Office Relocation - new commute is impossible

[RotundCheese]

I started a new job at the beginning of the year. In February it was announced that the office would be moving in March; the new office is a two hour drive away for me.

It is a well paying job and I would prefer to continue working for the organisation, but the commute is horrible (I have been doing it since the beginning of March). My flexible working request (hybrid working or condensed hours) has been denied. I need to be in the office 5 days a week.

I think my only option now is to hand in my notice - is this correct? Does anyone have any other ideas?

Also, I have a three month notice period, but there's nothing to stop me leaving with less notice, is there? I don't care about getting a reference.

@BungleandGeorge it was a week at the end of February. The whole thing was really rushed through because the lease on the old office was ending and they would have had to renew for a year.

How far away from your existing office are you? I presume an hour and the extra has increased it to 2?

The old office was in the city centre and well served by public transport, so it was 45 mins. New office is in a business park out of town hence the increase to a two hour drive.

I’d contact ACAS and see if it counts as an appropriate consultation if it only took a week

Is there a better route? Two hours for a 20 mile drive seems very long.

Seems a huge increase for 20 miles, but I think you’ve no option but to leave.

There is no time limit in this context it’s only 20 miles away

I think my only option now is to hand in my notice - is this correct? Does anyone have any other ideas?

Hi OP, do not underestimate the effect a long commute can have. A two hour drive (and I'm assuming that's on a good day) is an additional 20 hours a week. Exjob was 90 minutes on public transport (also on a good day and on a bad one two hours). I stuck it for four years and it was a major factor in leaving because I just couldn't do it any more. You have no time to wind down in the evening and weekends are spent catching up and psyching yourself up for the next week.

It doesn't sound like the company is going to give in on this one, so it looks to me like you need to get job hunting pronto.

@Bumblebeeinatree No, it's around 50 miles for me.

The new office is 20 miles from the old office, but I lived 30 miles from the old office. The commute was quick because I could catch a mainline train.

@Lampslights It's because of where it is. I live in Burton and commuted into Birmingham on the train. The new office is in Alcester. No matter what time I leave the traffic is horrific.

Thanks, everyone! It doesn't look like there's anything for it but to quit. What a pain - like everyone else, I absolutely hate job hunting. 😑

It's a badly run organisation that goes to the expense of hiring and training up a new employee without telling them of an imminent move which might impact their ability to stick in the job. They'll need to start the recruitment process again.

OP, I would start looking elsewhere and let them know at the last possible moment. They have messed you around, they are inflexible. You need to look out for yourself.

I think this counts as constructive dismissal - changes in employees work location. Unless you were told about the possible change of office before you accepted the job?

https://uk.indeed.com/hire/c/info/constructive-dismissal-examples?gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA0bWvBhBjEiwAtEsoW8oBKz4goTr4LuM0hMDx-LQiYRJw-xxnXYBd6QfoF5On8Y6i-2tZMxoCGSAQAvDD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADfpQquhgwcD9K6bPjuDMR4Fv2LC8&aceid=

I was going to say how does a 50 mile drive take 2 hours but then you said you live in Burton so I understand...

I actually work in burton and have a 140 mile drive to get to the office from where I live. The whole journey takes me just over 2 1/2 hours but the last 3 miles into burton takes at least 30 minutes of that, the traffic is horrendous.

@elessar Wow! Do you do that five days a week (surely not??)?

Are you somewhat used to it now? Sitting in traffic feels like absolute torture at the moment.

I'm also confused how < 20 miles move turns 45 minute commute on public tranport (does that include time to walk to bus & from bus to office?) into 2 hour drive each way. Is there an especially awful ring road to deal with when driving? Do you have to park a mile away from the office to avoid paying for parking (I do!)

Surely there has to be a relocation package? Our company has closed or relocated three offices in recent years, with one office moving less than 5 miles and every member of staff was offered a relocation package. Be it parking paid for, additional milage paid for or relocation to a closer office.

@RotundCheese Definitely not! I do two days a week in the office but I stay over so I only do the drive up and down once a week.

I am also pretty used to it now but that last bit into Burton is so frustrating, when you're so close but just sitting in standstill traffic. So I feel your pain! No chance would I be prepared to do it 5 days a week.

PP have given better advice on consultations etc.
IMO the company culture isn't supportive of flexible working - even if request granted, your career would be hampered not going in with everyone else. You'll be left out of spontaneous chats, forgotten about for promotion, etc,.
I'd just get another job.

@CleverKnot About 45 minutes of that is standstill traffic.

If I leave at 6am I can get into the office for a little after 7am. But I'm not allowed to start work this early! In the afternoon it's horrible no matter what time I leave.

I wouldn’t give 3 months notice when they’ve taken you on and radically changed the commute for you.

If I leave at 6am I can get into the office for a little after 7am. But I'm not allowed to start work this early! In the afternoon it's horrible no matter what time I leave

6am in June is lovely. 6am in January before a 2 hour commute has no charms. And in February when it feels like it's never going to be light in the mornings ever again is worse. Trust me.

@RotundCheese does your company begin with B? If so I can identify it from details given - I know someone who works there. Just a heads-up.

Might the office be in Wales? The Welsh govt have recently imposed utterly batshit low speed limits on the entire country.

Ah, have read further down the thread and the problem is urban traffic.

If theyve offered you the job in town A, knowing that 2 months later you’d be in town B, WITHOUT telling you about the move before hand, they are a shitty company to work fir….

They would definitely known that this move was on the cards, both during the interview process and when they offered you the job. Leases do not just expire without warning. They deliberately witheld that information from you.

You accepted their offer on the understanding that you would be working in a particular place, so it seems to me that they have been rather underhand and actually downright sneaky, so it could be said that they offered you the job under false pretences.