Work related travel, feel deceived and not happy

gameoverdude · 15-01-2023 8:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112781#Comment_120112781

Actually that type of jive talking is one way they won't get sent abroad! Kudos.

15-01-2023 8:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112789#Comment_120112789

Jfc

Where is it North Korea? 😅

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 8:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112710#Comment_120112710

I think that's the best option. As stated in previous posts, the travel was scrapped during covid and this part of the job was done over zoom, I can't see why that can't be replicated here and I can still achieve what is expected of me.

The colleagues in the places I'd be travelling to wouldn't be babysitting me at all, I'm expected to do work when over there and contribute but again, this was all done over zoom during the pandemic so I can't see why this couldn't be rectified using the same means.

ongarite · 15-01-2023 8:16pm

México or South Africa I'd guess.

AmberGold · 15-01-2023 8:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112820#Comment_120112820

Good luck with this approach OP. Career limiting at the very least.

Donald Trump · 15-01-2023 8:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112789#Comment_120112789

Armed escorts aren't that bad.

Some Moscow ones come armed with piss if you pay more

Stheno · 15-01-2023 8:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112843#Comment_120112843

Yup

My last job if we had to travel to Mexico we stayed in Texas and were bussed over each day

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 8:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112875#Comment_120112875

Well to be honest with the stuff they've pulled in my first week (outside of the travel issue), I don't plan on staying there very long and will keep an eye out for other jobs which is awful to come to terms with so new into a job but as stated, they never mentioned travel in the interview or job spec and I wouldn't have applied if they did.

My career field has never required frequent international travel in the other companies I've worked so I don't think this is something that will harm me in my career if I don't want to travel

15-01-2023 8:38pm

If you were to opt to look for another job, would there be many options available to you at your level, that are 100% without any kind of travel?

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 8:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112908#Comment_120112908

I'm not at a high level in the company, I'm not or have ever been a manager or director in any company ive worked for and have no one reporting to me. The pay is very good but I'm still just an analyst/associate with high autonomy. Again they didn't used to send people at my level on these trips it's only very recently they've changed that.

I can say with 100% certainty if I was to look for another job with my skill set and experience they wouldn't require frequent international travel, this is the only company I've worked where it seems to be expected (even though they never mentioned it in the job spec or interviews) I've travelled for work before when it was offered one time in a previous company but this wasn't an expectation and was a one off and more of an offer from them to see what it's like for myself. It wasn't something I wanted to do again and as stated, if I knew they expected me to travel in this role I wouldn't have applied.

Jim2007 · 15-01-2023 8:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112517#Comment_120112517

It does not really matter what they should have told you or you should have asked at the interview stage, it can’t be undone at this stage and you need to deal with the here and now. Travel was not part of my job either but I usually traveled 4 to 6 times a year and occasionally spend a week or more at another location if something needed sorting out. It is just how it is.

As I said before, you are going to have to figure out what you want out of this position, if you want career advancement then you are going to have to play the game. In big international banks there are plenty of people capable and willing to take your place. An the other hand if you just want a job for a while, you might string it along for as long as you need it.

15-01-2023 8:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112935#Comment_120112935

Then, disappointing as it is, I'd start looking for another job. It doesn't sound like this employer is going to work out for you, and the sooner move, the better for you (and your CV).

(FWIW, I think it was very deceptive of them not to mention the travel requirement at interview stage).

Jim2007 · 15-01-2023 8:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112523#Comment_120112523

What area to you actually work in?

AndrewJRenko · 15-01-2023 8:55pm

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

You’re not in a great position to tone police me, given that you’re opener was to take a nasty swipe at the OP.

Jim2007 · 15-01-2023 9:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112560#Comment_120112560

It won’t make it any harder to get shot of you after probation if they need to. They will just move the work around the organization, make you redundant on the cheap as you won’t have much in terms of service. Or they will just manage you out.

I would guess that the reason it was not brought during recruitment was that job level was such that they thought it was obvious. Certainly if the offer was at a VP level in an international bank it would be expected.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 9:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112939#Comment_120112939

Thanks for the reply appreciate the feedback.

I don't mean to pry or argue (and I could be wrong on this) but based on what you've wrote regarding your own experience you are likely someone who is or was in a senior position in a bank so I think you have somewhat of an employer mindset regarding this and also travel is part of the parcel when you get up that high and although its not specified in the job or contract, it isn't surprising if its required.

Again as stated, I've been quite disappointed with a few things in the first week here outside of the travel and not sure I would want to stay here long term as in my eyes, if they've been deceitful thus far whats to stop them being sly in the future?

Also it really DOES matter that they didn't bring this up in the interview, all of this could have been avoided if they were honest, again it sets a bad precedence, what else will they not reveal in the future?

Jim2007 · 15-01-2023 9:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120112820#Comment_120112820

You are forgetting two things though:

That was a temporary situation
You are expecting the bank and your colleagues to change the way they do things to suit you. Don’t assume they will all want to do that.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 9:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113000#Comment_120113000

It is harder to remove someone when passed probation vs. When not passed probation but I somewhat agree with you, if they want to remove me then they will its just more of a pain if its past probation for them.

I'm not a VP (my manger from my understanding does not travel, also from what ive heard his manager doesn't travel and hes up to SVP level), as stated, any role that requires travel from jobs I've seen online or friends who have done jobs require travelling is explicitly stated in the job spec and interview stage, it's common practice and deceitful not to mention this, it wasn't obvious that travel was a factor of the job so I think that is a redundant point

jackboy · 15-01-2023 9:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113029#Comment_120113029

They probably didn’t bring it up in the interview as not many would like to work for a company where you will need an armed guard to work every now and again.

