Working away from home

davholla

I work from home but my employer would like me to work away from home one week a month on a client site the other side of the country (It would be a very long journey 9 hours by train).

Is it unreasonable of them not to offer any compensation financial or otherwise?

I would get other skills from this role but even so I feel some compensation would be reasonable. I did ask but they ruled it out.

Emmzi

are they paying for your hotel and travel costs and maybe a meal allowance?

does your contract include something about needing you to work on other sites?

9 hours by train is quite a long way, could you fly instead?

most employers would not offer extra just for working away unless it is offshore/ overseas.

davholla

Sorry I should have said all is paid for. However the job is slightly less than the market rate which I do not mind because I don't have to travel but if I am going to be away for home. I could look for a job in London and earn a bit more and get home everynight.

Derivative

Look for a better paid job in London, if you manage to get an offer, ask your current employer if they can match it?

hcb42

for once a month, i would think it was normal that no extra pay would be due.

(I went away for 2 whole years once, and no extra pay was technically due!)

However, whether you continue in the job or not, with that being an expectation is of course down to the individual

davholla

Derivative wrote: »

Look for a better paid job in London, if you manage to get an offer, ask your current employer if they can match it?

An idea although they would probably prefer to cut off their nose than match my salary.

davholla

hcb42 wrote: »

for once a month, i would think it was normal that no extra pay would be due.

(I went away for 2 whole years once, and no extra pay was technically due!)

However, whether you continue in the job or not, with that being an expectation is of course down to the individual

2 years? Wow either
a) the job was really good.
b) you did not like being at home/liked being away from home.
c) there were no other jobs.

davholla

One other thing. I can probably refuse as a colleague as on the grounds of young children and I have a 3 year old child and will have extra child care costs.

hcb42

davholla wrote: »

2 years? Wow either
a) the job was really good.
b) you did not like being at home/liked being away from home.
c) there were no other jobs.

a) The job was awesome
b) the location was Sydney
c) I already did identical job in UK.

Emmzi

the child care costs are not your employers problem so that is a non starter. have a google of flexible working for care of dependents though. directgov is a decent website to get info from.

jungle_jane

whose time would you travel on? the 9 hours each way is 2 days work in itself.

I currently work a couple a days a week away - it takes 4-5 hours by train each way and its a right pain. it costs you money due to eating on the move/not being home to make food...and of course it is not much fun being cooped up in hotels away from your family. It also makes life a bit hectic as you are always catching up when you get home.

Would they pay for everything up front or are you expected to pay for everything and claim back?

I personally don't mind doing it although its tiring. I try to come home and not stay overnight but that 10 hours on a train is exhausting. It always ends up being in my time too - i leave home 5am and when i come home i get home around midnight and that's not really fair. I get other benefits though - a very interesting and well paid job and I get to work from home a lot.

I wouldn't do it long term though - its too disruptive and chaotic. I wouldn't ask for more money either..I would take is as part of the job and either take it or leave it.