Christmas Travelling to Work

dave0504

Hi all,

not sure if this is the right place to post this question, but here goes.

In total i've spent nearly £90 in taxi fares commuting to work on Christmas day and Boxing Day due to the reduced public transport, which is something I can not really afford. Unfortunately, my regular shifts fall on a Fri/Sat/Sun every week, so Christmas and Boxing Day would have been regular work days. I tried to get leave but was unsuccessful. My employer, being a large corporation, had no sympathy and basically stated I have to come in to work, and that there would be disciplinary action If I didn't.

Does my employer have any obligations to pay towards the extra travel costs I have incurred?

Thanks in advance.

theoretica

Basically, no:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5381754

You wouldn't like it if your employer had decided to only employ people who lived in walking distance.

Takeaway_Addict

dave0504 wrote: »

Hi all,

not sure if this is the right place to post this question, but here goes.

In total i've spent nearly £90 in taxi fares commuting to work on Christmas day and Boxing Day due to the reduced public transport, which is something I can not really afford. Unfortunately, my regular shifts fall on a Fri/Sat/Sun every week, so Christmas and Boxing Day would have been regular work days. I tried to get leave but was unsuccessful. My employer, being a large corporation, had no sympathy and basically stated I have to come in to work, and that there would be disciplinary action If I didn't.

Does my employer have any obligations to pay towards the extra travel costs I have incurred?

Thanks in advance.

As above its a no.

dave0504

I thought 'No' would be the answer. Luckily enough my previous employer did help towards the costs, however my current employer removed this facility from our intranet pages when they took over the contract from my previous employer.

ohreally

dave0504 wrote: »

Luckily enough my previous employer did help towards the costs, however my current employer removed this facility from our intranet pages when they took over the contract from my previous employer.

They removed a customary benefit unchallenged?

Darksparkle

dave0504 wrote: »

I thought 'No' would be the answer. Luckily enough my previous employer did help towards the costs, however my current employer removed this facility from our intranet pages when they took over the contract from my previous employer.

There is no obligation for an employer to pay you for your ordinary commute to work, even if during a holiday period.

If they did, then any contribution they make would be taxable/nicable (with some exceptions eg late night taxis).

Undervalued

dave0504 wrote: »

I thought 'No' would be the answer. Luckily enough my previous employer did help towards the costs, however my current employer removed this facility from our intranet pages when they took over the contract from my previous employer.

As above.

Unless you could argue that there was still a contractual agreement to "help" (in whatever form that took) in place your employer is quite entitled to act as they have done. I suspect you would struggle to prove that but it may be worth talking to your union if you are a member.

Otherwise it is totally an employee's problem how they get themselves to work on time. In fact most employers show more latitude than the law actually requires. However if they want to play hard ball then they do not even have to make allowances for extreme weather, train strikes or exceptional traffic issues.