Employment - Walking to Meetings

[Vonhelmet]

How much notice did you have of this meeting? Did you not think, as soon as it was announced, that you'd better think of a way to get there?

I've got meetings coming up in Birmingham and London and you can bet your bottom dollar I won't be figuring out how to get there on the morning of the meeting.

 

[Rroff]

So basically as an employer you job should be to look after every little part of your employees life. Oh are you ok to get into work this morning, its looking a little cold and you do live 2 miles away.

If you have an issue, go talk to your boss about it. Perhaps even do it before you are meant to be somewhere. Texting an employer saying its raining so I can't walk two miles in the rain is taking the **** and you have no reason at all to think your boss was in the wrong.

If your mode of transport is liable to be affected by conditions outside of your control such as weather then you need to make allowances for that BEFORE you need to be somewhere.

Do some people actually think that the manager should say "right guys, we have a meeting a few miles from here next week, is anyone going to have a problem getting there? No?

Ahh but what if it was raining really hard, what if there were roadworks, would you still all be ok"

Employers expect a certain level of self reliance and as mentioned, if thats the biggest thing your employer expects you to do, think yourself lucky.

You have no reason at all to whinge and your co-workers are doing exactly what they should. Telling you what you want to hear.

Your taking it a bit to the other extreme now... and not every boss is as approachable or willing to work with their employees needs as your idealistic suggestion.

Yes if I was an employer and out of the normal routine I'd decided to schedule a meeting 2 miles away then I'd be checking with my staff that everyone can get there safely and sensibly, now if it was a regular part of the job it would be another matter.

Seriously, if someone earning £30k can't afford a tenner once every 6 weeks for bacon sarnies then there are major problems that we would help out with.

We take staff out for meals with their partners several times a year, buy all the beers at the pub and give them staff loans when needed for bikes, computers and other stuff. In return I dont think we've had more than 2 days taken sick in the past year so I think we're doing something right - it's all about give and take. We've only heard the OPs version of events and on the face of it he's shown no initiative at all.

Thats a little different to the scenario I had in mind. I've worked in more than one place where people are earning a lot less than 30 grand but management expect people paying out their own pocket for cakes, etc. for birthdays, friday afternoon snacks, fancy dress days, etc. etc. without seeming to realise how hard it was and not caring when it was brought up for some people.

 

[uknowist]

lol its just h2o, relax.. its not like they asked you to surf there or anything

 

[Wej]

40 minute walk there and 40 minutes back, I would do that if my employer is happy we me wasting and hour and a half of my working day walking to meeting. My employer thinks differently and would therefore pay for a taxi

Well that really is my point. If you say to your boss 'Yes, happy to walk but it'll be an hour and a half in total in work time' then he is more than likely to find an alternative way to get you there. My point was that if it's ok for you to travel in work time then you can't complain about walking - many people walk or travel further than that *every* day and probably complain a great deal less.