work travel - own time?

seadee

woody01 wrote: »

Well i think you and your OH need to consider yourselves very fortunate.
Good Salary almost always equal strange hours and travelling.

I travel and do long hours alot but get a very good salary to compensate me for that.
If he isnt happy, then someone else would be glad of the opportunity and he can go back to something thats dead end.

This is called Real Life!

You can have a good wage and good working conditions - they are not mutually exclusive.

Any

seadee wrote: »

You can have a good wage and good working conditions - they are not mutually exclusive.

This is true, but not easy to find such a job.
Unless the OP's husband decides to take the plunge, there is not much she can do.
It doesn't even sound as he is looking around for another job or for improving his situation at this job.

seadee

Any wrote: »

This is true, but not easy to find such a job.
Unless the OP's husband decides to take the plunge, there is not much she can do.
It doesn't even sound as he is looking around for another job or for improving his situation at this job.

Agreed.
I feel there is more to this than meets the eye as I am struggling to conceive of such a badly run organisation. There is always much to read between the lines, but sometimes I cannot be bothered and just go for answering the question as asked.

The principle still holds that just because you get promoted doesn't mean you are fair game to get shafted by all and sundry. You can change things. Despite what a number of people seem to think

getmore4less

Any wrote: »

This is true, but not easy to find such a job.
Unless the OP's husband decides to take the plunge, there is not much she can do.
It doesn't even sound as he is looking around for another job or for improving his situation at this job.

If you stay in the same company and climb the tree you can make this happen. Even not climbing the tree you can niche yourself into the good roles by making sure you are good at the things that matter.

One of the tricks is to understand what is really important to the business and what can give, if other people are not turning up for meeting then they can't be that important and are actualy wasting a lot of time and resource if there is travel involved.

Double booking is just crazy.

Better time management, use of converence calls(not every meeting has to be face to face) while on the road, can all help improve the productivity.

Another key ingredient is delegation, you don't have to do everything yourself.

Reggie_Rebel

He needs to put his foot down.

Next time he's double booked he tells the person who double booked him that he won't be there and they must sort it out.

He needs to block his diary off first thing and after 3.00 pm so that he's not getting up at the crack of dawn.

And he needs to take some holiday. I'm absolutely certain that the business will not fail without him there

Any

seadee wrote: »

Agreed.
I feel there is more to this than meets the eye as I am struggling to conceive of such a badly run organisation. There is always much to read between the lines, but sometimes I cannot be bothered and just go for answering the question as asked.

The principle still holds that just because you get promoted doesn't mean you are fair game to get shafted by all and sundry. You can change things. Despite what a number of people seem to think

I feel the same. Especially as I've seen it happen many times.
Lot of bosses just try and push you as hard as they can. They know they shouldn't and they will budge once you will let them know that they just hit that border and things need to change.
But newly promoted employees are often trying to prove that they are good enough to do the job and are worried to complain in case the boss see it as a weakness.

Any

getmore4less wrote: »

If you stay in the same company and climb the tree you can make this happen. Even not climbing the tree you can niche yourself into the good roles by making sure you are good at the things that matter.

One of the tricks is to understand what is really important to the business and what can give, if other people are not turning up for meeting then they can't be that important and are actualy wasting a lot of time and resource if there is travel involved.

Double booking is just crazy.

Better time management, use of converence calls(not every meeting has to be face to face) while on the road, can all help improve the productivity.

Another key ingredient is delegation, you don't have to do everything yourself.

Yes, but I have the feeling that this person is not that experienced in management, otherwise he wouldn't let them to wipe the floor with him this way.
And another problem is, that if he let them do this to him for some time it might be difficult to stand up to them now.
It might be easier to start a new job where you can build respect rather then make people who didn't respect you until this point suddenly see that they should.

DKLS

I have given up so many weekends and evenings to work I have lost count. Its part and parcel of the UK management structure, If I wanted to work set hours I would get a job paying 20K, but prefer a salary of 50K + bonus and career progression.
A couple of years ago I had to go to SanDiego for a meeting every month, try that for a commute!, But I was lucky enough to have a boss that gave me lieu days off, and if attending conferences abroad, would give me a couple of extra days out there.
And being willing to go that extra mile without complaint has done my career no end of good.

But after saying that its is important to get the life/work balance right, and the OPs hubbie should figure out how to achieve that. However in the current climate, I would offer as much support as possible, as like most men, he is probably crapping himself at the thought of being unemployed, thus the pressure is on him. He probably wouldnt tell you that though.

Horace

I find it inconceivable that there is no secretarial help within the firm at all. Someone must answer the telephones and type all the letters and minute the meetings - that doesnt get done by the managers at all.

The further up the corporate pole that you go, the more responsibility you have to take on. This, as others have said is real life and sometimes that sucks.

I now work for myself but I used to work for a highly regarded cancer specialist, his diary was a nightmare because others had access to it and could put in appointments but I would check his diary and then if something clashed I would call and say that he couldnt make it for whatever reason - sometimes meetings had to be scheduled with people all over the world so a video conference would take place. I know all about busy schedules - try compiling a diary for a cancer specialist who has to juggle, speaking commitments around the world, teaching, research and clinic time as well as annual leave and time with me as his PA - it sure isnt easy but it is do-able.

Your OH needs to sit down with his line manager and say that it is causing problems as he cannot be all things to the company because he cannot be in two places at once - maybe he should take the lead and show his management potential by suggesting ways in which the business could improve productivity by having sensible structures in place to allow for office time, annual leave and meetings - even suggesting that they have video or tele-conferencing facilities to make things easier for all concerned.

As I said before, you need to be more supportive and show some loyalty towards him because moaning about him when he is doing his best to make a better life for his family isnt doing him any favours and could eventually backfire on you.

No - suits dont get taken to the drycleaners by themselves - the PA normally does it.:D It's in our job descriptions "any other duties as and when required".

robnye

the diary booking system is [EMAIL="!!!!"]!!!![/EMAIL].....

even using a decent email system ie microsoft outlook, will not allow double booking of meetings, although saying that it will allow one to follow another, with no regard for them being at opposites ends of the earth.

some mention video conferencing...... telephone conferencing is cheaper..... could the OP's husband not suggest these as the way forward.... will save company money on travel costs and carbon foot print