Work related travel, feel deceived and not happy

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 6:10pm #1

Hi All,

Just looking for some advice and would be appreciative of anyone that can provide any.

I started a job last week with a large international bank and I was made aware (in passing) that there will be international travel involved by my manager during the week.

I was seriously blind sided when told, the job spec didn't mention travel, nor in the interview process (one interviewer was my manager) and HR didn't mention it when extending the offer either.

I don't want to travel for work as I've done it before and it was awful and if I'd known there was travel I wouldn't have applied to the job. Additionally they are speaking of sending me to a country with a very high homicide rate in March and August which I dont want to go to. In my experience and for people I know who had jobs that required travel, any job that requires travel states it in the job spec or in the interviews, thats pretty standard and expected.

In my eyes there's 2 options to address this:

1. Create an excuse as to why I can't travel in March and pass probation in June then dig my heels in and refuse to travel.

2. Have a 1 to 1 meeting with my manager next week and state that I refuse to travel and see how he responds.

The contract doesn't state travel is required for the job but does mention in the 'place of work' section that I may have to work in the company's other places of business or in affiliated company's locations. I took that to mean a different section of the building in Dublin as they have multiple legal entities in the same building.

Even though I think its their fault for not mentioning this before extending the offer, I nonetheless have to deal with the situation and it's even more painful in that the pay is great and opportunity is good too.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks

thomas 123 · 15-01-2023 6:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058279784/work-related-travel-feel-deceived-and-not-happy

Is it for actual work or BS team meetups?

Mrs OBumble · 15-01-2023 6:37pm

Find a new job ASAP.

Jim2007 · 15-01-2023 6:41pm

If you are unwilling to travel I don't see how this is going to work out for you..

If you are unwilling to travel, it means your changes of remaining in a job that requires travel and advancing with the company are not very high

If you kick up a stink and someone manage to hold on, then you are going to be working in a very hostile environment and I don't think that would be not be good for your health.

As someone who worked for over three decades for two well known European banks, I'd have to say it is very hard to build a serious career with them unless you are willing to travel, you can't expect that everyone will travel to you and that someone else will deal with issues you should be dealing with in other countries. I think what you do next very much depends on what you see as a career path for you.

Count Dracula · 15-01-2023 6:42pm

1st world problem.

You obviously did not research your role properly.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 6:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112347#Comment_120112347

It's for some aspects of my job but from what I was told, not a huge amount, for this year its travelling twice and staying for a week in a location but next year could be 4 or more times all with a week long stay.

However, during the pandemic this was all done over zoom and for my job level they didn't require travel which they've decided they now want

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 7:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112414#Comment_120112414

Well I can expect them to be upfront about travel during the recruitment process, i dont think thats unfair to ask of them. Anyone I know who has had to travel for work was told up front during interviews or at the job spec stage and that is standard.

I don't work in a customer facing role and the travel was scrapped during covid and the work was all done over zoom, not really sure why they still have the travel as a thing to be honest but it doesn't make up 100% of my role just a portion of it.

AndrewJRenko · 15-01-2023 7:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112424#Comment_120112424

The job spec never mentioned travel FFS. Any professional HR organisation would have included details in the job spec, 10% travel or 25% international travel or whatever.

Problem for the OP is that you have almost zero employment rights during probation period.

OP, can you see a way to meeting all the objectives of your role without international travel?

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 7:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112424#Comment_120112424

I most certainly did research the position and as stated, it was never mentioned by the employer that travel was involved through the job spec, interviews or by HR.

Gusser09 · 15-01-2023 7:05pm

Get out now OP. I hated having to travel for work and it was only in ireland. Travel for work is crap and majority of it is pointless.

15-01-2023 7:07pm

A company’s other locations are literally that, be they Dublin, Johannesburg, Lisbon. Going from one office in same building or campus to the other wouldn’t count as change of location.

mickdw · 15-01-2023 7:08pm

Is it so bad to go on a couple of trips per year?

I would have thought it was to be expected t at a certain level in the business you are in.

Count Dracula · 15-01-2023 7:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112520#Comment_120112520

Why did you get a look at it? For phucks Sake, why with the language citizen?

person goes for a big job with a PLC and does not think of asking?

Op, if you bring it up with your new employers it will only highlight your incompetence. You are solely responsible for creating this problem for yourself. Eat it up please.

Augme · 15-01-2023 7:12pm

Being through probabtion won't make a difference if you refuse to do what's contracted in your job. It was a **** thing by the company not to say anything but there isn't much you can do about that now. Three option's really

1. Find a new job.

2. Refuse and see how that plays out.

3. Agree to the travel and see how it goes.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 7:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112520#Comment_120112520

You're right, it was very unprofessional of HR not to mention it. It's one thing if it was brought up and I'll still accepted the job, that's totally on me but that isn't the case here at all. Not once was it brought it through the whole recruitment process. I feel quite deceived as a result.

