Boss asks remote employee to drive over 3 hours to the office with less than 24 hours warning: 'I said no, then he basically begged me'

Commuting is no joke. That's why many workers opt to work remotely when they can. But that doesn't stop bosses from expecting the most from their workers. But there are certain oversteps that we don't have to sit down and take. 

Driving 6 hours in one day is a huge commitment. That's almost a full working day. Plus, it consumes a non-negligible amount of gas. This is why we usually get to decide how much we want to drive and when, especially if we work from home. But that didn't stop this boss from asking their remote employee to make a long haul into the office just to do a couple of random work tasks. He failed to see just how much of a burden this request was on his employee. 

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  • An employee drives in traffic on the way to work
    via Wander Fleur

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Boss asked me to drive 3 hours to the office when I work from home.

    I just need to vent. I work remote. Before I started this job I made sure they were okay with me moving states and they said yes. My move got delayed, however I still live 3 hours from the office. Last month my boss asked me to come into the office for an after- work event. I said no, then he basically begged me. I felt pressured and went. Spent 6 hours total driving that day.
    via u/rainycloudsonmyhead
  • Thought it was a one time thing. Nope. This week my boss demanded (not asked this time) me to come into the office and work there for a day to meet a new colleague. I put my foot down and said no because I live too far. Asking me to wake up at 4 AM, drive 3 hours there, work my whole day there and then spend 3 hours driving back home and not get home until 8 PM with not even a 24 hour notice is so unbelievably disrespectful.
    via u/rainycloudsonmyhead
  • AND NOT OUR AGREEMENT. I literally have emails of him saying he is totally fine with me moving states. I think he stalks my IP address because idk how else he would know I still live in state. But regardless, I am no where near local to their office. The lack of respect.
    via u/rainycloudsonmyhead

  • Traveling for work is a common practice, but as such, it comes with certain expectations. They would never ask you to cover your own travel expenses for a work trip. The company would cover airfare, lodging, and probably a per diem for food and incidentals. Odds are, you would also know in advance whether or not your job was going to require air travel. You would have made a decision on whether or not you're okay with that kind of lifestyle. And they're probably not going to spring it on you at the last minute, at least you hope they don't. 

    That's not what happened in this story, where a remote worker was suddenly called into the office, which was a road trip's distance away from where they lived. It would have been a huge logistical push and would incur them some costs along the way. So they tried to say no, but their boss wasn't having it. He pulled out all the stops and tried to guilt him into attending. Guilt should have very little place in a work environment. It's emotional manipulation at best, and can get really messy at worst. So the employee was left wondering what choice they had in this situation. Would they swallow their pride and just continue to go, or would they stand up for themselves? Read on to see what happened in this story and decide what you think.

  • Two hands driving a car, street from the driver's perspective
    via Unsplash+ (Eduardo Ramos)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Commenters gave their opinions about this story.

    nessa_messa I bet he doesn't even remember that you were supposed to have moved by now. He is not thinking of how this affects you and your life because he does not care.
    via u/nessa_messa
  • outrageouslyHon... If I were you, if be tempted to start driving at the start of my work day, work for two hours and then drive home.
    via u/outrageouslyHonest
  • dca_user Some bosses start to do this because they want you to quit, but can't say that
    via u/dca_user
  • Wodan11 Mileage, per diem, outside 50 miles. Lodging, overtime. He'll cave.
    via u/Wodan11
  • throwingwater14 Clock in at 8. Start driving. Arrive at work. Get 1hr of work done. Take lunch break. Get another hour of work done. Drive home. Clock out. Sorry boss. Day was eaten by travel.
    via u/throwingwater14
  • LendersQuiz I wonder your boss would say if you sent him this email? Hi [Boss's Name], I'd like to touch base regarding the request to come into the office.
    via u/LendersQuiz
  • As we discussed and agreed upon via email prior to my start, this role was accepted as a remote position with the understanding that I would be relocating out of state. While my move has been slightly delayed, my logistical setup remains consistent with that agreement.
    via u/LendersQuiz
  • Because I am not local to the office, any required on- site attendance needs to be treated as a business trip. If my presence in the office is mandatory, please let me know the process for booking the following through the company travel portal:
    via u/LendersQuiz
  • **Round-trip airfare **Transportation to and from the airports ***Lodging (if the event requires an early start or late finish) Since these trips involve significant travel time and expense, I will also need at least X days notice to coordinate these arrangements.
    via u/LendersQuiz
  • I'm looking forward to meeting the new colleague over [Teams/Slack/Zoom] in the meantime. Best regards, [Your Name]
    via u/LendersQuiz
  • _Art_Vandelay... AT THE VERY LEAST, you should be commuting during working hours and/or it count towards your usual daily amount of hours worked.
    via u/____Art_Vandelay____
  • Masrim If they request you to come in for a meeting, I am driving. there on company time, just as if I were going to an offsite meeting I would be required to drive during my work time. As well I would be submitting an expense for mileage.
    via u/Masrim
  • El_Cartografo File expense report for time and mileage. You travelled more than 50 miles from your customary work location.
    via u/El_Cartografo
  • PlatypusDream You messed up... Start driving at your normal start-work time. You then have 2 hours at the office. Drive home, ending at your normal end-work time. It's all paid, because the boss told you to go to a place that's not your usual place of work.
    via u/PlatypusDream
  • 7373848473738... Yea, it's not fair. Your boss truly doesn't care. Either that or something else sketchy is going on and perhaps they are trying to get you to quit without saying anything.
    via u/7373848473738
  • ChuckOfThelrish You need to submit travel expenses for this, mileage will compensate you nicely for the drives. If you are remote and forced to come in that is business travel and should be compensated as such. I had a 2 hour drive to my old company and only went for on-site meetings and always got a hotel and mileage reimbursed.
    via u/ChuckOfThelrish
  • Sander001 Next time he asks, ask him how important it is. If he says it's very important, ask him to provide transportation and a hotel room.
    via u/Sander001
  • Vaaliindraa Next time, tell him sure, but my paid work time starts the second I step out my door and ends when I walk back in.
    via u/Vaaliindraa

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Tags

boss workplace-stories toxic-workplace job work working workplace bad bosses toxic-work-environment
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