Refusing to travel = Sacking?

indianabones

I recently started work with a new company. I was promised I would work with x and y which is more interesting to me and I was prepared to take a 1k pay cut to work in this role.


Long story short, they've asked me to go to Kent (about 3 hours from where I am) and spend the whole week possibly fortnight with a weekend break in between. I'm the only one in the team within a commutable distance. I've refused to go, mainly because they won't let me commute, they want me in the same hotel.


Now I know the employment contract states there will be travel, but it will be occasional and short so I think they could be well within their rights to fire me, my question is what are the chances of that happening?

marlot

They can fire you without even giving a reason any time during the first two years. As long as its not for race, disability, etc.

indianabones

marlot wrote: »

They can fire you without even giving a reason any time during the first two years. As long as its not for race, disability, etc.

Yes I am aware of that, but my question is, what are the chances of them firing me for refusing to travel as they wouldn't meet me in the middle.


I have already started updating my CV and looking at potential applications, cause honestly I have a bad feeling about this.

Sparx

Your guess is as good as ours? You know your employer better than we do...

Some bosses could cave and say 'oh never mind, it's fine - don't worry about it...'

Another boss could go 'ok you know where the door is, you're fired, take your stuff and leave...'

boliston

are you saying you want to commute 6 hours a day rather than stay at a hotel (you say kent is 3 hours away)?

indianabones

boliston wrote: »

are you saying you want to commute 6 hours a day rather than stay at a hotel (you say kent is 3 hours away)?

I did long story short but the longer story is, they won't let my family travel and stay with me at a hotel and I personally get very very homesick if I don't see my daughter and this is potentially not seeing my daughter for a full week here. My daughter won't sleep if I'm not nearby.

Since they won't let me take the wife and baby. I want/ed to commute. I've done long driving before, it is a killer if you get stuck in traffic but between that and not seeing my baby for a full week, it's a no brainer for me.

Let me put it another way, when the thought that I would be away from my daughter for a week was presented, I was sad, very sad. When the thought that I might be sacked was presented I wasn't that bothered.

But as you guys say, you can get fired anytime for anything so this is a pretty good excuse for them.

McKneff

But a job will, in the long run be better for your family keeping a roof over thir head, feeding them, etc etc . Rather than a daddy/husband making the choice to go on the dole and live on benefits, which will be sanctioned for weeks,

And please, no offence is intended

Your choice my friend

glentoran99

indianabones wrote: »

I did long story short but the longer story is, they won't let my family travel and stay with me at a hotel and I personally get very very homesick if I don't see my daughter and this is potentially not seeing my daughter for a full week here. My daughter won't sleep if I'm not nearby.

Since they won't let me take the wife and baby. I want/ed to commute. I've done long driving before, it is a killer if you get stuck in traffic but between that and not seeing my baby for a full week, it's a no brainer for me.

Let me put it another way, when the thought that I would be away from my daughter for a week was presented, I was sad, very sad. When the thought that I might be sacked was presented I wasn't that bothered.

But as you guys say, you can get fired anytime for anything so this is a pretty good excuse for them.

travelling 6 hours a day chance are you wont see her anyway surely?


anyway whats to stop you booking them into the hotel or one nearby?

glentoran99

McKneff wrote: »

But a job will, in the long run be better for your family keeping a roof over thir head, feeding them, etc etc . Rather than a daddy/husband making the choice to go on the dole and live on benefits, which will be sanctioned for weeks,

Your choice my friend

Why would he be sanctioned if he is fired?

haras_nosirrah

is it just for 1 week or are they asking you to basically work in kent permanently and live there mon to fri

if it is a 1 week in kent but you will be based close to home then I would go and take the hotel - don't lose your job over a 1 week stay in a hotel. If you finish work and wouldn't get home till 8/9pm and have to leave the house at 5 am to get to work you will get home, have an hour up (baby will be asleep anyway) and then rinse and repeat - take the hotel. if you are asking to relocate your work to kent then that is a different story.

indianabones

glentoran99 wrote: »

anyway whats to stop you booking them into the hotel or one nearby?

£££ is often at the centre of most things. Hotels are not cheap, try booking even a 1/2 star hotel for a week you'll be lucky to come out with any change from £200.


It's crazy really, I thought I was leaving my stable and well paying job for a new and different challenge with technology that is the future. I took a pay cut, hoping that it was lead to a more fulfilling life, instead I've been nothing but unchallenged and miserable.


I weighed up all my options, even getting fired and to be honest, I've no one to blame but myself if I do get fired. But most of my friends and family think I'll be ok because this is only the first issue and they should in theory give it a chance before firing me. Who knows.