You're correct regarding my rights during probation, however, if I go option 1 in my original post after passing probation it'll be a lot hard for them to get rid of me.

With regards to can I still do my job without travelling, the travel aspect only makes up for maybe 10-20% of work that the job entails, the 80-90% of work can be done in the office or working from home, the travel related work is more of a project based thing I suppose. Also just to emphasise, they scrapped the travel for this aspect of the job during covid and it was all done through zoom so to answer your question, I would be able to meet my job objectives without travelling.

15-01-2023 7:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112550#Comment_120112550

Manager interviews candidate for large PLC job and doesn’t think to mention?

sounds like incompetence to me.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 7:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112550#Comment_120112550

Hey I appreciate any constructive feedback but let's remain civil snd not throw insults around please, if we were face to face I have a feeling you wouldn't be as aggressive in your responses so let's have some respect please

Count Dracula · 15-01-2023 7:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112561#Comment_120112561

not if he was asked to keep it off the table until asked......

Count Dracula · 15-01-2023 7:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112572#Comment_120112572

Did you even ask how much travel time can be expected?

15-01-2023 7:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112575#Comment_120112575

Bending over backwards to have a go at the OP are we? I’ve never known any company to withhold key information except if it puts them in a bad position.

The hiring process is a pain in the arse, so with that in mind you are trying to conceive a scenario whereby the bank would want to hire someone, definitely not interested in travelling, but won’t say that the role requires travel?

No, I don’t think that would happen.

gameoverdude · 15-01-2023 7:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112589#Comment_120112589

Why would they?

Count Dracula · 15-01-2023 7:26pm

There is quite possibly lots of things mentioned already that aren't going to happen or haven't happened yet.

Where is this country with the high crime rate that has you not sleeping at night?

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 7:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112599#Comment_120112599

Yeah that's the most suprising part.

Some people would love to travel and would see it as a great perk but some people (like me) wouldn't and if it was mentioned at the interview or job spec then I wouldn't have gone ahead with the role.

There's been a few other things they've done since joining which I'm not happy with but willing to overlook but the travel is something that's a deal breaker for me.

I don't mind if it was a once off but its going to be twice for 2023 (depending on certain factors, could be even more) and 4 times for 2024 (again could be more depending on certain factors) all for a week duration. That could make up 10% of my work days for a year, I think its totally unacceptable and unprofessional not to mention that 10% of work days could be abroad in the interview process or job spec! This is a large well known bank and I'm honestly shocked and disappointed they've done this.

gameoverdude · 15-01-2023 7:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112685#Comment_120112685

I have some deal breakers in a job. I wouldn't take them if mentioned firstly.

jackboy · 15-01-2023 7:45pm

There really is no need for regular business trips in this day and age. It is pure backwards stuff. Find out what the tasks are, give your boss a proposal on how you can achieve the objectives on line and see what he says. Chances are your colleagues in the other site don’t want to be babysitting you for a week either.

15-01-2023 7:51pm

OP if you want to get past probation without any drama also you could put up with the inconvenience and head on the trip in March. 3 months later you can then just say look I don’t think this is something I’m vibing with, I wasn’t informed it was part of the job and I didn’t create any fuss last time cos I was new but I just don’t want to travel or something to that effect.

i understand being sketchy about making waves during probation.

gameoverdude · 15-01-2023 7:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112736#Comment_120112736

Also don't use the term "vibing with".

15-01-2023 7:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112761#Comment_120112761

Yeah make sure and tell the manager he’s ruining your jive and that he’s a turkey.

“You’re ruining mah jiiiiive, turkey.”

like that

gameoverdude · 15-01-2023 8:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112765#Comment_120112765

Stop harshing my buzz.

15-01-2023 8:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112770#Comment_120112770

See me? See my arse?

see that plane?

well you’ll never be seeing my arse, on that plane, turkey.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 8:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112736#Comment_120112736

Appreciate the input.

I in no way shape or form will agree to go on the trip in March. From what I was briefly told it will require staying in a compound and getting an armed escort to and from the office location. I'm not compromising my own safety reservations for a job or anything.

However, the March trip they said potentially I may not have to go on as I'm brand new but I'm assuming I will have to for the moment. I looked online and from what I can see you're within your rights to refuse to travel for medical reasons or to a location if you fear for your safety but dunno how applicable that is in reality.

Work related travel, feel deceived and not happy

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