Reality Check: Am I out of line?

[yellow]

I'm angry, and I don't get angry that often. I need to figure out if I'm just overreacting or if I need to make some big decisions.

My office is about 7.5 miles from my house. I don't like to drive anywhere, let alone to work since it's so close.

The company I work for does not have "fleet cars" and expects me to use my personal vehicle for transportation to meetings, etc. I have to go to a lot of meetings. Yes, I get reimbursed for my mileage, but I'm finding that these days I often have entire weeks where I can't ride even a single day because I have a meeting at the client's office every day. This is making me very resentful.

What fries me is (1) my company is currently waving the "sustainability" banner and waxes poetic about how we're making a difference; (2) if I get in an accident while driving my car for work, the company does not cover me--my personal insurance only does if I say I use my car for business and pay a higher rate (effectively almost doubling of my insurance); the amount I am reimbursed per mile is supposed to account for this (it doesn't, especially with the cost of fuel now); and (3) I simply don't like driving, at all. Apparently I am the only person in the office who has an issue with this and don't garner any support for my cause. When I took the job, I asked about the company's attitude about bike commuting and they were very supportive. They have talked for over a year about getting at least one fleet vehicle but since I'm the only one who keeps raising the issue, I don't see it happening any time soon. I have other issues with the job, but the fact of the matter is that it pays pretty well and I am able to work 32 hours a week (something I negotiated); I would be hard pressed to find a similar situation somewhere else. I do drive more in the winter since public transportation to the office requires 2 bus changes and is very expensive (it would be more affordable if I didn't have to keep and insure a vehicle).

So do I buck up and have a shot of tequila and get over it? Or do I start thinking hard about my values and about finding a new job, which would require a major lifestyle change and no doubt some major stress with my spouse (who likes to spend lots of money)? Note that I don't use the company's health insurance (better coverage thru hubby) and since I only work "part time", I don't accrue and take as much vacation as "full time" employees.

I plan to keep after them about the fleet and have threatened to start renting a car (which they freaked out about because that is more expensive than me driving my car). I do not want them to throw more money at me; I just want them to support my choice to use a bicycle as transportation.

What would you do?

[SadieKate]

Um, what if you didn't own a car? Was a condition of employment that you provide personal motorized vehicular transportation to customer sites?

Have the shot of tequila no matter what.

[yellow]

Um, what if you didn't own a car? Was a condition of employment that you provide personal motorized vehicular transportation to customer sites?
I've said that many times, though mostly rhetorically. I will check my paperwork, but I don't recall signing anything that said I had to have a motorized vehicle in order to be hired. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever had to use my own vehicle for work, so the concept is still foreign to me (although I understand it is common for many folks).

[mimitabby]

yes, it's a total rip off. Raleighdon had a similar situation at his last job, although part of his salary was a travel "allowance" of about 3000 a year. It still rankled him the same way that he could never ride his bike.

He changed jobs.
hasn't regretted it a day; despite the loss of friendships, the lower caliber of the company he works for (in his opinion)
but so far this year he's driven to work maybe 5 times, and i think they were all days he needed the car for something personal afterward.

good luck

[Veronica]

Make them put their money where their mouth is.

Sell your car.

Refuse to drive your car unless they pay the difference in insurance.

Take public transportation to your clients - maybe a taxi. :D

As Thom says, "Work is overrated." You should not go to your job every day loathing it.

Go for a run instead of having the tequila.

V.

[snapdragen]

Go for a run, then have the tequila. :rolleyes:

Announce your car is in need of extensive repairs, so you will not have an automobile for quite a while. "Gee, too bad you didn't get that company car....."

[KnottedYet]

Can you ride your bike to client offices?

[yellow]

Can you ride your bike to client offices?

66 mi RT on crappy roads. In theory, I could. But I'd spend more time riding than working. Prolly wouldn't work.

