Work related travel, feel deceived and not happy

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113300#Comment_120113300

In the first year, no, it really isn't.

Nigel Farage doesn't like going abroad. Who knew?

Figel Narage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113336#Comment_120113336

Once passed probation it is but it's fine if you don't agree, thanks for your input regardless

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113315#Comment_120113315

'Travel is a doddle.'

My late brother was trapped in a hotel in Sierra Leone for 10 days, I think it was, with armed gunmen rampaging in the streets firing Ak-47s. There were other western companies employees trapped in the hotel as well. He said a lot of the 'armed guards' just melted away into the chaos.

He said it wasn't fun.

Figel Narage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113427#Comment_120113427

Haha, I don't share his political views, I was born in the same place as him in the UK so everyone jokes by calling me nigel farage so decided to make my name on boards this

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113315#Comment_120113315

Why would you not want to give candidates a clear understanding of the Job spec? There’s lots of reasons why travel doesn’t work for people, including caring responsibilities.

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113468#Comment_120113468

How exciting.

Did he get the diamonds home?

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113532#Comment_120113532

I don't want any losers applying in the hope of getting an all expenses Knees Up in London every 8 weeks ... as opposed to making us some money.

If you know you know.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113315#Comment_120113315

That you don't want to advertise is and keep it a secret says all anyone needs to know.

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113616#Comment_120113616

Cheers, I am glad you know that now.

Those you say they do, don't, those who don't say, do.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113590#Comment_120113590

So you DO want people who have responsibilities for caring for children with disabilities or frail elderly parents surprised when faced with expectations of eight weeks away from home?

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113590#Comment_120113590

It would be fair enough if they don't tell you if they did exactly that.

Blazer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113240#Comment_120113240

sorry didnt' mean to be aggressive but that quoted line makes it fairly obvious that travel was involved. At the very least it should have been a red flag to you and you should have followed up on it during the interview process.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113432#Comment_120113432

Probation has dick all to do with it, in year one you simply don't have standing to bring a case, unless the reason given for ending the employment falls afoul of one of the protected classes. Something that is trivially easy for the employer to avoid.

But hey, good luck with your plan.

Rigor Mortis

I'm surprised that a candidate would not see the other locations line as being travel. Other locations would never be used in relation to different parts of the same building.

I wish you the best, but I think this is on you.

Flinty997

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

Just leave if it doesn't suit you.

Sounds like it's common in similar roles. They were dishonest in how they sold the role though. You'd have expect more of the same dishonesty in the future.

Figel Narage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113654#Comment_120113654

Thanks bud

Flinty997

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

"...There's been a few other things they've done since joining which I'm not happy with..."

Not surprising tbh. Not telling people there will be dangerous work travel has to be the tip of the iceberg.

Figel Narage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113641#Comment_120113641

Thank you, Apology accepted. Honestly It doesn't seem very obvious to me from reading the contract, as stated they have another site in the country (that houses another few legal entities) so I thought it would be potentially what they were referring to.

Again, anyone I know who had to travel for work was made very aware at the interview stage, even if I made the assumption travel was required from reading the contract the interview was over at this stage so I couldn't have followed up during the interview stage

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113672#Comment_120113672

I would take it to mean between different locations in the same city or at the most locations in the same country. Not regular international travel and not to dangerous locations.

Usually the amount of travel in week, month or year is explicitly stated in the interview and often in the job advert.

Former Former Former

Have to say OP, going for a job with a "large international bank" and assuming there would be zero travel was a long shot, and tbh I don't think two trips in eight months is excessive in this line of work.

That said, if you're genuinely freaked about the March trip, suggest you come up with a plausible excuse to cancel, or better yet, give it a lash and see how it goes.

If you like the job otherwise, I cannot overemphasise how bad an idea it is to dig in and refuse to travel. You won't recover from it.

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113633#Comment_120113633

I am not entirely sure what you getting at with this comment.

