Travelling for Work [Ethics] Question

[haydensydney]

Really quick question as I am interested to hear everyones position on this:

SCENARIO: You go on a work trip for a few nights (crossing multiple timezones) and get home from the airport close to midnight. The next morning you need to go to work. Do you:

1) Go to work at the normal time, even though you're tired as #%$@
2) Go to work a little later, though you're in work by 10
3) Get to work before lunchtime
4) Work from home

Other criteria:
- Workplace is flexible
- No meetings planned so otherwise clear day
- Supportive manager

What do you think is acceptable and why?

 

[baggers89]

Did you know that you would be arriving home late before you left?
If so, before you leave you could try and negotiate a day off with your manager or maybe a late start/finish.

 

[JohnK]

Agree with the post above.

I would negotiate a day off as I have done in the past when I have arrived back late at night or early morning.

We had someone who would work out of Perth office for 2 weeks at a time so his deal was to work in Perth office for 9 days of 10 and have a day off in lieu of travel time.

Personally I do not think it is unreasonable to have a day off for travelling in your own time. Work and travel is not as glamorous as it sounds especially when working 7 days straight overseas....

 

[dajop]

Either day off if negotiated (depending on workload, in some jobs, sometimes days off just don't help at all), or just work from home. Failing that it is not unreasonable to go in a bit later.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

the 'right' time to arrive is the time it feels right to arrive. If you feel like you're taking the mickey then you've probably arrived too late.

 

[mella2007]

I would agree with the day off...or even a half day. Often when travelling I am wide awake the first part of the day and crash for the rest of it.
If they've organised your travel and flight times, there needs to be some sort of flexibility on their part (and if you have a great Manager that is 3/4 the battle done)

 

[Flashback]

As a general rule I won't travel in my own time, only work time. If they put you on the 4pm (or whatever time it is) out of Perth to Sydney, then I'd be expecting at least 6 hours time in lieu as a result (to be taken at an agreed time). If I am travelling in work time, then that's fine, they're paying you anyway.

 

[SeatBackForward]

"Work" from home.. AKA...have the email turned on, check it regularly, but otherwise spend time with the family in between repsonding to emails..

 

[Deleted member]

Go in normal time to " check everything is right" leave early to recharge after long flight.


It is I, Leclerc !

 

[quark]

As a manager I don't want tired employees at work. There are fatigue issues even in an office. I would expect them to stay at home resting for half a day and then come in for the second half or work from home later in the day (usually only for employees I know will actually do some work).

 

[RWJ777]

For me, the nature of multiple timezones is what is important. If they are international timezones, then absolutely agree with general comments here that you should take a day off. However, if we're talking Syd-Ade-Per timezone variations, I don't think that's enough to ground a full day off. I reckon if you're in by noon, you're OK but you wouldn't want it any longer than that. I've worked till 2 am then needed to be in again by 10 am.

 

[Major]

If there is no urgency to go to the office then turn up when you are sufficiently rested

 

[richie9x]

It real depends on the circumstances. How long was the flight, the difference in timezone and even the direction you are travelling (I find going west with the sun much easier than going east against the sun). When I was younger I attempted to do a full days work after a flight that got in at midnight, did ok the next morning but ended up falling asleep in the afternoon. Now at the very least I would take half a day off.

If you work for a big company that does a fair amount of travelling you probably have a travel policy that covers it. I have a good boss that doesn't really care the exact hours I start or stop, the important thing is that I get the work done that was assigned to me and keep the customers happy.

 

[oz_mark]

Did you know that you would be arriving home late before you left?
If so, before you leave you could try and negotiate a day off with your manager or maybe a late start/finish.

This.

I would have discussed a start time the next day with my manager. Usually some sort of position suitable to both sides can be found.

 

[2impulsiv]

"Work" from home.. AKA...have the email turned on, check it regularly, but otherwise spend time with the family in between repsonding to emails..

Agree! That's exactly what I do...

 

[coyote25]

Really quick question as I am interested to hear everyones position on this:

SCENARIO: You go on a work trip for a few nights (crossing multiple timezones) and get home from the airport close to midnight. The next morning you need to go to work. Do you:

1) Go to work at the normal time, even though you're tired as #%$@
2) Go to work a little later, though you're in work by 10
3) Get to work before lunchtime
4) Work from home

Other criteria:
- Workplace is flexible
- No meetings planned so otherwise clear day
- Supportive manager

What do you think is acceptable and why?

I would work from home as long as I didn't have a need to actually be in the office, at least that's the preference. More often I arrive an hour late the next day.

 

[harvyk]

Arrive in later or take the day off...
You've just put your life on hold for the company, the company should be able to cut you some slack in regards to catching up on some sleep.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Really quick question as I am interested to hear everyones position on this:

SCENARIO:
1) Go to work at the normal time, even though you're tired as #%$@
2) Go to work a little later, though you're in work by 10
3) Get to work before lunchtime
4) Work from home

Other criteria:
- Workplace is flexible
- No meetings planned so otherwise clear day
- Supportive manager

What do you think is acceptable and why?

2, 3, 4 are all acceptable. With 2 being more than needed but most likely for me and going home a bit early.

It also depends on your role, seniority and remuneration agreement which may state working outside normal hours on occasions is expected and your pay factors this need in.

 

[vitagen]

I would say taking the day off would be acceptable and i guess any urgent issues can be resolved over the phone

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Fantic125]

Our company has an unwritten agreement that in situations like you've described you would usually have the next day off, but if something urgent arises you would be available by phone or email.

If I'm feeling ok, then sometimes I'll go into the office the next day but that becomes my choice to do so.

I wouldn't say that I'll work from home but then spend time with the family; in my opinion you either do work from home or have the day off and spend time with the family.
(Not getting on a moral high-horse here, but there's still a lot of people (including managers) who have the perception that 'working from home' means having a bludge, which can make it difficult for people who do genuinely work from home occasionally).