Should Employer Pay Travel Allowance After Office Move To New City?

frooty62

Hi I have a question, are employers required to pay travel allowances?

We moved offices to another city and i now have large noticable travel costs because of driving and using public transport.
Our previous offices were only a 10 to 15 minute drive away from where i live but we moved offices earlier this year so I drive and use public transport which takes around 1 hour 30 mins depending on the traffic ect.
I asked my employers if they could provide a travel allowance as i am not able to pay so much. I was given around a quarter of what i am spending to get to work after 4 months. I have asked if they can increase this but they have refused.

I was given a print out from a govt website ( i think ) regarding travel allowance but i have misplaced it and cannot remember what the website was. Does anyone know about this or know where i could find out if i am entitled to sufficient allowance? I did search but could not find anything similar. Thank you

Astaroth

the ACAS website has a whole host of info and a helpline to confirm legislation

I know with my employers they will pay the price difference for the first 12 months unless you change role (though no extra for your "time" element) - if you drove and now go by public transport they will probably take the total cost of the mileage and not just petrol

Lorian

What does you contract of employment say for "place of work".

Did you not complain before the move....?

frooty62

ACAS! That was it, thanks
I haven't changed role, previously i used to drive to work now i have to drive and use public transport as there are no parking facilities here, ( I could drive into the city centre and park in the multi story which costs a small fortune, more than what i pay using public transport/driving). I used the time as not sure about mileage, I will check that.

frooty62

Lorian wrote:

What does you contract of employment say for "place of work".

Did you not complain before the move....?

What are those? ( I know what they are really, we have yet to receive those. I have worked here for more than 3 years and yet to receive anything, i could rant plenty about it but do not want to get into trouble, just yet anyway )

I did not complain before the move as I knew that an allowance should be given, therefore just expected it to be. I asked after a month, but my request was passed around for 3-4 months before i ranted about it and got something done.

Lorian

No contract of emplyment after 3 years....?!?

Go talk to someone at citizens advice. Tell them you have had a forced change in place of work, and no contract of employment.

Mark7799

It depends what is in your conditions of employment (and in all honesty this should have been explained by your employers before the move). As an example, in my job, my terms of employment say that my employers can ask me to move up to 25 miles from my current office. Are you in a trade union or staff association?

Are you sure you never signed anything that may have been a contract?

frooty62

Mark7799 wrote:

It depends what is in your conditions of employment (and in all honesty this should have been explained by your employers before the move). As an example, in my job, my terms of employment say that my employers can ask me to move up to 25 miles from my current office. Are you in a trade union or staff association?

Are you sure you never signed anything that may have been a contract?

I'm certain. I had seen an example which had been issued to another employee ( issued before I had started working there ) which said nothing regarding any possible move, it was very basic.

We went through a business transfer before the move and were assured everything would be the same. Except the place of work obviously, but i was asked about the move and i did ask about an allowance but this was with colleagues who are no longer 'running things'. We do not have a TU or staff assoc. it's a small/med sized company.

It is like they have given me a pay cut, i am paying around £200 + on travel rather than £50 that I used to. :mad:

I wish i could still laugh about it. I didn't get out of work in time to give ACAS a call yesterday so i will call them on Monday and see if they can offer any advice. Thank you for your replies.

frooty62

Well i spoke to ACAS this morning, apparently the employer isn't required to pay anything towards increased travel expenses I could have claimed redundency?? but the lady said it has 'gone past that now' ?
Not sure where to go now, other than to get job hunting i think