But any of my employees who have children with special requirements or needs are always facilitated. i employ 3 Au Pairs to work full time in our on site creche in our London, Barcelona and Istanbul workplaces. The Berlin office has an external creche facility in the same building. Dublin has proved expensive and I tend to not employ Irish women who are broody, what a total waste of time and money. Why would I employ someone who is more interested in getting paid to have kids? I run a business not a charity. All my Directors know the score.

Frail elderly parents are not employed either, all wood is fresh and young and hungry for money. I am very frank with younger women employees in the Dubin office, they are all told that if they get pregnant their jobs will become a nightmare, they know this. we cannot afford to have our business compromised by mothers running up and down the stairs stinking of baby and then trying to make us money, it doesn't work. I have re-employed mothers after they have them up and wiping their own arses etc. But that maternity hoop is a total no no. I would nearly pay them to not work, everyone else does?

One of my Dublin staff got/took a transfer to Barcelona just to get pregnant, i know for a fact she did.

squidgainz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114011#Comment_120114011

Do you live under a bridge?

Figel Narage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114006#Comment_120114006

Seeing as I've worked for 2 other large international financial services firms that didn't require travel I'm quite suprised it wasn't mentioned and don't think it was a long shot to assume otherwise. As stated previously, it's scheduled for 2 one week long trips in 2023 but could be more and 4 one week long trips scheduled for 2024 but again could be more.

Not going to bring up the travel thing until they want me to book flights and accommodation then I'll say I won't be travelling but will accomodate myself as much as possible to make it work in lieu of the travel (I.e. schedule my work hours around the trip locations time zone, etc.)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113672#Comment_120113672

In fairness, "other locations" could also refer to domestic travel within the island of Ireland. I still think the employer here should have specified international travel would be part of the role.

The only reason I can think of why they wouldn't, is because it would make recruiting for the role difficult.

I wouldn't be in a hurry to head off to somewhere where I need an armed escort, thank you very much.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114011#Comment_120114011

It’s really trying running a major department of a major global business whilst posting frequently on Boards. I find it hard to juggle it myself, but I manage 😁

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114138#Comment_120114138

Helps when you are alternately the best and worst boss you can imagine.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114011#Comment_120114011

Just on the off chance that you’re actually serious, you’re going to be spending quite a lot of time at the WRC in the coming years.

1) Employees with children aren’t going to bring children with them on business trips. They’re not going to disrupt schooling and the other partner to salve your ego.

2) I wasn’t referring to employing frail elderly people. I was referring to employees who have responsibilities looking after frail elderly parents and can’t just drop everything on a whim.

If you’re recruiting people for roles that involve travel, you need to make this clear in the job spec.

Dav010

I may have missed it, which country are you travelling to in March op?

A job in banking where your contract states you may have to go to different locations, now they tell you that you have to briefly travel to a different location, who’d have thought.

witchgirl26

OP I know your annoyed they didn't mention it in the interview but could it be that it wasn't necessarily on the cards at that point so they didn't feel the need to bring it up. Maybe the managers involved thought it would be done via Zoom as well but have now been told themselves that it can't be.

2 weeks in the year isn't a lot & neither is 4 to be honest. My old job was about a week away every 2 months at least.

While a lot of international organisations cut travel during Covid, it has been noted that it is much easier and quicker to get things done when people are able to get together in person rather than over email or zoom calls. I'd say it's more reduced the travel amount for work but not gotten rid of it.

I know you mention that you have worked in other international banks & didn't have this but were those roles at a lower level or very Ireland specific in comparison?

You can try having a chat to your manager but even after probation, if you refuse to travel, they could terminate your contract with appropriate notice under the fact that you are essentially refusing to do something that they maybe consider key to your role. You wouldn't have much comeback with that one.

I know you don't mention country even though you say it's very dangerous. I've been to many countries with my old job and a couple of them were a little bit on the risky side but to be honest, that was the one where I probably was safest in the whole because there was so much focus on the safety that they weren't going to let anything happen to me.