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.

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.

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?