Thanks Paul - I'm glad too. My new job has travel and plenty of pressure, but they have kept me home as promised two weeks or better per month. When I do travel, it's in the western US. It's much easier on me and the family, plus I have such beautiful country to work in. I spent two weeks WORKING in Denali Park this fall.

If my good fortune holds, I will spend the rest of my career working in some extraordinarily places - Glacier Park, Denali, Lake Powell, Zephyr Cove, Sol Duc...

Sometimes I feel like I won the "Job Lottery."

angela

Sounds a LOT better than working in New York, that's for sure. Eric, you have my sympathy...

Wow, sorry to hear about your new job description; that is really something!
I can't believe they dont pay for your room and board when away on the road?

My wife and I raised 5 kids and for years, when they were young my definition of success was the amount of time I spent with my family. I organized my life to maximize my time with them and I'm glad I did because they're all older now.

I truly understand the concepts of 'to each his own' and one of my dearest friends is an oil consultant who works in Dubai half the year on and off, I know many people who travel for a living too.

I just accepted a part-time consulting position with a very large company last month that will have me doing a little traveling from time to time as well now; but the renumeration package is very sweet, and I only work on my terms, not theirs.

So my question is that if this is for a pay cheque, and you "really" don't want to be away from your family; then why? I hope the pay cheque is huge! Mid six figure $$$? Otherwise I'd say no way hosé and replace the pay cheque with something that suits your lifestyle.

Lots of ways to make money, just open up your options more locally and maybe give someone else that job.
fwiw my 2¢
Canadian pennies too, so they ain't worth much ;)

Best of Luck to ya!
NY is a great place to visit anywho......

If it were me I would tell them that you are looking for a place in NY and spend as much time as humanly possible looking for a new gig. They cant expect you to move overnight so I would play that card.

The condo is huge. That will make such a difference.

There is no one size fits all answer here. We are all different. I travel a lot for work and love it. I've been doing it for about 12 years now and wouldn't have it any other way. I can tell you a lot of things that make it great for me, but if you're a homebody, it will just plain suck no matter what. I have lost 2 employees due to travel burn-out.

Some things I do-

The video chat is a good idea. I played online cribbage (Yahoo games) with my son.

I make every trip a semi-vacation by experiencing what the area has to offer. NYC is loaded with fun. I'll check out concerts, skiing, whatever.

I'll often rent a motorcycle and tour around a little or even use it as my transportation when possible.

When I'm home I put the emphasis on quality time. I really focus on the family. They all miss me when I'm gone so it's great to get back with the kids....and the wife ;). It's nice to be missed.

It only works if everyone has the right mindset.

And when the company decides that they need to improve their bottom figures and decides to eliminate positions will they consider the fact that you made this sacrifice for them, or will you feel that you wasted those precious years of your child youth.

Me I will always chose my family over any job.

Something similar happened to me 5 years ago. You have my sympathies - and yes, you pretty much have to deal as best you can right now, I think. Good advice on the family side of things already.

For the expenses your employer isn't covering, look into IRS/Federal per diem tax allowances (rent, food, laundry etc.) for temporary out-of-state/city work assignments. Actual travel expenses (including a vehicle) necessary for business are also directly claimable against your taxes, I believe.

Won't help right now, but it'll make a huge difference when you file next year. Or you could calculate the relief upfront and reduce any withholding accordingly.

Try hard to have the situation resolved before that tax relief expires would be my advice. Unless you can run two households on one paycheck...

Do everything you can to get frequent flier miles. I use a United Visa card and pay for travel with it, fly United when possible, rent a car where I get United miles, pay for meals at restaurants that give double miles, etc. That way, you can take the wifey and kids with you sometimes. In two years, I booked enough miles for the four of us to go to Scotland. I've also used them to go to Hawaii, and a few other places.

What others said, call the wifey a few times during the day. Not paying for your hotel room is BS, look for another job.

On the videochat - see if you can get webcam and videoconf service that will allow to read a page of text placed before camera. I know one important thing I do is help the kids on homework, that would be important to keep doing. A lower-tech but maybe equally effective alternative would be fax/scanners at each end.

Like Hugh said, pick ONE airline and fly ONLY that airline. Get the airline credit card and become a points whore. United has the best points program I think (I have 300,000+ United points saved up). The extra leg room seats become free once you get a certain level.

As long as you are a points whore, with Seattle to NYC flights youll be able to build up points very fast. Then you can take yearly family vacations for very cheap (I took my girlfriend to Vegas for her birthday, out of pocket was $250 and that was mostly food). This summer im taking her to Hawaii, and this winter possibly Australia. All on points.

Get signed up for the Hertz Gold Club if you arent already. No messing about with getting the car, its sitting waiting for you and you dont even have to go to the counter.

Travel is easy as long as you have the right mindset and make the benefits work for you.

