Travel Expenses - can they stop it?

Jazzycat

Hi,

for work I travel about 70 miles to and from work on a daily basis. About once a month we have an area meeting which can be at any one of our locations. I work for a large company.


It was announced at our last meeting that we would not be able to claim any travel expenses to attend future meeting as this deemed as part of our normal work. The company has standard expenses forms for own travel mileage at a set rate. This all goes through payroll so its fully accountable.

I have worked for the comapny for nearly 10 years and have always been able to do this. I believe that its just our group that will not be able to claim the travel expenses as they are cost saving.

My question is can they do this?? Why should I fork out to travel as far as 65 miles away from my place of work at my own expense. Surely they cant do this - can they???

Miss_Money

Are you in a union? if so id go to them and get some advice maybe?
sorry i cant be of more help.

nearlyrich

I agree speak to your union, I think there is some grounds for complaint unless they organise transport to the meetings and you prefer to use your own car for whatever reason.

If the company change your expenses it should not be to your detriment, our company recently stopped paying for broadband access via expenses but offered a £40 per month pre tax and NI payrise to compensate for the loss. As BB access is getting cheaper and the payrise is permanent it's a good swap but if they just said we are not paying anymore I would have challenged it with HR.

Jazzycat

thanks for your replies.

Sadly no union membership.

Our boss has told us about the changes

No transport is provided hence we have to use our own cars.

thanks

nearlyrich

Give ACAS a call, it is a change to your contract and after 10 years they are a bit cheeky just expecting you to accept it. What do your colleagues think?
How much is it going to cost you per month? Are you in a position to negotiate a payrise to cover your loss?

Jazzycat

Nobody is really impressed.

Personally for me the cost is about £20 a month, but its more the principle of the matter. No discussion just being told as plain fact.

I believe he intends to put the change in writing to us all. It has never been in my contract but I guess after so long it has formed part of my contract. Can they however not change whatever they like as long as they give you notice of intent to do something?

It peevs me as I'm sure others in the company wont have this imposed its just our group.

We havent had a pay rise in 2 years, plenty of staff were made redundant earlier this year, so it means as managers we have to do the work of 3 people as it was before.

All in all I do a lot more hours, get paid less in real terms, do the work of more people and now have to spend my own money on going to meetings!

Most people have had enough and are looking for jobs but for now the proposals just dont seem right

Astaroth

Certainly companies can change the terms of employment given enough notice as it can also have different terms in different sites (thanks to the union in the one company I worked in which had one, the union for our site alone gave up our overtime rate for Sat and Sun for contracted staff, removed overtime rates for Sat for actual overtime and reduce sunday and bankholiday overtime rate down to 1.5x for all staff just so they got 15 minutes a week with their members (nothing for non-members) where as all the other sites were getting 1.5x sat and 2x sundays)

<rant over>

ACAS should be able to advise you what time scale they have to give over a change of company policy.

Jazzycat

but can they change it for only a few? the whole company is one thing but a handful of people?

sarahlouise210

You may still be able to claim tax relief on the additional mileage to the meetings - as long as it is not your usual place of work and is wholly and exclusively work related. You would need to keep details of the mileage and ask for a form P87. Worth a try ...each case is looked at own its own merits

CFC

Jazzy, yes they can change it for a small group of people. A company can say 'if you are a secretary, travel to attend meetings is not part of your normal role hence we will pay expenses', while they can say to a manager 'attending this meeting is now considered to be part of your normal role so we will not pay expenses from X date.' Sucks and blows at the same time, but that's the way it is.

LondonDiva

I would suggest you check it out fully.

In my organisation, if someone's work base is changed as part of a reorganisation/redeployment, they cover excess travel for a year or so.

If this is a meeting required for work and is not at your work base, imho the employer should be liable for getting you there and back. Your only obligation should be gettign yourself to your work base and back. If they want you elsewhere, they should pay for it or invest in video conferencing.