V, we've actually seriously been considering getting rid of the 'Ru when we have to replace our other utility vehicle. I told DH that I'd be willing even to make some major changes in my winter activities (**gasp!!**) as long as I get a powder day every once in a while. He's not there yet, but I remain hopeful. But I digress...

What kind of irks me is that many of my coworkers see me as a whiney crybaby that already gets "special" treatment (because I was smart enough to negotiate an alternate schedule and they weren't, and I still get as much done--or more--than they do). So what if I have to drive? But then these are folks who wouldn't dream of using a bike for transportation. The company probably would pay the difference in insurance if I were to get tough about it, but that's not what I want.

I've had the Big conversation with my boss a zillion times in my head. I'm just extra crispy fried this week because I cannot ride a single day and it doesn't matter to anyone but me. If I don't have a car, it falls on me, not the company. If I don't show up to the client meeting tomorrow, I get slapped double for putting the project at risk (how can I manage it if I don't attend every freakin' meeting?) and the company at risk of losing favor with the client. I feel trapped because I want to do a good job, but resent having to do something that chaps my hide.

(Note: I did go for a ride and thought I was climbing the canyon at a blistering pace but it turns out it was one of my slower climbs. :( I think I'll go have that shot now.)

Thanks for entertaining my whining. I appreciate it.

[han-grrl]

OMG - i so understand

I am so jealous of bike commuters, even BUS commuters. I get so tired of driving.

Part of my getting this job, was, the fact i had a car. i didn't realize i needed it this much. even my hubby is baffled. i am re-imbursed but, some of my job sites are two hours away. last week in two days, i drove over 650 km. in TWO DAYS. uck.

I am going to experiment with leaving my car at work - one or two days a week. Drive the bikes in on one day, bike them home, bike them back, then drive home. then do it again but this time leave the car at hubby's work. thats the idea anyway.

I've also decided i need to find a job that relies less on the vehicle. This will take time. we will see how this job pans out over time.

I understand how you are feeling. i'm not sure what to do about it either.

[tulip]

My last job had a similar policy--no company car, and personal insurance for meetings in your own car was the norm. But it was in DC and there are actually people who do not own or do not use their cars to get to work. I was a bike commuter.

I either took a taxi, public transportation, a Zipcar/Flexcar, or rented a car from Avis (company had an account with Avis). I realize in Utah near Nevada there may not be efficient transit or a car sharing program, but I bet there are taxis and Avis. And Enterprise will pick you up (so they say, and i hear they have bike racks, too)

We had a deal with Yellow Taxi (we just gave them a voucher and they billed the company), and with Avis I had an Avis account card, but with Zipcar and transit I had to get reimbursed on my expense report.

Even when I could use my own car, I preferred to do Zip or Avis (or taxi--no parking woes!) For longer trips I always rented a car. It turned out to be cheaper than reimbursement anyways, and the insurance thing was better.

So I say don't just suck it up. Find a way to do it better. Let us know how it turns out.

[Blueberry]

Others have had good suggestions, and I completely support what they've suggested. Your employer is wrong, and you're right to be upset over it. Definitely have the tequila. However, short term - could you leave your car at work? That way, you can drive to client meetings, and still bike to work?

CA

[Wahine]

I like Snap's suggestion of telling them your car will not be available for an extended period and then using a rental or taxi. It's not right that you should be required to drive.

[LBTC]

Yellow, that does suck. Perhaps do a cost analysis? the cost of your additional insurance plus your driving allowance; vs - a fleet car; vs - taxi/rental car/ public tranist. And perhaps even throw in that if you miss enough rides to work that you will become unwell and begin taking sick days. That's going to cost them too.

I'll send some happy wonderful butterflies to help you come up with a great creative solution. And if your boss doesn't buy into a solution, and logic that lets you ride to work at least 2/3 of the time....well, maybe that's a sign that there's something better out there.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[tulip]

Once upon a time I had two job offers in the same week. Pretty much the same salary, too, but one was a tad bit higher. When I went in for discussions about it, I asked outright how they feel about employees commuting by bike.

