with walking in the dark. It's not huge fun but it's perfectly possible - assuming adequate equipment. It's really very depressing that 3 miles in the dark is an insumountable obstacle for the op and were I her employer I would take a very dim view indeed.

Ripeberry · 09/01/2010 18:27

I would take a sledge (lightweight) and use it to get down the hills, at least you don't have to worry about falling over and it will speed things up.
Just make sure you take a reflective jacket and a good torch and wear good boots and waterproof trousers if needed.
If you are caring for other people, then you should do all you can to get in as vulnerable people are relying on you.