Travelling to work

Mechanic123

Good afternoon Folks

I'm a field engineer working a for a big company.

Until last week we have been paid for travelling to the first job of the day and paid for travelling from last job. So we start our job when we start the van and finish when we get home. Usually 8am till 5.30pm but we agreed unofficially to start 30 mins early to get to the jobs around 8am if possible which was ok. We can work from 10 mins away to 8 hours away..
We assume that is against the law as per a ruling in 2015 (cant post link)

we received a memo last week saying that from now on we must give them an hour travelling for free in the morning and night making our unofficial shift 7am till 6.30pm and only being paid for 8am till 17.30pm.


Anyone had any similar issues or any advice?

HR department pretty useless and ACAS cant offer much:beer:

getmore4less

how close is the nearest depot?

You could say don't want the works van at home any more, you will start from works site each day on the clock.

Mechanic123

the nearest garage I could go to is 10 mins away but as they're isn't work needing done there I cant go there.

Also thinking i wouldn't be Insured in van outwith working hours

Mechanic123

also need the van with me as full of equipment/tools

getmore4less

The mistake was giving them that first 1/2 hour.

if everyone say no more free time what will they do?


The only real protections are min wage over all working hours.

It is legal for a company to pay £0ph for some hours and more £ for others.

it might also take you over the opt out limit if both hours happens a lot.

Mechanic123

Sounds like they've got us over a barrel then.

Funny thing is

if you work over an hour from home you can start at 7.15 for example and be home for 17.30pm and swipe in/out remotely but if you're just under an hour, say 55 mins you have to swipe in/out at site at 8am and 17.30pm. A lot of grey areas

ohreally

Mechanic123 wrote: »

also need the van with me as full of equipment/tools

That's your employers problem, not yours.

The garage 10 minutes away, your not going there to work, your travelling to leave from there to go to first job and return there for finishing time.

How long to you get for washing up? Who's time does the van get washed and vacuumed on.

You are all union members?

Mechanic123

No time for anything really. Not even allowed to use pressure washers at sites unless you've been on a course.

Dont think anyone is in a union in this company

ohreally

Mechanic123 wrote: »

Dont think anyone is in a union in this company

Perhaps the time is here to do something about that (all the guys), https://join.unitetheunion.org/join#MEMBER.JOIN.PERSONAL

Mechanic123

Do you reckon we will get much help against such a big company?

Potentially any trouble makers will just get their jobs made harder. Always been the case

ohreally

You're not trouble makers, you're simply trying to protect your interests.
If, as you suggest, this is a large employer, are you sure there isn't already a union recognised- how are pay uplifts decided?