The first one (the wee-higher salary) looked at me funny and said, "well, I guess you can use the gym's shower. I'm not sure about that." They had a gym to promote fitness, yet didn't have a clue about bike commuting.

The second one had a bike rack (with bikes in it) inside the lobby and a commuter shower. When I asked about commuting by bike, they smiled and said, of course!

You can guess which one I took. I was there for four years. When I had to go to a meeting, I took a cab, rented a car, or took Metro (see above).

So, if it becomes an issue for you (sounds like it already is), you might want to look around at alternative places to work if you and your employer can't find a workable solution.

[Velobambina]

Drive your car in on Monday. Bring your bike, clothes for the week, etc. Ride your bike home and then to/from work til Friday. The car stays at work during the week. That would be one way to make it work and to commute by bike 8 times a week.

Keep pushing for a company car.

My commute recently went from about 7 miles to almost 25 miles each way. The building where I now reluctantly work is quite a distance from our headquarters, and we have a lot of meetings there & in DC. If we are lucky, we can use a GOV. Most times it's not available (it's shared w/other offices) or just not practical. So I drive my own car and charge back my mileage to the poor taxpayer. Forget about commuting by bike, as the new building is located in the worst of suburban sprawl (major, unsafe highways) or even commuting by public transportation. Luckily, this situation is not forever---I'm free to find another assignment next September. I love my job & my boss, but the commute is stealing between 45-60 additional minutes of my life every day.

[malkin]

Push on for the fleet vehicle;

Nag them to buy you a transit pass, or to pay for part of it, or at least set up a way to pay for it with pre-tax $$; (Aren't you in SLC? UTA works with companies who ask to set up alternative ride programs for employees);

Remind your employer of what a good employee you are, how you accomplish more in 32 than most people in 40;

Keep your eyes open and your resume up to date in case something interesting floats by,

and by all means, have the tequila.

[malkin]

Write a proposal detailing how much more special and green and sustainable they'd be, and how much actual real money they'd save if they'd teleconference or run meetings via conference call or *gasp* just settle stupid matters by email!


I'm sure some meetings are really worthwhile, just hardly any of the ones associated with my work.

[solobiker]

I like Snap's suggestion of telling them your car will not be available for an extended period and then using a rental or taxi. It's not right that you should be required to drive.

I agree. It seems to me that most companies are only looking out for #1 which, no offense, is not you, it's the upper management and the $$. Heck, even the company I work for will no longer buy us pens even though I have to do a lot of medicare documentation in which I need what??? A black pen...and yet in the corporate office bathrooms, per my boss, they have several types of feminine products and mouth wash, all free for them. I ask you where is the priority...?? Sorry for all the punctuation:p So as my DH sometimes says "Stick it to the man" and refuse to use your car.

[yellow]

Leaving my car at work is too risky. I'd like to keep my windows. Hell, earlier this year the meth heads were stealing catalytic converters out of vehicles in broad daylight. I could leave it unlocked, I suppose, but then it would probably disappear overnight. :rolleyes:

I was all ready to go chat with my boss today and...he's out until next week.

I think I'm going to approach the subject thusly: since the company isn't going to follow through with its plan to buy a fleet car, I am going to start renting vehicles for travel to and from meetings. If I get slapped down again, then I'll ask them what they suggest since I have decided to phase out of driving a car altogether (because ultimately that is what I would like to do). I'm not sure what they will do. I don't think they'd fire me, though I suppose if I p*** them off enough they might. Transit could work but would be time consuming because there is no transit service to the places I need to get to, but I could get within 5-6 miles and ride to there from the bus stop if I have my bike. I'll keep that one in my pocket.

But then, after today's meeting, I am more ready to just walk out. But for the need to support my rock & roll lifestyle, I probably would. :p I would still really like that custom Calfee someday...

I visited my therapist (hairdresser) today and she thinks I need a whole new career; she's watched me go from mildly disliking my job to loathing it. She has a point.

I don't really need the Calfee, anyway.

