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I work for a small government agency in Tucson, AZ. The job has decent pay, but is not really motivating. After a year working on the job, we have started receiving small construction projects in fairly distant cities (up to 300 miles away). Now, my job has turned into a traveling job with up to 50% driving to remote locations all over the southern half of Arizona...some with overnight stays in less-than-desireable areas (small border towns). There are times I can be driving up to 800 miles a week...week after week. Plus, our vehicles are just budget cars.
My problem is that I didn't really sign up for this travel (not in the job description I applied for). Plus, I really don't like repetitious cross-country driving on a regular basis as it requires me to spend nights away from home. Finally, driving really tires me out and it also affects my available work time in the office. Others in my office refuse to travel and that means...more for me. I'm a single guy, but am a serious homebody. How do you cope with a job with lots of "windshield time" for work as there are not many good paying jobs for me in Tucson.
I work for a small government agency in Tucson, AZ. The job has decent pay, but is not really motivating. After a year working on the job, we have started receiving small construction projects in fairly distant cities (up to 300 miles away). Now, my job has turned into a traveling job with up to 50% driving to remote locations all over the southern half of Arizona...some with overnight stays in less-than-desireable areas (small border towns). There are times I can be driving up to 800 miles a week...week after week. Plus, our vehicles are just budget cars.
My problem is that I didn't really sign up for this travel (not in the job description I applied for). Plus, I really don't like repetitious cross-country driving on a regular basis as it requires me to spend nights away from home. Finally, driving really tires me out and it also affects my available work time in the office. Others in my office refuse to travel and that means...more for me. I'm a single guy, but am a serious homebody. How do you cope with a job with lots of "windshield time" for work as there are not many good paying jobs for me in Tucson.
Go to your manager or boss to request for rotations. Everyone has to take turn to travel. If you don't speak up, everyone will make you to do all the hard work probably because you are newer than many others, and they choose the easy work. If somebody has the reason that s/he has family and/or small children; you make up something.
If you have union, bring this issue to the union. This is very unfair.
I work for a small government agency in Tucson, AZ. The job has decent pay, but is not really motivating. After a year working on the job, we have started receiving small construction projects in fairly distant cities (up to 300 miles away). Now, my job has turned into a traveling job with up to 50% driving to remote locations all over the southern half of Arizona...some with overnight stays in less-than-desireable areas (small border towns). There are times I can be driving up to 800 miles a week...week after week. Plus, our vehicles are just budget cars.
My problem is that I didn't really sign up for this travel (not in the job description I applied for). Plus, I really don't like repetitious cross-country driving on a regular basis as it requires me to spend nights away from home. Finally, driving really tires me out and it also affects my available work time in the office. Others in my office refuse to travel and that means...more for me. I'm a single guy, but am a serious homebody. How do you cope with a job with lots of "windshield time" for work as there are not many good paying jobs for me in Tucson.
I am sorry. I had to make frequent visits once upon a time but it was not too far. I recently had to visit two clients and I put 95 miles on my car. It would be tough if I had to do that everyday.
The only thing you can do is start looking for another job. The best time to look is when you have a job.
The positive side is that you will clean up in milage reimbursement.
Go to your manager or boss to request for rotations. Everyone has to take turn to travel. If you don't speak up, everyone will make you to do all the hard work probably because you are newer than many others, and they choose the easy work. If somebody has the reason that s/he has family and/or small children; you make up something.
If you have union, bring this issue to the union. This is very unfair.
Using the "I got family" excuse is discrimination. Everyone should be treated equally. Employers should not care about you "family". They are not on the payroll.
Since this is a government job and this is a substantial change not covered in your original job description, ask for a reclassification at a higher salary.
They may refuse, in which case you are no worse off. They may decide to give you a bump, in which case you are at least being compensated for the travel, or they may avoid the increase by splitting the duties evenly, and you get less travel.
I assume you are submitting travel vouchers and receiving per dime to cover meals. If you are hourly, make sure to put down every hour of windshield time. If you are exempt, talk to your boss about the hours required for travel, and be firm that you need adjusted duties to cover for the drive time.
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