Being made to use my car at work?

lufcgirl

I've already spoken to my friend in HR. And my sister is also a HR Manager for a massive firm of 400 nearby.

My sister has said it's an unreasonable request, they should either pay the insurance or provide you with a company car if they are insisting on this amount of driving as part of my role. HR at work weren't even aware this was being forced on me today and were concerned, then just brushed it off when I said I wasn't happy with the way it was dealt with.

They've never asked to see my car insurance documents ever! It just seems entirely unprofessional in my opinion. I don't understand why they took the other branch car away about a year ago when someone left when it should be used for these exact purposes.

elsien

lufcgirl wrote: »

My sister has said it's an unreasonable request, they should either pay the insurance or provide you with a company car if they are insisting on this amount of driving as part of my role.

I drive more than that in a week and do not get the insurance paid or a company car. What's reasonable for one company may not be on the radar for another. I agree you need to ask for a copy of their policy though . And stop driving till you get the insurance sorted - it's really not worth the risk. Have you asked them about paying the difference in the insurance rates ?

I can't work out whether you would be ok using your car if the insurance was paid, or whether you'd prefer to just not use it at all?

xapprenticex

extra 800 miles means you will also lose money when you come to sell your high mileage car

DCFC79

How long have you been there ?

Be careful about rocking the boat ?

Do you do any of these sports with a friend who could pick you up ?

Does the expenses you get include extra back for wear and tear on the car ?

pinkshoes

lufcgirl wrote: »

I unfortunately can't do that, firstly I'm a god awful liar, and secondly I play a lot of sports after work so need to leave to get there afterwards.

Mine is because I've had historical points which haven't quite dropped off yet unfortunately. Anyway, I need to refuse, I'm doing an extra 800 miles a month but wanted to know if I'm within my rights to do that really?

If you are doing an extra 800 miles per month, then surely the mileage they pay you should cover both fuel costs AND wear and tear to the car?

How much do you get per mile?

You will either need to insist on use of another car, ask them to pay the £200 extra on the insurance (and a reasonable mileage if not getting a decent amount already), or just suck up the cost.

lufcgirl

I quite simply don't want to use my car - I shouldn't have to. The car I bought years ago was good enough for what I wanted but has near on 80,000 miles on it, and it's worth about £1,500 now. It's not great but for my life it's perfect.

I've been at the company 19 months, I'm stand in manager when mine isn't in.

My petrol is paid at 40p per mile which of course does cover wear and tear. A woman in our branch had a company car and she did about 50 miles per week in excess of her home travel which is ridiculous, and previous consultants have been insured on my managers car - something she refuses to do for us now.

Again, I know my options, I've been sat for weeks trying to work it out (along with how unreasonable it is getting a new driver of one month driving roads on her own she's never been on ever) and what to do. What I want to know is if I'm backed up by employment law should I refuse and if it's a legitimate request?

elsien

If you have less than 2 years service then they can let you go for very little reason. A refusal to use your car could potentially lose you your job. Only you can judge your workplace dynamics and whether they'd put something in place to avoid this, or whether they'd decide to employ someone more amenable.

lufcgirl

Alas no, they wouldn't fire me. I'm their highest billing consultant in the North-East and Scotland so there is no chance of that happening. And I'm pretty sure they're just chancing their luck to see how far they can push me before I say no.

I'll have a chat with her when she's back from holiday next week. The problem I had was I deal with it when it's my work, but the fact they want me to escort a colleague out as she doesn't have a car for a whole day is what's annoying me and prompted this today. It's a case of them taking the mick! I asked them at my last pay rise if I could have a company car instead and was told point blank no.

iammumtoone

Under two years and they can get rid of you for any reason they want (apart for a couple so there are plenty of options for them if they want to take this route)

your options are at the monent

find another job
suck it up and try to look on the positive, you are getting millage that takes into account your wear and tear and extra insurance premiums, in fact the more miles you do the more it helps towards your insurance (as this is a fixed sum however many business miles you travel).
Leave the car at home and find another way to get to work/ your activities
wait until you have worked there two years and then ask if you have any protection against this, it will be more difficult to get rid of you but companies can always find a way.

elsien

And stop driving for work until you get it sorted, because you're effectively driving uninsured for the business trips.