Legalities of Company Car/Allowance Provision

Youngy

I have a question about employers provision of company car/allowance.

To briefly explain my situation, due to staff movement between depts the team of 4 I work in, I am now the only person who doesnt get company car/allowance. The role has always been stated as no allowance/car, but the other 3 people moved from other depts where they had them and the allowance has never been removed.
Recently management have asked us to travel to other branch offices to carry out onsite support duties. I spoke to my manager to point out I didnt feel it was fair expecting me to travel using my own personal car, he did say I can claim back mileage at a measly 20p per mile (those with allowance can still claim 12p per mile)

Im just enquiring as to the legal standpoint, with all other team members getting allowance can I expect to get this myself - we all have the same job title/description.

Thanks for any help/advice

Unstoppable_2

There is no legal right to the same terms and remuneration for a job save on the grounds of discrimination for sex or disability. It is perfectly legal for two people doing exactly the same job to be paid different amounts or have different benefits. It is up to you to negotiate the best deal for you.

In regards to the mileage allowance, if your employer is paying you 20p, you can claim the balance of the IR rate of 40ppm for the first 10,000 miles and 25ppm thereafter by submitting a P87 at the end of the tax year. If you use your own car for business use, you need to have business use added to your car insurance because of your company don't cover you, you're technically uninsured whilst on business use. Class A business use which is what you need is usually free to add.

SomeBozo

If other employees have moved from other departments/positions where they had a company car allowance, it maybe that this provision has been protected in their new role.

Does your contract state you must have transport or access to transport? If so you can't resonably refuse to use your own car to travel.

For the company car, each organisation usually has a set of criteria to get a company car, usually involving seniority of post and how many business miles you do.

I feel an approach to this needs to be on this basis, not what others have as they may have exisiting arrangements in place.

Bozo

Hagar_uk

Youngy wrote: »

I have a question about employers provision of company car/allowance.

To briefly explain my situation, due to staff movement between depts the team of 4 I work in, I am now the only person who doesnt get company car/allowance. The role has always been stated as no allowance/car, but the other 3 people moved from other depts where they had them and the allowance has never been removed.
Recently management have asked us to travel to other branch offices to carry out onsite support duties. I spoke to my manager to point out I didnt feel it was fair expecting me to travel using my own personal car, he did say I can claim back mileage at a measly 20p per mile (those with allowance can still claim 12p per mile)

Im just enquiring as to the legal standpoint, with all other team members getting allowance can I expect to get this myself - we all have the same job title/description.

Thanks for any help/advice

20p is an insult, I have worked for some right tight !!! bosses and always got double that, If you are going to be doing number of miles, it will not be worth it for that. Sod law that on the 5 mile Trip which nets you £1, you get a puncture or chip wind screen which costs you £60+. Not sure how far these trips are, but I would be tempted to kindly refuse their offer of 20p/mile and ask they provide a car to you when needed

cazziebo

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think you can claim 20p per mile back from HMRC. Many of our people claim the difference between the mileage payment and the HMRC allowance (currently 40p).

On the main point, Bozo is correct. If other employees have this as protected rights, then it is personal to them and not much colleagues can do about it.

I think you would be better arguing that your job requires essential car user status.

Youngy

SomeBozo wrote: »

If other employees have moved from other departments/positions where they had a company car allowance, it maybe that this provision has been protected in their new role.

Does your contract state you must have transport or access to transport? If so you can't resonably refuse to use your own car to travel.

For the company car, each organisation usually has a set of criteria to get a company car, usually involving seniority of post and how many business miles you do.

I feel an approach to this needs to be on this basis, not what others have as they may have exisiting arrangements in place.

Bozo

Contract doesnt state must have transport, it just seems recently the job role has changed. Over the 4yrs I've been there we've been expected to travel to other branches within the same city (less than 4 miles away) but now are being expected to travel further (400 miles roundtrip to Newcastle yesterday). I have now been told I can have casual use of a company vehicle, and to take in my driving license so I can be added onto company insurance. Frankly I'd rather have an extra c£350 in my pocket every month but in the current climate dont want to rock the boat too much.

Youngy

Hagar_uk wrote: »

20p is an insult, I have worked for some right tight !!! bosses and always got double that, If you are going to be doing number of miles, it will not be worth it for that. Sod law that on the 5 mile Trip which nets you £1, you get a puncture or chip wind screen which costs you £60+. Not sure how far these trips are, but I would be tempted to kindly refuse their offer of 20p/mile and ask they provide a car to you when needed

I know, over 10yrs ago I was getting 43p. Out of this 20p its expected to cover petrol aswell as wear/tear and insurance cover for business use lol
They have suggested possible casual use of a company vehicle, so will see what happens with that.