Difficulty getting to work

throughtheblue

I normally drive into work, or close to a town where I can get a single bus for £1.80.

In the current conditions, I can't drive and it would be unsafe for me to do especially being in a rural area. Normally I would be fine to tell my employer I can't make it in, however, there is a rural bus that would get me near to my work that stops close to my house. I never get this bus, because there isn't a proper bus stop, I have to stand on the side of a 'A' road with a torch to flag it down, which feels unsafe, also a return ticket costs £10, although it's only a 15 mile journey. 

In these cases, where I can't get to work by my normal affordable way, am I entitled to claim expenses to get to work a different way that would usually cost me too much, be that a taxi or expensive bus I couldn't afford to travel on for a week. (I work in the NHS).

silvercar

I doubt it. Generally it is your responsibility to get to work and to pay the costs of doing so. Is there anyone that lives near you? 

diystarter7

silvercar said:

I doubt it. Generally it is your responsibility to get to work and to pay the costs of doing so. Is there anyone that lives near you? 

Hi OP

I agree with the above comments

When you got the job did you not consider the 4/5 winter months when there could be heavy fog, very high winds, heavy frost, black ice/snow etc?

. Based on this it is your responsibility unless it was agreed with you in your contract that they would send you transport or pay you for not coming into work and or working from home  (Have you or did you discuss your rurual settings and travel in adverseve weather like heavy snow)

I hope you can sort things out. not just for tomorrow but the winter we are heading into.
Please give your employer a call ASAP and tell them re your concerns, I'm sure they will try to help.

Thanks

Dakta

Obviously I don't know how rural rural is or how bad the conditions are where you are, but are things really so bad you can't drive?

As above getting to work is usually down to you so might have to make some plans (can always talk to you employer but if others are having the same issues or travel further expect to be queried) and I would recommend taking the above advice about planning in the long term - cold snaps in the country are not an uncommon thing

Not to sound mean of course but I would look at other peoples situations and whos driving who isn't, how far etc and how they're managing before rocking the boat

GrumpyDil

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

diystarter7

GrumpyDil said:

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

The highlighted bit.  Difficult to prove many times as it depends on ones driving ability/confidence etc.

The last place of work in London for me - I travelled by car from the edge of London, a few near me did not cited "adverse" weather. (I worked for the council they accepted my reasons easily)

Another time, two people lived on the same road, a bit of snow, one got to work and other claimed "adverse weather" though they got paid there was always chatter about this in the office.

Unless roads are blocked and or there is black ice, it is difficult for an employer.

The funny thing about my workplace was -  when there was snow for a few days in London bordering couty - they wanted you to come in after the first day of heavy snow etc but they deemed it to dangerous to carry out visits.

Companies have policies and OP needs to call them and see what they say

OP, if you can't get in and don't feel safe, call them and tell them as they may lay on a cab etc or just say stay at home take a hol day off etc. Either way, good luck and I know is worrying as I have said above when some can get in from close to where you live or similar settings and others don't - don't worry, please give them a call I'm sure they will sort something out

Take care, OP

diystarter7

Hi OP

Apologies if I've got it wrong, but did you edit your post please?

Apols again I you have not.

Take care

TELLIT01

Almost certainly no right to claim expenses for the additional costs.  It is generally the responsibility of the employee to get to work, and I don't think HMRC allow travel to your normal place of work as expenses.

Undervalued

throughtheblue said:

I normally drive into work, or close to a town where I can get a single bus for £1.80.

In the current conditions, I can't drive and it would be unsafe for me to do especially being in a rural area. Normally I would be fine to tell my employer I can't make it in, however, there is a rural bus that would get me near to my work that stops close to my house. I never get this bus, because there isn't a proper bus stop, I have to stand on the side of a 'A' road with a torch to flag it down, which feels unsafe, also a return ticket costs £10, although it's only a 15 mile journey. 

In these cases, where I can't get to work by my normal affordable way, am I entitled to claim expenses to get to work a different way that would usually cost me too much, be that a taxi or expensive bus I couldn't afford to travel on for a week. (I work in the NHS).

No. Not unless you contract specifically allows such an arrangement, which is very unlikely.

It is an employee's problem to get themselves to work on time at their own expense. Some employers may well show some flexibility in exceptional circumstances but they are not obliged to do so.

I fail to understand how it can be "unsafe" to drive yet a taxi remains a possibility?

throughtheblue

diystarter7 said:

GrumpyDil said:

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

The highlighted bit.  Difficult to prove many times as it depends on ones driving ability/confidence etc.

The last place of work in London for me - I travelled by car from the edge of London, a few near me did not cited "adverse" weather. (I worked for the council they accepted my reasons easily)

Another time, two people lived on the same road, a bit of snow, one got to work and other claimed "adverse weather" though they got paid there was always chatter about this in the office.

Unless roads are blocked and or there is black ice, it is difficult for an employer.

The funny thing about my workplace was -  when there was snow for a few days in London bordering couty - they wanted you to come in after the first day of heavy snow etc but they deemed it to dangerous to carry out visits.

Companies have policies and OP needs to call them and see what they say

OP, if you can't get in and don't feel safe, call them and tell them as they may lay on a cab etc or just say stay at home take a hol day off etc. Either way, good luck and I know is worrying as I have said above when some can get in from close to where you live or similar settings and others don't - don't worry, please give them a call I'm sure they will sort something out

Take care, OP

I live in Scotland, in an area quite high which is prone to snow. I have to get out of my drive which is probably 100 metres, over a little bridge and up a hill. Right now there is complete covering of quite thick snow. Part of my journey has been gritted, but where I cross into a different county, it hasn't been gritted. I got the bus yesterday, and it unnerving, felt the wheels slip a couple of times and bus quite rightly going extremely slow. My main worry is accidents, getting stranded and the extra costs. 

Ironically, I have the car booked in for all-season tyres on Wednesday, which would help me feel confident to drive.

I would say, without the bus, I probably couldn't even get safely out the drive. If I started sliding back down the hill going towards the bridge, then the car could be written off as there is a 5 ft drop, and no side barriers on the bridge.

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

Apologies if I've got it wrong, but did you edit your post please?

Apols again I you have not.

Take care

No edits to original posts. Thanks for your replies, I will maybe see if a colleague could take me in a couple of nights. 

throughtheblue

GrumpyDil said:

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

Mainly because my car has summer tyres, and I presume buses/taxi may be more prepared. I'm surprised the buses are running where I am, but this area does get snow, so maybe it's common to be prepared. The bus was crawling along, and at 8pm last night, the snow was settling on the main road, and other roads hadn't been gritted. 
Once my all-season tyres are on, then I should be more prepared.