Minor job relocation

[Butter]

My boss told me yesterday that he is consolidating offices with our other office in Cincinnati... so I will now have to drive from my home in Southeast Dayton to Northern Cincinnati every day for work. At least I fared better than the receptionist... she was fired.

The CFO told me to check my mileage, and they would give me some kind of increase based on my new commute. No idea what that means, but it will be a raise of some kind, just don't know what they have in mind.

The commute will now be extended from 11.5 miles to 42.5 miles each way... That's an extra 310 miles per week... which, if we're going at the current gov't mileage rate of 44.5 cents per mile, would be almost a $3.50 per hour raise. Considering I make around $15/hr. now, I just don't see them bumping that up to $18.50 for a sales support position.

My problem is that both of my cars have over 100k miles on them, and I really don't want to replace them any time soon. But frankly, doing the kind of work that I do, I probably wouldn't even come close to getting paid this well anywhere else.

Suggestions? I don't mind the drive, but I'm going to have to fill up about three times as often as I do now, which is going to be at least another $60 every two weeks. Should I expect more than that? My wife thinks I should expect the $3.50 raise. I think that I should just be thankful to still have a job, and any raise on top of what I make now is just them being nice.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

My boss told me yesterday that he is consolidating offices with our other office in Cincinnati... so I will now have to drive from my home in Southeast Dayton to Northern Cincinnati every day for work. At least I fared better than the receptionist... she was fired.

The CFO told me to check my mileage, and they would give me some kind of increase based on my new commute. No idea what that means, but it will be a raise of some kind, just don't know what they have in mind.

The commute will now be extended from 11.5 miles to 42.5 miles each way... That's an extra 310 miles per week... which, if we're going at the current gov't mileage rate of 44.5 cents per mile, would be almost a $3.50 per hour raise. Considering I make around $15/hr. now, I just don't see them bumping that up to $18.50 for a sales support position.

My problem is that both of my cars have over 100k miles on them, and I really don't want to replace them any time soon. But frankly, doing the kind of work that I do, I probably wouldn't even come close to getting paid this well anywhere else.

Suggestions? I don't mind the drive, but I'm going to have to fill up about three times as often as I do now, which is going to be at least another $60 every two weeks. Should I expect more than that? My wife thinks I should expect the $3.50 raise. I think that I should just be thankful to still have a job, and any raise on top of what I make now is just them being nice.

THat stinks. I had something similar to that happen recently as well. My company was purchased a year ago, and as part of that, my office I went into when I was at home was consolidated to another office in the same region. Only problem is that meant a 1 hour and 30 minute commute either direction with no traffic. On days before long weekends or when accidents occured it could be up to as much as a 3 hour trip one way. Luckily for me I travel alot for work, so did not have to do that every week.

Usually by every friday though when I was home, I was really worn down from about 17-18 hours of driving in the car that week for work. I really don't see how truckers or others who drive for a living do it. My solution was to finally just move closer to the new building. Now when I'm home, its a 25 minute drive usually each way which is much nicer. I thought of all the ways I could be more productive with my time, but instead find the extra hour just going to my beauty sleep

[Bee]

My first instinct was to say "something small, if anything" since you usually consolidate offices to save money and giving out raises kind of goes against the whole saving money idea. But since the CFO said they'd give you some kind of increase to offset your additional expenses, I'd expect something in the $1-$2 range at most.

[stevew]

310 miles, you figure if you get 20 miles per gallon in your car, you're looking at an extra 40-50 dollars a week in gas. I don't think you can get the whole gov't rate, but 2 bucks is what I would shoot for, at least.

[Arctus]

Sounds like your company is willing to work with you on this. You'll drive yourself crazy if you try to track every penny, especially since your company isn't obligated to do anything for you. My company sends me all over the country on short term and semi-pemanent assignments, with a different deal made for each assignment. (Right now I have a 120 mile commute each way, but I have been provided a company vehicle.)

