Feeling railroaded by giving a colleague a lift into work

[MontyVeda]

I was thinking of making up a terrible excuse that i have to travel into work from a different direction as I caring for an ill member of family early in the morning and after work.
I feel bad about lying though

Don't lie. Take your overtime when you need to finish a job at your pace. If they have to wait, that is not your problem. If you go elsewhere after work, just tell them that you're not going directly home and they can't have a lift on this occasion.

As a non driver, I've been reliant on colleagues to give me a lift to work. I contributed to the petrol quite generously... £3 a day for a 30 mile round trip which was £60 a month. It was a lot but cheaper then the bus, more reliable than the bus, quicker than the bus... and there's more to running a car than just putting fuel in it.

 

[johnnyb47]

Thanks for the good advice and @HobbesOnTour no offence taken buddy

 

[Drago]

I'd just say no. I wouldn't worry one bit about upsetting a pith taker.

 

[steveindenmark]

Charge them a fee before they get in the car. They pay up or do not get in. This is of your own making and only you can stop it.

 

[Aescott]

Finish work when you need to and don’t deviate from your route home. They can all get out where your original passenger gets out.

 

[numbnuts]

Been there and read the book, some people are just "users" and they will just take advantage of your kind nature and will keep using you until there is nothing left and then dump you like a hot potato.

Oh get a van...... I had 18 workmate in my transit at one time

 

[Mburton1993]

Just tell them you don't want to give lifts anymore, they should not be offended by that and if they are then that is on them, it is not your responsibility.

 

[johnnyb47]

I've had a good think about it all this morning and tomorrow I'm going to say something.. It's a short week this week coming and I will give them a lift for it ,but after that there going to have to find there own way into work.
Whether I tell them bluntly or make up a limp excuse will depend on what mood I'm in tomorrow morning.
Either way it's going to stop.
I feel that sometimes you do a favour and people see it as a chance to exploit you and you end up feeling railroaded into it.
Anyway the sun is out and I've just bought some new cycling shorts and jacket from Lidl,so it's a bike ride for me this afternoon and maybe a swift half on the way back in the beer garden 😀

 

[alicat]

You're a great guy @johnnyb47. Hope you manage to set some boundaries. They sound streetwise so they will find a way to get home.

 

[gbb]

If you're like me, I don't like to be confrontational or 'let people down', which is ridiculous of course, but we had a similar situation last year..I just told them I was going somewhere else after work. That gave me the start...to end it.
Make no mistake, these guys are probably saving money by using you. We have many many workers here of non British origin, they often share cars, some regularly, but they almost to a man are expected to pay the driver for the privilege. No payment, no ride. Considering the agency charge them £6 a day for the use of the bus, even if they save a few quid a week, they will.

 

[nellietheelephant]

Tell them it contravenes the terms & conditions of your vehicle insurance. Which it probably does if you're taking payment.

 

[presta]

But don't cyclists complain about motorists taking up lots of road space with cars that are three quarters empty? Don't motorists justify this car use by arguing they would lose their personal space if they travelled by bus or train?

 

[All uphill]

Personally I'd not make an excuse or tell a 'white' lie. To me that is more damaging than telling them the truth that you no longer enjoy being used, and that they should no longer rely on you.

 

[stephec]

No limp excuses, that just gives them a chance to come up with helpful solutions.

Putting your foot down is the only way, that big surge of testosterone after you've done it with have you feeling good all day. 😊

 

[PeteXXX]

Pop one of these on your roof 👍