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Topic: Commute Times (UK)

Posts 1 to 20 of 156

NedStarksGhost

Hey all, I am debating looking for a new job at the moment. I live in the UK, North Wales to be specific. My current job is very local, takes me about 20 minutes to drive to the offices. I'm just trying to figure out how much of my spare time I am willing to give up to travel to the office and if it's worth it (I'm quite unhappy in my job at the moment).

The longest I have ever had to commute for work is around 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. I've seen some opportunities that are around 1 hour away, maybe 1 hour 15 minutes with traffic. Unsure what my maximum should be.

When not working from home, what is your average commute? And what would you all say is your absolute maximum you'd be willing to do?

Should really say I'm talking more about driving as opposed to public transport but welcome all opinions!

NedStarksGhost

Octane

5 minutes

Octane

NedStarksGhost

@Octane Wow that's good, would be hard to give that up I imagine!

NedStarksGhost

render

I used to travel over an hour each way and the drive just killed me. I was forever getting stuck in traffic and some days it could be 2 hours before I got home if there was an accident or road works. It would be even worse for me now as that is time that I wouldn't get to spend with the kids.

I don't know about other sectors but a lot of tech jobs since covid have now gone fully working from home, with maybe the odd day or two in the office if you need to. Several friends have mentioned that the companies they work for are now happy to recruit from much further afield than they would have before and it sounds like that's a growing trend.

Edited on by render

render

NedStarksGhost

@render That is my worry about a job 1 hour away, especially motorways as there always seems to be accidents with people seeming to be rushing more and getting agitated.

Yeah I think in my job, also a tech job, they are doing more remote working with the odd day in the office. The only worry is that they one day call on people to return to the office more frequently until it's a regular thing again.

NedStarksGhost

nessisonett

15 minute walk to the train station, 7 minute journey. 5-10 minutes walk to uni depending on building/whether I go into Greggs.

Plumbing’s just Lego innit. Water Lego.

Trans rights are human rights.

render

@NedStarksGhost You'd need to make sure that in your terms of employment your regular place of work was home and that you might be required to work in the office from time to time but not as a rule. I'd imagine that most companies should have done that if they take you on and you're not based near the office. Also some firms are actively getting rid of offices or downsizing them as they no longer require that space. In those cases they couldn't actually have all the employees in the office at the same time anyway.

It's hard to know if things will change back to the way they were but if you are as unhappy as you seem then it might be worth thinking about it just to get out of that situation.

render

RogerRoger

@NedStarksGhost It's always a balancing act. The longer your journey, the more delays it could suffer, and the more likely you'll end up on a motorway with everybody else at that time in the morning / evening, stuck in traffic. It's different for everybody (depends on your tolerance for being behind the wheel, I suppose) but I'd suggest that an hour should be your upper limit. If only because, on average, it'll take a little longer than whatever Google Maps is telling you.

I'm sorry you're not happy in your current role. Tech jobs are tough to predict. You could move and find yourself in the same situation, or worse, but it's always worth a look-see. Best of luck!

And to answer your question, my average peacetime commute used to be forty minutes on a train. I always caught a service far earlier than I actually needed, so that I could grab a coffee and a seat. That being said, my journey was still frequently subjected to divine interference from the Railway Gods.

"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."

PSN: GDS_2421
Making It So Since 1987

NedStarksGhost

@render I'd look into that and keep an eye out about the contract of employment with regards to working from home, good shout. I think a hybrid system would be managable, and a lot of firms in my field tend to do flexible working so I could leave earlier and come home earlier to avoid peak times on the days I'm in. As you said could be worth considering just to have a new start from my current job.

@RogerRoger All very true, my tolerance behind the wheel is lower than average, probably. I've had to do 1 hour daily travel before but on a site where I would be working long hours too, so not a fair comparison. You're right about Google, I should consider that, it's always optimistic. I do usually like to leave early for my commute too just to avoid peak times and have a relaxing stop on long distances if needs be.

Thank you for the good luck wishes! I wish I was happy in my current role but there's numerous issues within the firm at the minute causing friction and frustration, and I don't feel like I'm doing the job I should be and doing work that is below my skill level. I won't go into it though but yeah, maybe it's worth a try leaving just to see!

On a differnet note, love the name and profile gif! Are you excited for the Bad Batch finale on Friday?

