Info not mentioned in interview - what are rights?

katu

I recently started in an new job which is a fixed term contract (covering mat leave)

Since joining the company, I have been told that team meetings take place and are held off site so travel will be required
and also that most are held so far that staying overnight is required.
None of this was mentioned to me in the interview and was also not on the job description, when I mentioned this I was told
it wasn't discussed because - and quote ' it's just what they do' I am quite annoyed that it was just assumed that I would
be okay with it - which I am not. Just because I don't have children I do have other commitments outside work- (not that I think it makes any difference if I didn't have outside work committments) to which I got can I not make other arrangements. (but even I don't want to stay away from home or travel extra).

What are my rights with refusing to do this? Obviously I am concious of the fact that the job market is still not great but
as they were not mentioned in the interview (and had it of been I would have said no to the job - I was in another mat leave
role which would have been extended but left it for this role because I thought it was an improvement) can I refuse to attend them?

InsideInsurance

You can refuse to attend them and they can dismiss you with notice without having to give any explaination.

Did you ask if any travel/ overnights were involved? If so what was their reply? Is the type of work in question likely to have any travel involved in it?

Unless you want the contract terminated you need to take a negotiation based approach to it rather than an argumentative one, in my opinion.

scheming_gypsy

Having team meetings are never mentioned on a job description, the same way having a desk isn't mentioned. It's part of working there and not part of the 'job' and the contract will probably cover extra duties and anything else that it would come under.

bap98189

How regular are these team meetings? Are we talking once a year or ever week?

Hermia

I have never had a JD that mentions team meetings. I have always just assumed I might need to travel occasionally for meetings or training. Are they going to pay for your petrol or fares?

katu

No I didn't ask about travel because it's a plain admin role so not soemthing that I would automatically think would include the need for travelling and overnight stays. (its more about the overnights)

The contract also mentions nothing about this being a requirement of the role.

The meetings are once a month.

I do think that this is something though that should have been mentioned and not something that should be assumed can be done people do have committments outside of work which admittedly I did not mention because as far as I was concerned, did not interfere with work because it's in my time.

That is my concern that they can say okay thanks - get lost if I refuse and make it hard to get something else, but I do think it should have been mentioned because it would have been a deciding factor in my acceptance of the role had I of known about it.

They had a meeting yesterday which was actually held fairly local (80 mile round trip) and none of it was relevant to my role! but I wanted to show willing.

All other departments hold their team meetings in the office as they were told to save money!

Perhaps I agree that it may not in the JD but if you are wanting people to spend nights away from home, shouldn't it be mentioned in interview?

DCFC79

So why arent the meetings for your dept held at the office, if its once a month just grin and bear it, do they pay petrol costs

katu

DCFC79 wrote: »

So why arent the meetings for your dept held at the office, if its once a month just grin and bear it, do they pay petrol costs

that is my question too!

They pay petrol but expenses system is down!

InsideInsurance

To be honest, if you absolutely cannot do something it really is up to you to ask the question about it. If you are travelling once a month you are realistically thinking of less than 5% travel which to be honest I'd not consider a priority to bring up at interview stage.

That all said, you should be able to have a grown up conversation about your need to be at the meetings if your only a temp etc and can you possibly leave at such a time as you can get back at the hour you need or if each meetings agenda can be reviewed and it decided if it is important or not for you to attend etc.

gingerdad

why would the meetings be mention in the JD? you have two options as far as i see like it or lump it. if you can't do the overnights jack the job and find something else. can't really see the issue, everyone has out of work things/family sometimes work needs to come first and its one night a month. but thats just my opinion.

scheming_gypsy

DCFC79 wrote: »

So why arent the meetings for your dept held at the office,

could be regional offices with meetings held at a different branch; or a good reason for a day out and a p!ss up