I am required to take weekend Business trips without any benefits in return.

Anonymous

August 11,2022 at 5:33PM UTC

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I am required to take weekend Business trips without any benefits in return. Is this normal?

I just started a new job in Medical Device Business Development which has a very rigid in person work schedule. I am here 8-5 without much wiggle room even to leave a tad early.

I have to attend multiple conferences a year (4-8) which last all weekend. Since I am salary, I am not paid for travel time or overtime. I also will not be able to take days off officially or unofficially to make up for my lost weekends / personal time. This is hard because I cannot work from home, so I would struggle to completed my weekly chores. I only get 10 days PTO and 12 days of sick leave a year, so I very much value my personal time.

Is this normal in business?? I graduated in 2019 so most of my experience was working remotely during Covid.

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AnonymousAugust 11,2022 at 7:08PM UTC
This arrangement rests on the company policy and employee handbook. Have you consulted HR? How do other travelers at your company handle their time?
I would consult HR and your manager. If there is no formal policy then I would propose a personal plan and lay it out in writing that for every full day away from home, you will be granted a pto day or a partial day in return. Furthermore, you can propose any arrangement you feel is fair and wait to negotiate this because chances are the company leadership will weigh in on any approvals requirements to set this arrangement in stone.
AnonymousAugust 11,2022 at 7:37PM UTC
HR explained this to me based on policy but it was not outlined in the handbook or to me directly before taking the position.
I have spoken to others and their manger gave them unofficial days off. Mine won't though. I thought this was weird that different departments have different policies.
Alexis GladstoneAugust 11,2022 at 9:39PM UTC
There is company policy and there are managers willing to bend the rules. I always gave team members extra time off when they had to fly out on a Sunday or back on a Saturday or if they were running training programs that went into the evenings. It's too bad your manager won't do that especially since other managers do.
Maybe once you've been there for 6-12 months you can revisit this with your manager.
AnonymousAugust 12,2022 at 12:30PM UTC
Did they explain the travel schedule during the interview or has this changed since you started?
AnonymousAugust 12,2022 at 7:41PM UTC
They did not explain it nor is it defined in handbook. I asked for clarification a while ago and finally received an answer.
AnonymousAugust 12,2022 at 1:55PM UTC
this is pretty normal. However, most managers will usually let you flex time off during the week to make up for it. It won't be a complete 1 for 1 makeup, but you can leave early, etc. It also may not be in the same week based on business needs. For example, travel two weeks in a row on weekends, but then take off Friday on the third or 4th week. It will likely not be a "policy" or something you apply for, but more an agreement with your manager.
AnonymousAugust 12,2022 at 7:44PM UTC
That seems reasonable but I was told that would not be the case.