Damn - looks like my cushy little job's going to finish

[roisin]

My boss is moving the office to a little village half an hour away. He is very keen for me to move with him, and to do increased hours. (I only do 12 atm).

But I don't drive (pathetic I know), and public transport back is a nightmare. I have consistently passed up opportunities because I want to pick the boys up from school, not any other alternative. But that doesn't seem possible if I don't work in the town.

But jobs are very hard to come by here. And this one seemed just perfect.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

If he is v keen can he help you sort out a lift / carshare? I am sure that he doesn't want to lose you ... and you can take driving lessons in the meantime (maybe he would contribute to the cost - you never know).

Incentive to learn? I do sympathise because I'm a fellow non-driver but have got away with it because of my 100% urban sphere of operations...
Or cycle...don't laugh. You say half an hour - is that flat out at 60mph or wandering through little lanes?

or get a little moped, that way you only have to do a basic test and you can drive for two years, giving you ample time to get to grips with cars!

I know there are ways around it and lots of possibilities. I'm just feeling really fed up about it, because it will no longer be my ideal job (for the present time).

I don't want to spend time travelling, I don't particularly want to work more hours (esp in holidays), I don't want to work in a system which is more complex than 'one boss', I don't really want to learn to drive, and in any case we wouldn't want to run two cars so that's not really relevant. But I don't really want to start looking for jobs again either.

I am in a strong position because my boss is very keen to keep me, but I don't like negotiating about things anyway, so it doesn't really help. I just want to be in a situation where everyone behaves reasonably!

I know I've no real reason for feeling fed up, loads of people spend hours travelling every day, and anyway round here I'm lucky to have a job. But it just all came as a big shock today and I am feeling a bit down about it, hence the self-indulgent whinge

Oh, what a shame roisin. What about working partly from home, could that be done? Or getting a lift with someone? Or changing the hours to more hours, less days?

I've been talking it over with dh, and it certainly doesn't seem ideal. If boss will agree to my doing two full days instead of 3 half days, I think I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes.

But it really is not appealing to me. I want to pick the boys up from school every day. So I'm still feeling very fed up about it

no idea what sort of job you have roisin but is it possible to do any of it from home?

Sorry to hear this Roisin. Hope you can work something out.

Well, I've got to go and 'negotiate' with my boss tomorrow and discuss what is and what isn't possible. I'm not looking forward to it, so please wish me luck!

The decision would not be so difficult if it weren't for the fact that I actually like my no pressure no responsibility simple little job, and my boss as well!

We went over yesterday to have a look, and it's further than I thought

Good luck, Roisin, let us know how you get on...

missed this, roisin. What a downer. Hope your negotiating skills win through today. Two full days sounds like a good idea, though I know it's you'll have to sacrifice two school pick ups.