[tulip]

Hairdressers are astute observers of the human condition. Listen to her.

In the meantime, do a little math to back up your argument. Reverse engineer if needed. Rental costs vs. using your own car reimbursement costs. Show your boss that your solution is actually better for the company in terms of liability, costs, employee moral, company perception (you can rent Prius and impress your clients). Go in with positive info and attitude, as opposed to conflict. If it doesn't win this argument, it'll prove that you're a problem solver (and OTHER companies would be happy to have a proactive problem solver).

But really, working for a place that is more in line with your thinking and beliefs has its benefits.

[Tri Girl]

I teach, so I have nothing in the way of advice to offer you, as I know absolutely nothing of the corporate world (thank goodness). I DO KNOW, however, what it's like to hate your job. I left my last school after 9 years because my attitude got increasingly worse over the last couple years. I still loved the kids (although they were becoming increasingly spoiled and bratty because of their parent's attitudes), but hated administration and their ridiculous demands on us (it was a private school). I even considered leaving teaching altogether and interviewed at many corporate companies. In the end, I simply changed school districts, and although I can no longer feasibly commute by bike (52 miles/day), I am much happier and peaceful. I like my job again and don't dread going in to work.

I'm with your hairdresser. Find something that makes you happy. Money is important, but your sanity and peace of mind is more so. You'll get by just fine (and if you really do sell your car and go car-less you could even look for a salary a bit below where you're at now).
Look into other jobs and see if something else is out there for you. Your happy job is out there somewhere... Good luck, Yellow!:D

[mimitabby]

what happened in today's meeting?

[ny biker]

My $.02 is - you spend most of your waking hours at work, and it's not worth it if the job makes you miserable or constantly angry. Life is too short. I did a career change 10 years ago and I'm really happy I took the plunge. In the short run my salary was cut in half when I started over. Now it's not as high as it was when I had the soul-sucking job but it's close enough. I'm not rich but I have enough money to live better than most people. And the stress from my job is no longer making me ill.

Good luck with your situation.

[yellow]

Mimi, the meeting issues stem mostly from the fact that I am working on a project that I am personally, fundamentally opposed to. It's a struggle that some days I do better with than others.

Well, they threw some more money at me because I think they are on to the fact that I'm super crabby. :rolleyes: I didn't even ask for it.

I did have the rental car conversation with my boss and we agreed that I will review my project budget and if I am confident that I can keep the costs consistent with what I would spend on mileage reimbursement AND not fall short in the project tasks, then I could do it. The biggest problem is the inevitable "scope creep" that has required me to do out-of-scope work (and thus spend budget allocated for something else). I discovered that there is one other gal in the office that makes a similar trip, currently not as often but expected to increase in frequency; she and I agreed to try to schedule things so we can share rides. So we are moving in the right direction.

He confirmed my suspicion that a fleet car is probably not in our future. He would like one as well, but the office manager hasn't been able to make it pencil out (not sure why as so many people use personal cars for business...).

In the meantime, I remain hopeful that, by some miracle, a wonderful new job opportunity will come my way. The way I picture it in my head is...me sitting on a lift on a bluebird powder day and WHAM....it hits me. I take my helmet off and look very thoughtful. And then when I get off the lift I have an epic run in hip-deep pow. Guess that only happens in the movies, huh? :p I did make an attempt to get out of this field once before and wasn't successful, for numerous reasons.

Thanks, all.

[redrhodie]

In the meantime, I remain hopeful that, by some miracle, a wonderful new job opportunity will come my way. The way I picture it in my head is...me sitting on a lift on a bluebird powder day and WHAM....it hits me. I take my helmet off and look very thoughtful. And then when I get off the lift I have an epic run in hip-deep pow. Guess that only happens in the movies, huh? :p I did make an attempt to get out of this field once before and wasn't successful, for numerous reasons.

Thanks, all.

No, it's not only in the movies. You control your life. Visualize what you really want, and go for it. It doesn't take a miracle. A strategically sent resume will help that job find you, btw ;)