I have a friend who got a job in the US. He was given the awful task of laying off some employees. He did it thinking that was as bad as it could get. However, after completing the layoffs the company introduced him to the armed guard who would be protecting him at home for the next two weeks, in case one of the sacked employees decided to come to his house with a gun. There are often reasons employers don’t clearly state what is involved with a job.

CramCycle · 15-01-2023 9:21pm

Start looking for a new job, it's pretty obvious it's not the only issue. They should have said it, it maybe they thought it was obvious, doesn't really matter. Be civil, start looking elsewhere. Forget the positive or negative comments here, they are unimportant. You clearly don't want to stay so start looking for a way out. When you get somewhere else, politely mention it to the manager that, while it maybe obvious internally, it's actually not common elsewhere and they should mention it in the spec or interview. As for your reason to leave, I wouldn't say that, just a better offer elsewhere and you've already agreed so no point discussing counter offers. If you are still there at the next trip, find a reason to call in sick but that you can call into meetings via zoom. If it works and you don't get out, point out that it's an unnecessary expense in October and morally you think it's inappropriate to go when it could be done over Zoom but in reality you shouldn't be there then as you clearly don't want to be. Not knowing the job or level, be prepared that there may not be much at level 'X' that doesn't have travel, and you may need to go back to level 'X-1'.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 9:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113041#Comment_120113041

Well the issue with those two points is that although covid was temporary, you could argue so was working from home but that is still an option and will be for the foreseeable future in many companies including my employer. As stated, my level of seniority was not expected to travel until very recently this was changed. This was how things operated since the team was created so to expect them to change the way they work just for me is an irrelevant point, this was how thing operated for years and everyone used zoom regardless of seniority during covid because no one could travel.

Jim2007 · 15-01-2023 9:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113029#Comment_120113029

I don’t know your background, but from what you have posted so far I’m guessing that this is your first experience of this kind of environment and I’ll admit it is not for everyone or for most people. In my case I had very specific reasons for being there - retiring at 55 and I did.

I suspect it probably isn’t the kind of environment for you and that is OK. But I’d encourage you to give it a month or even two before you start forming any conclusions and do so with an open mind. I have seen people join and within a week they were leaving for sure only for them change completely and are still there long after I left and vice versa.

sunshine2018 · 15-01-2023 9:36pm

It really should have been brought up at interview by the company. They should be ensuring a good fit for the role and be confident the person taking the job is happy to travel - if they are not the person won’t stay and it’s been an expensive recruitment process for nothing.

you are fully entitled to not want to travel - it does impinge on your life - hobbies, sleep patterns etc.

If you like the job and company, apart from that, you could sit down with your manager and express your concerns - propose an alternative to the travel and how you’d manage to build relationships or whatever , without travelling.

if they can’t function without you travelling I’d look for another job

life is too short - if travelling for work makes you unhappy don’t do it

best of luck

Blazer · 15-01-2023 9:37pm

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

"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 "

seriously? This line should have immediately stood out to you as requiring travel. Working in another part of the building ffs.... will you cop onto yourself. You didn't research the role properly, failed to notice the line above and either ignored it or was too stupid to understand it. You go ahead and let your manager know that you can't travel and you can forget working past your probation period.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 9:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113132#Comment_120113132

Thanks for the response, I've worked in many multinational financial services firms and I'm not new to this environment.

As I've said this is the only company that is expecting travel out of all the companies I've worked for.

I have strong experience with the job itself so I know what the environment is like but I've never been expected to travel before and any job I see advertised that expects travel from the applicant is up front about it.

I'm not going to make any rash decisions for the moment and I think saying nothing for the moment and bringing up the travel issue to my manager in March (or when he brings it up) is the best scenario while keeping an eye on other roles out there.

Ofcourse, my manager could say its no problem if I don't want to travel which could be a possibility as my level of seniority didn't use to travel at all until very recently which is something I'm not considering but could happen and would be great but outside of the travel issue there's a number of things that I've been disappointed with so Im not sure if this is the correct place for me long term but I'll likely keep my head down until the travel situation requires to be tackled head on in March but could be August.

sunshine2018 · 15-01-2023 9:41pm

That’s very harsh !

That kind of line is in most contracts as a cover all for the company.

poor recruitment practice on the part of the company

bucketybuck · 15-01-2023 9:50pm

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.

That may be rather foolish, your contract may talk about 6 month probation but in Ireland they can dismiss you any time in the first year with very little effort, probationary period be damned.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 9:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113167#Comment_120113167

Hey fella, I'm all for constructive feedback but let's came it down with the insults there, there's no need for such aggression. I have a feeling you wouldn't react like that if we were speaking face to face so let's not go down the route of insults and have some respect for one another.

Any job I've ever had has mentioned that while I might be working in x, you may be required to work in another location (very standard) and my previous company had the the same wording regarding affiliated companies/legal entities and again, no travel required. There's many legal entities who act as either subsidiaries or sister companies to the entity I work for but are located in a different section of the building (additionally there is a seperate site in kildare so I don't think it was expected of me to expect international travel based on that!)

As stated I did research the role, company and team extensively, there was no indication travel was required and it is highly deceitful for this to be omitted.

Figel Narage · 15-01-2023 10:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113234#Comment_120113234

That's true, maybe not the best plan but it is harder to remove someone once past probation

Count Dracula · 15-01-2023 10:06pm

I never advertise travel when looking for Reps because it is not something I want to advertise. I expect employees to work hard wherever they are, all the time.

Travel is a doddle, I can understand it can be difficult with a young family, but them is the breaks.

When employees are getting sent to Bermuda there is rarely any complaints, even in hurricane season.

Work related travel, feel deceived and not happy

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