Office relocated and now commuting is a nightmare - anything I can do?

annie123

pickled_cabbage wrote: »

Without giving out all the details of my home address, I do live just outside the M25. But I can't get to West Croydon on my line.

I'm guessing redhill/reigate area, if you were closer to gatwick airport its only 15mins to croydon from there. I just like guessing dont expect you to respond;)

One quick final question: I know others have said that it's 'only 2 miles' and 'still in zone 1', but given the journey has dramatically increased, is there not an argument that I should be offered redundancy? E.g. My current role at THIS LOCATION no longer exists, so they're effectively removed my role. Quite a long shot I know, but many others in the office are also quite angry about it.

To give you some background, there really was no consultation. All that happened was one day we were told that the office is moving in a month's time and that was that. The company moved in with another company (office share) because the two owners are friends and quite conveniently our MD's commute is now half of what it used to be!

15 years ago I was given 1 weeks notice that my office was moving.
It moved 5 miles further away from me and I had to drive as my car was used as part of my daily business. You know what London driving is like!
Instead of leaving at 8.15 to arrive at 8.50. I had to leave 7am.
No extra money for increased petrol costs, and my DD was at infant school.
Couldn't find anyone I could drop her off to at that time of the morning, and along with the rest of the grumbling staff got told 'you're welcome to leave if its inconvenient'
I did check with the CAB at the time and got told bu**er all I could do about it.
I doubt things have changed much, especially in the current climate.

Last year it took me 1 1/2 hours to get to work to do a job @£6ph for 8 hours 2 days pw, then they moved it to 4 hours 4 days pw then wanted me to do 3 hours 4 days pw and 4 hours on saturdays.
I left.

inmypocketnottheirs

pickled_cabbage wrote: »

It's 2.9 miles from the old office to the new one. We were at Oxford Circus (1 min from tube) and now we're by Farringdon. It's quite a walk really.

It really does seem that you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Other than making suggestions like keeping a bike near the Oxford Circus tube and cycling to the new office, I think we are stumped. Even then it would need to be secured, not just padlocked to railings. Wheels, saddles etc can be taken, tyres let down etc.

Not sure what else to suggest.

pickled_cabbage

Honestly all of your replies have been really helpful, so thank you!

When my monthyl season-ticked runs out I am going to try some of these alternative suggestions and see how I get on. I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and accept I'll have to pay a bit extra to use bus or tube to get to work.

I'm sure it'll be better when cross-rail is up and running (but that's ages away?) but Farringdon is just an awkward place to work. I didn't realise quite how isolated it is on the tube map until I started working there.

Oh well, we'll see.

pickled_cabbage

surreysaver wrote: »

I presume you mean you have a Farringdon season ticket rather than a Travelcard? When it next expires, why not get a weekly or monthly Travelcard just to spend some time trying different options?

Yes, sorry - that's what I meant. And that is exactly what I am going to do!

axomoxia

The OP requires a folding bike. It can be folded up, taken on trains, stored in the office.... Does your company do the cycle to work scheme?
(I was cycling from Waterloo to Finsbury circus until recently, not too strenous and quite safe if you don't ride like a muppet).

Andy

Savvy_Sue

axomoxia wrote: »

Does your company do the cycle to work scheme?

Good thought!