Probably not right sub but…
Background: I work in a specialized field required all over North America. Because of this I am never “home” so I don't really have one. Between jobs (maybe 2 to 3 weeks every 6 months) I stay at a resort I know the owners of and fish, hike, etc. I am off right now and staying there. Close to where I grew up there is a true mega project going on I would love to have my name attached to; problem is I don't have near the seniority in my field. On Monday i got offered a 4 month job with overlapping skills but in a completely different field on the project asking for an answer by Friday. I accepted yesterday; Was told start Monday, August 15. Ok, tight but doable.
The issue: Yesterday evening they said “actually, we need you for training on Saturday morning” . I emailed back and said (politely) “The training is a 3 hour drive away and starts at 8am. That means I have to leave on Friday giving me less than two days to pack, sort, and organize everything and be ready to work for 4 months straight. NO! I can make the training on Saturday but will be leaving after to arrange my affairs and will not be able to start on the 15, but rather the 22. Today the phone calls came.
Why do I have to leave Friday if training is on Saturdays? Because I am not getting up at 4am and driving a tired 3 hours in the dark exactly like we are told in every safety meeting! (Only thing I can think of didn't want to pay hotel)
Why can't I be ready in time for the 15?
Because you took my 4.5 days to prep and cut it down to 1.5.
Then the threats of well we can probably make mid week work but any later we will see… Aka be in town Tuesday ready to work Tuesday or else…
When I asked what the plan was if I didn't even accept the job until tomorrow as per offer sheet I just got a long pause followed by make it work.
It's an established company and the new field experience would be good but a lot of red flags went up. I really don't like being bullied and their cheapness to avoid paying hotel or telling me to break safety procedure by driving tired in the dark is concerning. Add all this to cutting my 4 day lead time to 1.5 and blaming me for not being able to be ready… I am good but not that good. I haven't even officially put 1 hour of work in for this company and this is how they treat me. Go F yourself.
I remember my first ever job in my field 9 years ago; call came Christmas Eve and asked if I could be on airplane January 2. They bent over backwards to accomodate me when I agreed. What is wrong with companies today?