What are the norms regarding driving to work travel?

[Anonymous]

I just started at a new company 1 week ago and am trying to crowdspurce norms before I ask them about this.

There is an all company conference in a couple weeks. It is a 5.5 hour drive from me. The conference is 11-6pm on a Wednesday and then 9-5pm Thursday.

Everyone else is flying in as the info packet notes "please confirm your flights with your boss". My boss has mentioned several times that I'll be driving there which is fine. I'll leave at 4:30am on Wednesday to get there by the start time. HR reached out to me and let me know "my hotel for the night is booked". So should I assume the company only pays for Wednesday night and I'm expected to drive home Thursday night after it ends, getting home around midnight, and then be on for work as usual Friday morning? Or would you bring up staying Thursday night too and driving home Friday morning?

How does your company handle driving work travel?

[Anonymous]

Since you're spending the night, they should at least reimburse you for mileage.

[Anonymous]

Just fly like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

I’d expect Friday off and mileage.

[Anonymous]

Take a cab to the airport / train whatever and get reimbursed.

[Anonymous]

I would ask the boss how she or he wants it handled. Then I would follow their instructions. Not helpful to guess or to crowd source an answer when one can politely ask.

[Anonymous]

Op here- no one has really given me the option to fly.

During my interview, the VP mentioned they loved that I was close enough to drive to the HQ (insinuating that I could come there a few more times per year than the mandatory 2x) and since I started, my boss has made about 3 comments about me driving to the conference.

[Anonymous]

I’d ask for hotel before and after.

[Anonymous]

Where is everyone else? Anyway, reasonable to ask about staying over Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Do they understand you’re five hours away? It seems like they are misunderstanding the distance, tbh.

[Anonymous]

Everyone else is spread out across the country. They definitely know I'm 5 hours away because I live in the city.

[Anonymous]

What do you WANT to do? Start from there.

If you want the Thursday hotel and you want to drive, then price that out and show them that's cheaper than a flight.

If you don't want to drive, explain that the drive is rather long and will run late into the night, which takes your time away from working.

If there's a train that works, show them it's cheaper than a flight.

Basically come up with business reasons why what you want to do works.

5.5 hours isn't reasonable driving distance.

[Anonymous]

I would let your boss know that you will leave and drive a couple of hours on Wednesday evening so you need a hotel to complete the drive on Thursday morning. Also, explain that you need a hotel on Thursday as well, because you will be home mid day Friday.

Personally, I think it’s outrageous to have to drive 10-11 hours in 2 days, in addition to attending a conference.

Are YOU ok with this driving travel expectation? Why should you have to drive during your personal time on Thursday night? What if you are tired and not able to safely drive after attending a conference all day and sleeping away from home the night before.

[Anonymous]

I would plan to arrive Wednesday night and leave Friday morning. But there is no standard for this sort of thing. A struggling non-profit is going to have different travel policies than a Fortune 500 company.

I'd be fine with a 5 hour drive (at that distance, flying may actually take longer and would definitely be a more annoying experience), as long as the company is reimbursing mileage, parking, and meals, but not with driving late at night or early in the morning. If there existed a quick non-stop flight and/or a reasonable train route, I might feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they understand you’re five hours away? It seems like they are misunderstanding the distance, tbh.

You should be able to wake up in the city where the meeting will be held.

Talk to your boss and say that you want her guidance given your distance from the meeting location (and desire to participate fully).