NedStarksGhost

MatthewJP

Maybe if you can get chance, do some trial runs at the sort of time you'd be travelling just to get an idea of the journey on an average day. Also got to factor in school holidays - roads are so much clearer when the schools are shut. Then think about doing a 7-9hr shift on top of that journey each day. I'd say an hour tops for commuting but each to their own. The pandemic has changed so much in terms of flexible working where that's possible, so if you could get a job where you aren't expected in each day or can at least arrive/leave to avoid rush hour then the benefits of being happier in a new job may be worth the extra travel. Also think about travel costs too.

PSN: mpquikster

JohnnyShoulder

About 30 minutes on a bus. I'm looking to move so could be a 10 minute walk to the office.

Life is more fun when you help people succeed, instead of wishing them to fail.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

PSN: JohnnyShoulder

NedStarksGhost

@MatthewJP yeah true, some good points. I think a lot of firms in my field are open to very flexible working to suit you.

Lots of food for thought on this, thanks everyone.

NedStarksGhost

ralphdibny

@NedStarksGhost how long is your day?

I do an 8 hour day and my maximum travel time is 1hr30 each way unless I get paid for the time. That normally includes both the train and walking to the station. So that's 11 hour total working day.

I am a zero hour contractor though so I can drop longer lasting jobs if I'm finding the commute unbearable. I did a 6 month stint at a place that wanted us on site for 9 hours instead of 8 which means I was doing a 12+ hour day with my travel. That's too much for me. It was basically, wake, travel, work, travel, cook, eat, shower, sleep and then the same again. It killed me and I'll never do that again as a long term thing.

I'd say an 11 hour day including travel is my maximum but if I was doing it every day then I'd want it to be closer to 10 hours. If I could work from home for most of the week (I can't at all unfortunately) then I wouldn't mind doing an 11-12 hour day on a single day per week.

I think train vs. car makes a huge difference too. The train can be uncomfortable if it's busy but I prefer the fact that the element of lateness is completely out of your hands. Traffic is unpredictable but I find that managers tend to hold me responsible as if I could have left earlier than I'm willing to for the amount of time I'm contracted for. (I actually had this put in our contract when they finally gave us one last year - we wont be expected to travel more than one hour each way to a job without pro rata remuneration for our time. It was kind of a verbal rule before that but it would always have to be negotiated whereas now it's in writing.) But if something goes wrong with the train, it's delayed or cancelled or whatever, that is nothing you can do anything about as it's completely out of your hands. So i prefer the lack of culpability. Plus they are more reliable in terms of not being delayed anyway compared to a rush hour drive so it's less of an issue.

But yeah, I know I have unpaid travel time in my contract but there is a bit of give and take. I'd be willing to do a bit of extra travel for certain jobs if I find them palatable and less willing for jobs that are total nightmares.

See ya!

render

@ralphdibny You’ve definitely got to find that balance. Like you say if you enjoy the job then you don’t kind so much but if ever your feelings towards that change then you just end up resenting all the travel, and any time you are stuck in traffic just adds to the frustration.

I would certainly struggle to go back to the office full time if that involved a long commute but I could see the reason for doing it every now and then. Meetings are another thing that ends up being a major frustration. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to travel hours to one to find out it was a complete waste of time or lasted 30 mins or an hour. That sort of stuff we’ve got covered these days with zoom and the like so there’s just no need.

render

ralphdibny

@render yeah it's certainly a difficult one. My partner and I are planning to move in together very soon. We've chosen a town that's about an hour away from both of our jobs but is half way in between the two so I'm hoping that goes well I guess!

I think once we've moved in, I am going to try and make a concerted effort to find somewhere new to work as well.

But yeah for sure, I definitely resent the travel for sucky jobs. Or jobs that could be done way more efficiently and take less time. Or my biggest bugbear which is just being on site the full time for the sake of it. There's nothing to do whatsoever but they want to keep you there the full wack for reasons I can't fathom.

See ya!

MatthewJP

Its an interesting topic and the responses show how different it can be from one employer to the next - some seem to be d¡cks just for the sake of it. Surely getting a happy workforce is better and more productive. Sure there will always be bad eggs that take the p!ss and ruin it for everyone else.

