New role has now included travelling to our other office. Is the commute time unreasonable?

[seavers272]

Our service works under a branch of two offices, north and south, contracts state we are reasonably expected to commute between both offices if needed, though certain roles have a "base" office and it isn't expected.

Since I started working there, I was promised the office I'm in would be my base, and I wouldn't be expected to go to the other office as it's not really needed, it's more than an hour out, and I don't drive. There is another person doing the same role as me, and they were told the same.
However, despite that, I had a work colleague I was close friends with, and she had to go to the other office once a week. She drove so it was fine. Then I was asked to go to the other office once a week, as well, along with her as she could take me. This other person doing my role was never asked to go, this responsibility fell on me, and it felt unfair. My colleague who took me to this office then left, and I wasn't expected to go anymore.

I've applied for a new role at work (doing something I have technically been doing for months), and I've been accepted. I prefaced my stance on going to this office, and was promised I wouldn't need to go.

I had a meeting yesterday, and now I am expected to go to this other office once a week to work alongside the specialist in my new role, and gain experience. I'm expected to make my own way there, which is a 90 minute commute, 3 buses each way. I've taken an Uber to this office before and it was £35 each way, which is my only other option. Coming into winter as well, I find this unreasonable. How do I proceed with this, and am I being difficult?

Is this a temporary arrangement for training? you say it’s to work alongside the specialist in my new role, and gain experience

If it’s temporary for a few months you probably have to suck it up as it’s in your contract. 90 mins is long but not outrageous one day a week for a few months

If it’s going to be long term and you’re not willing to travel once a week, then it sounds like this isn’t the right job for you.

If it’s temporary for a few months to get you up to standard for the new role then I think it is reasonable.

90 minutes one way (3 hours a day, once a week, on a temporary basis to be trained by the specialist? I think that’s reasonable, I’m afraid, unless your current contract specifically states your base office.

If it does state your base office, then you can ask them to cover your travel expenses.

Setting aside the extraneous stuff, I read this as "my contract says I am expected to work from both offices". Correct? Do you have any written proof of that contractual term being varied? Because if not you are in breach of contract if you don't. And you aren't entitled to expenses to travel to and from a place of work anyway.

90 minutes is deemed acceptable for benefits requirements.

It does make sense that you have the official training and supervision from somebody deemed to be the existing specialist/expert and you would benefit from it in the long run; it could be a case of sucking this up in the short term to reduce the period until you become truly self-sufficient in the role.

Can you suggest you travel in work time?

Well withdraw your application. You don't have to apply for this job. The job suits the needs of the business, not you.

It is reasonable but it seems like there’s a communication issue at the firm. It seems you’re transparent about your requests, they’re agreed then the bar moves.
I would probably have an informal chat with HR and/or relevant manager specifically about location. And see if you can get something formally agreed and timebound around the training.

Maybe do what the other person did - do the role so you get the training then get a new job once you are trained up.

Agree with@NoSquirrels , if your contract specifies that your usual office is your place of work, then your employer has to pay your excess travel.

If it's not, and you don't have anything in writing saying you don't have to travel to the other office l, then I think you have to suck it up.

That is not correct. Nor is it what @NoSquirrels said. They said that the OP could ask. There is no "has to". Employers are not even obliged to pay travel expenses for necessary work related journeys. The majority do, but some do not, and that is why it is possible for employees to claim tax rebates on work related travel.