Is this legal? Expected to travel on Sunday for no pay?

dizzyblonde82

Matt16v wrote: »

Im sorry but i dont think thats right. If you're travelling outside your contracted hours i don't believe the company is obliged to pay you. Example, you have a meeting somewhere an hours drive away at 9am, are you going to get paid for that hours travel between 8am and 9am? No. If that was the case everyone would be getting paid to drive to work and back, and they're not!

I take my time back if I have to leave the house before 8:50 in a morning, I work 10 mins from home but if I have to travel further to attend meetings I always claim the time and petrol costs.

SarEl

SarahLou wrote: »

Nope - he's just got the normal social/domestic/pleasure/commuting insurance - but thats one hell of a "commute" to work, isn't it!

As for what they'd do if his car was unavailable, I really don't know. At this stage in the game, reading the email he received today from his boss who is running this particular job, it sounds like they're just going to push him to go on the Sunday (as sadly hubby can't really afford the £70 ish petrol to get him there/back if he travels in his own car). What we'll have to do with the little one is beyond me as unless I pull a sickie, I can't take holiday on weekends so I can't get the day off or even a half day.

Try this - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/moneyandworkentitlements/parentalleaveandpay/dg_10029416

It isn't the answer but it may be an answer. For the current weekend anyway. Pulling a sickie and then getting caught - you'd be amazed how often it gets found out - could get you sacked, which won't help. Employers are legally obliged to make provison for parents to take parental leave or special leave for emergencies. I'd call no childcare on a Sunday at short notice an emergency! It won't make you any more unpopular than pulling a sickie I doubt, but if the employer is being really awkward about it they ought well to be more careful as these are rights, not suggestions!

Oldernotwiser

lucylucky wrote: »

If it is not his normal place of work it may well do.
(it may not but worth checking)

For the term of this contract, it's his place of work; even travelling between different sites on the same day doesn't require business insurance.

lucylucky

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

For the term of this contract, it's his place of work; even travelling between different sites on the same day doesn't require business insurance.

It may not be regarded as his "normal" place of work which is my point. Some insurers do differentiate

I came across this some years ago, which caused the company I worked for some problems

dizzyblonde82

To be covered he would need to be covered for business use - "This covers using your car in connection with your job, such as driving to different sites away from your place of work"

DVardysShadow

SarEl wrote: »

I'd call no childcare on a Sunday at short notice an emergency! It won't make you any more unpopular than pulling a sickie I doubt, but if the employer is being really awkward about it they ought well to be more careful as these are rights, not suggestions!

But but but.

SarahLou does not have a problem with her employer. Her OH has problems with his. In this situation, I would do my utmost to make sure there was no blowback from OH's job on to SarahLou's job.If OH's job is on the rocks, SarahLou's job may be essential - she should not let her job get closer to the rocks IMO

Oldernotwiser

lucylucky wrote: »

It may not be regarded as his "normal" place of work which is my point. Some insurers do differentiate

I came across this some years ago, which caused the company I worked for some problems

OK, I didn't need it when I was doing this but perhaps my insurance was different.

mountainofdebt

Well I guess I'm in the minority here but I really can't see what the problem is and tbh, it sounds as if you and your OH are nit picking.

You've admitted in your other post that OH works in a field that has been hit by the recession hard so surely he would prefer to be working (where ever in the country) than be sat in the living room unemployed.

I'm also guessing that whoever is employing the services of your OH's firm, then they want the work starting first thing monday morning and not after the boys have managed to work their way through the traffic.

Whilst I can understand the inconvenience of him going sunday, I can also understand why his employer won't pay for him to go in his own car.

BillTrac

Sometimes, the nature of my work requires me to be on a site which is a long journey away(either north or Europe),first thing in the morning. I can either stay over the night before and have a short journey in the morning, or travel very early in the morning and arrive knackered. Either way, I never lose out. If I stay over the night before I am reimbursed for the hotel and meals, and given time off in leiu, andf if I travel in the morning, then again get the time off in leui and breakfast paid for. They leave it entirely up to me, but they would never expect me to do it for nothing.

I personally think that the OPs partner is being taken for a ride. Does he enjoy his job apart from this, or is it ruining it for him?

bristol_pilot

He will need insurance for 'buiness use' for any work-related travel other than a commute to his single normal place of work.

It is perfectly normal practice to expect employees working away to travel unpaid in their own time. More common practice is for lieu time to be offered (at normal rate) but no paid overtime. However, I would always expect expenses to be paid.