Mdthbs

So... you're in an ugly situation. Your boss is reaching out to control parts of your life that are not his to dictate, and is apparently of the unreasonable and domineering type who will react very poorly indeed to any pushback. As for what to do about it (while you look for another job), it looks like you have three options.

• You could keep biking in to work. If you're going to do that, you're going to have to assume that he will eventually notice. It leaves signs after all (additional sweat, loose lips, actually seeing you biking, and so forth). The question is what he's likely to do in response to this obvious opposition to his authority once he discovers it. Is he likely to fire you? Is he likely to yell at you? How bad is it likely to be? Are you willing to set yourself up for that happening? Assume that, whatever it is, it will happen eventually, and ask yourself if it's worth that experience.




• You could make small amounts of pushback. Go to your boss, let him know that the only way you have to get to work is the bike, and that if he wants you to use Uber instead, you're going to need $20/day in expenses for it. Presenting it as "implementing this command will bear this cost" rather than "No, I won't do it" is likely going to be easier for him to swallow. Whether or not this is a good idea depends entirely on how you think he'd react to this, much lesser, level of pushback.




• Finally, if your boss has enough threat over you to prevent even that, and is unreasonable enough to wield it indiscriminately to get what he wants without consideration of your needs, you can start paying tor Uber yourself. You should understand, though, that by doing that your'e essentially accepting that your boss can make unreasonable demands of you (this is an unreasonable demand) and insist that you pay for them out of your own pocket and that, to at least some degree, you'll do it. That brings this into the realm of "unhealthy relationships", and means that, if at all possible, you need to get out soon, before it starts bending you psychologically in unhealthy ways.

Your manager can't dictate the mode of transport that you use for commuting.

If he is as much concerned about the safety of employees while commuting, and insists on using (or avoiding) a particular mode of transport, either:

• ask them to get you reimbursed for the viable mode by the company,

or

• provide a company operated safer mode of transportation.

Unless you're working with an employment contract that allows your employer to dictate your travel behaviors (rare, but not inherently illegal or unheard of) it's quite obviously none of their business how you arrive at work.

Given you said this,

If you're going to suggest finding another job, that's a great idea, but without also suggesting what to do in the meantime it's unhelpful.

it seems that you're willing (or already planning) to switch employers because you find your boss unreasonable. In that situation, I generally adopt an approach of "do what makes sense to me, and is defensible." In your situation, this would mean,

• be able to show that I'm arriving at work by the agreed-upon time, regardless of my commute method


• be able to show that bike commuting doesn't impact your work performance or ability to comply with reasonable requirements (i.e. you're not arriving sweaty and taking work time to change clothes. And, you're able to wear required dress code, or whatever)


• know company policy and law about sick leave (effectively, your employer can't take action based on you being sick or injured)


• arm yourself with information on the benefits of bike commuting, even if you expect your boss won't be receptive.

And then, keep biking to work and hope for the best when an inevitable conflict happens. If you search workplace.SE for the word unreasonable you'll get plenty of suggestions.

Should I just keep biking in and see what he does about it, or start spending $20/day on Ubers to commute?

Continue to use your preferred mode of transportation to go to work and don't worry about your manager's foolish request. If your manager attempts to discipline you in any way, I would escalate to HR or anyone higher up in the chain of your company. In the meantime you should brush up your resume and look for a new company to work for.

Have you actually met with your boss or sent him an email regarding this subject?

Boss, Last week you mentioned workers are no longer allowed to commute to work by bicycle. I want clarification of this rule as this is my primary mode of transportation. Thank you.

As far as I can tell though, there isn't anyway he can tell you what sort of activities you engage in. Now while that isn't lawful, that doesn't stop your boss from firing you if you are a at-will worker. So you'll want clarification from him for sure and make sure he knows it is your only method of transportation.

Your boss does not get to make decisions for you outside the office.
He doesn't choose your dinner, shampoo, entertainment, hobbies. So why would he get to decide your mode of transport.

He may be able to keep you from parking your bike on company property. So perhaps lock you bike up off campus but in a safe and secure manor.

Thinking out loud here.

What someone was driving to work and was in an accident? Ban driving to work?

What if your Uber driver was in an accident, you were injured and missed work? Ban Uber?

What if you lived close enough to work to walk, twisted an ankle and missed work? Ban walking?

Is he purchasing bubble-wrap?

What about company apartments within walking distance?

His demand is silly. That's in the hypothetical 'what-ifs'. If (s)he can't manage the team if someone is out unexpectedly for several days then they don't have any business being a manager. S**t happens.

In any employer-employee relation, there are benefits and disadvantages for employer and employee. For the employee what counts is salary, cost involved (for example for transport), being away from home, enjoying or hating the work or being with your colleagues and managers.

If you find a position that benefits you more, you switch jobs (although switching has disadvantages by itself).

Your boss just changed the equation. He wants to inflict cost of $20 per day on you. Lots of jobs that did not look better than your current job now do. There are bosses that are so full of themselves that they don’t get a simple fact like that. So first this is something you have to explain to your boss.

But I’m not quite sure about you using “boss” in some places and “manager” in other places. If he is just a manager, then the easiest is to go to HR or payroll and ask them how to go about getting your cost for Uber refunded. Most likely they will ask why you think you should get that cost refunded when you could just cycle to work, and then you say what your manager demands, and that is likely when something hits the fan.