Commute between Melissa and Las Colinas (Dallas, Fort Worth: home, living in, moving)

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by texstout

I think it depends upon the company and role how much flexibility the OP has. He literally just took the role knowing how far away the company is. They are currently only making him come in 2-3 days a week. That may be because they want him to learn on the job, participate in meetings, absorb the culture, etc.It doesn't hurt to ask the company for flexibility, but I wouldn't judge them horribly if they preferred core office hours at least of 10-4. He should have asked about flexibility before accepting a job with a killer commute.

Agree 100%

The company should also have done their due diligence during his interviews and asked him about his commute tolerance. Whenever I am hiring, and I see a candidate whose address alerts me they will have a horrible commute, I ask them about it. I would much rather get it out in the open and discuss it than to have the candidate take the job, only to quit 3 months later when they realize the commute is awful. And then I have to re-post, and go through the hiring process all over again.

[biafra4life]

Originally Posted by Philip T

Just have to very firm with the management. They know the mess they are helping create.

A few ways to improve things:

1. Start time before 6am or after 10am. End time by 2pm or after 6pm
2. Fewer day, longer days. For example -- (3) 12s. See #1 for when to schedule.
3. Split office / home. Again few(er) days making trip / office (#2), and per #1 -- when you do not hit traffic.

If they do not care to help you help them -- employers are VERY Replaceable right now.

Well that depends on just what level of job he's getting. Top level executive/CEO/high demand producer? absolutely he has the leverage and can negotiate. Worker bee? highly unlikely they agree, but hey it doesnt hurt to ask.

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by biafra4life

Well that depends on just what level of job he's getting. Top level executive/CEO/high demand producer? absolutely he has the leverage and can negotiate. Worker bee? highly unlikely they agree, but hey it doesnt hurt to ask.

I tend to reverse that. I look at it as how smart the company is.

A dumb company will (or at least may) expect you to do dumb things. It fits with how they see the world.

(like park in traffic 2 hours a day x 5 days x 50 weeks = 500 hours = 3 months of work)

A smart company will want smart people and want to do smart things.

(like save time and make everyone money)

So I tend to use this as a "reverse filter" and cut the dumb managers and dumb companies out right up front.

And dumb folks are not usually just dumb in one dimension (such as schedules) -- they tend to be dumb in just about anyway they can..

It is soooo nice to not to work with dumb companies and dumb managers.

[mastershake575]

Originally Posted by fuhongl

Man, you guys are tearing me apart. I was trying to get some positive from here.

I mean to be fair your in the 4th biggest metroplex in the entire US and have a 40-45 mile commute with alot of being tolls. Not really going to be a ton of positives

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by texstout

I think it depends upon the company and role how much flexibility the OP has. He literally just took the role knowing how far away the company is. They are currently only making him come in 2-3 days a week. That may be because they want him to learn on the job, participate in meetings, absorb the culture, etc.It doesn't hurt to ask the company for flexibility, but I wouldn't judge them horribly if they preferred core office hours at least of 10-4. He should have asked about flexibility before accepting a job with a killer commute.

Good points, well taken.

For what you are describing -- I would go for "core hours" as you say of 10 to 2. Not saying just 4 hours -- once you have wrecked a day with work, you might as well work -- but rather say on a come-early day, you get gone by 2 to beat traffic home.


As far as which days . . . Dump Mondays -- something like 5 (of 50) are holidays anyway -- so that means 10% are already lost. And Dump Fridays . . . so many places do 4-10s, or 9/80s, or short Fridays -- they do not produce much (unless you like quiet) anyway.

[fuhongl]

Ok, I have worked for a week, I commuted for 4 days and WFH Friday. It is terrible.
I am going to quit, maybe next week.
I could have quit the day 1 or 2, but I feel bad for my boss and the company, they did treat me well, I am going to hurt them.
In the future, it is going to be 2 or 3 days a week commute. But I don't think I can take it.
Btw, I don't have money problem. And before this job, I wasn't working either. So after quit, I just go back to enjoy life.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by fuhongl

Ok, I have worked for a week, I commuted for 4 days and WFH Friday. It is terrible.
I am going to quit, maybe next week.
I could have quit the day 1 or 2, but I feel bad for my boss and the company, they did treat me well, I am going to hurt them.
In the future, it is going to be 2 or 3 days a week commute. But I don't think I can take it.
Btw, I don't have money problem. And before this job, I wasn't working either. So after quit, I just go back to enjoy life.

Think this through very carefully.

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by fuhongl

Ok, I have worked for a week, I commuted for 4 days and WFH Friday. It is terrible.
I am going to quit, maybe next week.
I could have quit the day 1 or 2, but I feel bad for my boss and the company, they did treat me well, I am going to hurt them.
In the future, it is going to be 2 or 3 days a week commute. But I don't think I can take it.
Btw, I don't have money problem. And before this job, I wasn't working either. So after quit, I just go back to enjoy life.

A+

You cannot cut bad management any slack.

[Rakin]

Actually you limited yourself to these types of commute when you decided a big cheap home in Melissa was where you wanted to live. You eliminated about 85% of the available jobs to this type of commute.

Luckily you don't have to work downtown Dallas.

So you just have to do it and see how it works.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by fuhongl

Ok, I have worked for a week, I commuted for 4 days and WFH Friday. It is terrible.
I am going to quit, maybe next week.
I could have quit the day 1 or 2, but I feel bad for my boss and the company, they did treat me well, I am going to hurt them.
In the future, it is going to be 2 or 3 days a week commute. But I don't think I can take it.
Btw, I don't have money problem. And before this job, I wasn't working either. So after quit, I just go back to enjoy life.

And this is exactly why I don’t like to hire people who would be making a lengthy commute.

I always wonder where all of those people who live in Melissa/Anna work, or if they all just put up with the horrible commute. If they work in McKinney, Frisco or north Plano, it wouldn’t be too bad. But anywhere else in the metroplex would be awful.