If I was in your shoes, I'd ask for a 10% raise, which is probably as much as your company won't flinch at. If it goes well, somehow express the thought that you don't want this raise to be a factor when determining your year end raise.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Although I'm surprised that they offered to do anything (nothing against you, it just strikes me as an unusual gesture on their part) I'd guess that they'll end up adding an amount that would offset the estimated $60/2 wks hit you were going to take on gas. Figure 40 hour/wk, that'd be something like $0.75 an hour.

[WebEwbank]

Advice: Dont try to out-Einstein yourself. Simply calculate the real added mileage and costs and present them (as the CFO requested). Then the decision is on the company to (a) cover all the new expenses or (b) cover part of them. This strategy prevents you from lowballing or highballing in a request...

[dixieflatline]

Can you give me the email address of your boss? I want to complain. The extra time you are on the road is time that you could spend updating your Posh dynasty! Seriously, I completely agree with Web on this one. Also, I would consider putting feelers out for a different job just to be safe.

[BuffaloHuskey]

Based on my calculations, you will have to drive an extra 62 miles per day or 310 miles per work week. At 20 miles per gallon, you will have to use an additional 15.5 gallons of gas each week. I estimate gas costs at $3.30 per gallon, or an additional $51.15 per week in gas costs. Add an additional .10 per mile for wear and tear which would be $31 dollars for a total additional cost of $82.15 per week. Add the additional hour or so you will be commuting to work each day ($15* 5 hours) $45. This would be a total calculated cost of $127.15. Assuming you work 40 hours a week, your raise should be around $3.17 per hour. I would think that may be a bit steep so but I would think that asking for $2.50-$3.00 per hour would be fairly reasonable. The additional cost to the Company would only be abot $6 grand per year. It would cost a lot more to hire someone to replace you than to pay you the extra $6,000.

Just my 2 cents

[Arctus]

Originally Posted by BuffaloHuskey

Based on my calculations, you will have to drive an extra 62 miles per day or 310 miles per work week. At 20 miles per gallon, you will have to use an additional 15.5 gallons of gas each week. I estimate gas costs at $3.30 per gallon, or an additional $51.15 per week in gas costs. Add an additional .10 per mile for wear and tear which would be $31 dollars for a total additional cost of $82.15 per week. Add the additional hour or so you will be commuting to work each day ($15* 5 hours) $45. This would be a total calculated cost of $127.15. Assuming you work 40 hours a week, your raise should be around $3.17 per hour. I would think that may be a bit steep so but I would think that asking for $2.50-$3.00 per hour would be fairly reasonable. The additional cost to the Company would only be abot $6 grand per year. It would cost a lot more to hire someone to replace you than to pay you the extra $6,000.

Just my 2 cents

The calculations quoted above are very sound (although I disagree with the part at the end about it being cheaper for your employer to lay out $6K rather than replace you). You can put a multiplier on them to reflect the fact that your actual cash outlay on gas and maintenance reflects post tax costs, and your added salary would be pre-tax. Some people would consider their time (the extra 5 hours) as money, others wouldn't. I don't, since realistically I wouldn't be deriving income for the 10 hours a week I commute to my project field office.

It sounds like you have a positive, two way relationship with your employer. That has value too, especially since you have assessed that you are currently making above what you think you could readily find. Don't forget, there is value in getting a salary bump (that your future bumps will stack on top of).

At the end of the day, if you enjoy your current work situation and employer, I would ask for an amount that makes you feel whole. If you need to crunch every penny, do so. If you appreciate a small raise as acknowledgement that your reality has changed a bit, ask for that. Your CFO will understand your point of view based on what you end up asking for.

[Butter]

Appreciate the thoughtful feedback, guys. If anyone else has any thoughts, feel free to share... the meeting with the CFO is to take place tomorrow.

[Butter]

I had the meeting, and it sounded like they were going to give me $3-$4 an hour more for my new job location to offset travel costs. They must really like me!

[Logan]

Good news. I didn't see this yesterday, and would've chimed in that there's talk of the gov't mileage rate going up to $0.605, so that should be taken into account. But if you're happy with what they're offering, and it sounds like you are, that's great.

[Young Drachma]

That's awesome that they're willing to work with you.