WHAT?? That's unheard of! Is it even legal? I would collect cans along the highway before putting up with that bull ****. No **** ing way! I've never heard of such tightwadded antics ever. I know more people that travel for work than not, and from many different industries. There must me missing info. Do you mean it goes on your card and you get reimbursed? If your answer is no, all info above is pointless as you need to find a new job RIGHT NOW. The debt on food and lodging will crank your credit cards to the max.

Cutting all personal expenses is a classic desperation cost-cutting move. Take a salaried (or salary +) expensed employee & throw them on straight commission. I am sure that many of the sales guys on the board have had the rug pulled out like this at one time or another. And it always happens when sales potential is heading toward the dumper.

Nothing to be done but live with it & search for new opportunities. Many of us can't afford to tell the boss FU & walk out in a huff - that won't put food on the table next month.

Ian

First off, I REALLY appreciate all of the replies.... quite a few things I hadn't thought of in this situation, and a lot of good ideas.

What they have told me is that my job "location" is now in NY city. Over the last few years they have gotten rid of every sales person not located in NY. They let go of 2 people last week, retired one guy, and then told the last two of us in the field that our jobs were "relocated" to NY. They will not pay to relocated us (not that either of us would do it), but they will pay the airfare if we decide to stay on with the company.

I really don't have much choice right at this moment, the wife is not bringing in any income right now as her world crashed about 8 months ago (commercial mortgage broker). My income is pretty healthy but this will certainly stress it. I have a pretty good size bonus coming fairly soon from 2008, but that will go completely to fund the travel.

As far as replacing the income, I'm absolutely working on it. I've got absolutely zero desire to do this other than to make it work till I can find some way to offset the bulk of the income.

thanks,
Eric

Based on what you said about them not paying for your money, I certainly wouldnt put much effort into finding the cheapest flights. Take the flights that fit your schedule and take lots of them and get those points!

Eric,

My fellow early S enthusiast...... I travel to international destinations on average 60% of the time (for the last 2 decades); its not fun and (different than you) I don't have a set agenda or destination.

Video call service is a must (I use skype) for me as I have a 2 and a 3 year old. When at home, be at home and make every minute count. I speak with them at least once daily.

Last but not least, stick with one airline so you get better perks/treatment and use them to bring your family to you once in a while. Actually, use the ticket allocated to you for one family member and then cover for the others. It costs the same to your employer and will greatly improve your morale and productivity (not to mention that you get to have some quality time with the family).

I hope everything works out and that your travels are not as often as it sounds so far.

I don't care what TV commercials say, there ain't such a thing as "the glamorous world of business travel".

All the best! Juan

On a company like this one where they are making the employee pay the expenses (sans air tickets), the writing is definately on the wall...

They are going to run him into the ground, let him pile up his personal debt on food/lodging, then add up the cost of his salary plus the air line tickets and dump him because Eric just isn't "penciling out" as cost effective... They will then hire someone in NY and avoid the air travel costs.

Eric - use the advice on survival we've all given. But start working on your exit strategy. The best time to find a job is when you already have one... The company you are with now has endgame written all over it.

angela

Regretfully, I agree with Angela.

IM just nailed it!!! It even is worse if your sig other hasn't talked to an adult all week!!
You've actually got it fairly good going west to east,, here's my advice..

Pic an airline and stick with them ( I'm a delta guy , easy upgrades with no FF miles)
Find a red eye flight that works for you, so leave Monday night.. come home Thurs eve late..
Work from home on Fridays ( as I type this I'm in my robe and bunny slippers ).
+1 on the carry on.
Get a place you can call "home" on the NY end even if it's a hotel that will know you and maybe store some stuff there..
Get a girlfriend in NY ( ok that's optional)..
Good luck!! it can have some advantages and be fun.. I miss it sometimes

Are they at least flying you business class? If not I'd rather flip burgers near home than do the coast-to-coast thing regularly flying economy. I did 3 east coast trips in Dec (2 days each) and I was done. At least I was flying economy plus on United, but it still gets old and uncomfortable quick.

Not to be too negative, but when will you get your bonus? Given your story it wouldn't surprise me if that magically disappears. Tough situation...but some people are ok with mega travel. I'm not one of them.

You know.. the kids have the day off and are skiing with mom... I'm working, and I'll be leaving tomorrow for NY, and I can't tell you how much I miss them already,.....

I'm trying to put a good face on this, and there's NO question about what I need to do in the future to rectify this. We are in the process of cutting overhead, and are belt tightening.

Flying only economy sadly. Will be flying 2 airlines due to timing of flights into NY (and Newark). American and Continental. I'm working further on this as we speak as I'm lining up next weeks flights as we speak.

The Bonus is on paper, and it's already been discussed as I maxed it based on the parameters.

Interestingly I've got Pelicanites as friends that I've been speaking with regarding other options in lines of work. Even if nothing of this comes to fruition, it's a great networking neighborhood.

This is a GREAT community.

thanks,
Eric