Reality Check: Am I out of line?

[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?

[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.