Still have to admire those who have no choice but to work on site and often for minimum wage - they keep the country going

PSN: mpquikster

Th3solution

@NedStarksGhost Although my commute isn’t bad at all, I know people who do an hour or two total commute time daily and inevitably it wears on them. It’s almost always cited as a negative for friends and co-workers who commute.

It’s all about what one is used to I suppose, as people in NYC, LA and large metropolitan areas rarely live in the city and commute an hour each way from the suburbs or neighboring towns. It’s just a way of life for them, and I assume London is a similar situation.

I have known people who enjoy their commute. With the breadth of podcasts, music streaming, audiobooks, and even mobile gaming (if you ride the train or bus) then you can really get a lot done during that 1-2 hours of sitting around.

Still, I think 30 minutes each way is roughly a tipping point where I see people start to complain about their commute. Less than that is tolerable for many years, more than that and it wears on people week after week, until eventually it becomes a motivator to change jobs after a few years of it. Again, depending on your circumstances of course.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

NedStarksGhost

@ralphdibny so my day is around 8.5 hours with a 1/2 hour unpaid lunch. If I'm in the office then 20 minute commute usually.

Yeah I can see what you mean. I've been told off before for hitting unexpected traffic, as if I should now my regular route will suddenly have a traffic jam! When I was younger in this place, a manager got annoyed at me coming in 1/2 hour past the latest flexi-time start. I had no record of being late, and explained there was traffic on a main roundabout to the office, which doesn't usually happen, still it was my fault and it was "should have left earlier". So you're dead right, cars people expect you on time even when the elements are against you!

I had the same issue with a site, where I was there from around 10-12 hours there, admittedly a lot of waiting around but still time there, and then 2.5 hours travel total. That was painful.

I always thought 1 hour is my absolute maximum commute, but even then it feels like it may be too much. But it depends on the job I guess...

Difficult decisions.

I also loathe being on site for the sake of looking busy. My manager once kept me on site to look at a single, unimportant, could easily wait till next visit, thing. I was so annoyed as I had a 2.5-3 hour drive back and he knows full well the traffic can be awful.

Edited on by NedStarksGhost

NedStarksGhost

NedStarksGhost

@Th3solution Yeah that makes sense. If I could use public transport (I can't in my work, you need to have the car available in case of a call out) I definitely would. I would feel it's just spare time I can read or play on the Switch or anything like that. But driving, I don't get the same feeling. Like people I know listen to podcasts and audio books, but to me it's just background noise when concentrating on the road.

My dad said to me that the commute time you save travelling somewhere local is really worth that pay drop, just for quality of life...

After all the comments here, I am starting to think 1 hour is too much, even if it's only 1 day a week it's still 1 day a week of motorway driving and potential traffic, delays getting home and all that...

NedStarksGhost

ralphdibny

@NedStarksGhost ahh I hate the unpaid lunch thing. Whether it's paid or not, it still contributes to your time away from home and is work related so it contributes to the length of your overall working day.

I don't think it's unfair to ask what the length of the usual working day is (including a lunch break) during the interview process. Ultimately it will make an impact on your decision when you sign the contract. A 9-5 is an 8 hour day and i believe is pretty much standard. I think some contracts will sort of say how much overtime may be expected and the frequency of it which I think will ultimately be a matter for HR if you feel the expectations have become unreasonable and gone past whatever vague statement is in your contract.

But yeah, best of luck with it. I know it's nerve wracking! I applied for my first new job (pretty much since I started working!) not too long ago and the ups and downs I felt at each stage were just crazy. Especially as I wasn't used to the whole process. I didn't get the job in the end but it's given me a fair idea of what sort of place I'd be willing to work at (i.e. something similar to the one I applied to!) There are certainly similar companies just not necessarily in the same industry so when I'm a bit more settled, I'll be looking for more jobs like that.

It's a bit annoying though, I'm currently in IT relocation which has a breadth of skills including management, logistics, IT support, auditing, customer facing, security etc, the list goes on and on. But because of that, it means I am more of a jack of all trades, master of none which affects my eligibility for certain jobs.

I've been looking at IT support roles but due to the fact I only learn or create solutions when they come up (which is less frequent in my particular job), it means that I don't have a full IT support skill set for specific basic things even though some of the things I do know in that area are quite advanced/innovative.

I think I'd be most comfortable in a permanent role as a Head of Moves and Changes at a company but it feels like very few companies actually have that role. They tend to be huge companies and the role is often already occupied!

See ya!

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