Articles

If you're seeking a job with a major consulting company, or you're going to sell for a living or manage a national or international division of a corporation, it isn't rare to see that one of the requirements of earning the post is your willingness to travel "50%" or "75%" of the time.

This means, literally, you'll be living out of a suitcase, which under absolutely ideal conditions may be peachy.

You might be single, and relish the idea of seeing the world and potentially meeting exotic romantic partners.

You'll never have to buy a bottle of shampoo or a bar of soap or a newspaper subscription, again. Most of your meals will be paid for, unless you hook up with one of those new-breed cheapie outfits requiring you to cook for yourself.

But the incessant jet lag you'll suffer, and the borderline psychosis that will accompany it, won't do anything positive for your diplomacy, your blood pressure or your longevity.

And if you are married going into the job, you'll rather quickly face an option. You can either keep your frequent flyer program bulging with miles you're too busy and too tired to use, or you can keep your spouse.

Being required to travel "50-75%" of the time is the equivalent of a death sentence to a marriage. First, those numbers lie. If you are in transit 50% of the time, for functional purposes, you're really on the road 100%, emotionally.

You never get a chance to simply STOP, to smell the proverbial roses, or to coach your kid's sports teams, if you decide to have kids.

You must ask yourself, "What is it worth to me, denominated in dollars," to forego these pleasures of the rooted life? And if I lose my spouse and family through divorce, how much will I be out of pocket for lawyers and property splits, as well as for spousal and child support?

How much will it cost my children in counseling fees over a lifetime to manage the mental fallout from my widow-and-orphan making travel schedule?

And what will I do without a family support system?

These are all COSTS, most of which are hidden, downplayed, and certainly uncompensated for by the family-unfriendly companies that design road-warrior jobs.

I'm here to say you need to be compensated for your suffering, and for the inevitable sacrifices you'll make on behalf of these firms.

If you're on the clock 24 hours a day for them, you should be paid AT LEAST THREE TIMES what an eight hour, local assignment would provide, and at least twice what the typical, "If you don't come in on Saturday, don't come in on Sunday," 12 hour a day marathon jobs, pay.

Add to this the hazard pay, the risk premium that you'll need to garner to fix broken families, and your broken down body and spirits after you do this road work for more than a year or two.

"But companies will never pay the true costs and true value of these jobs!" you might contend.

One thing is for sure. They won't, if you don't negotiate for these items.

Are you looking for "best practices" negotiation, sales, customer service, or telemarketing training? Contact us.

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