Forced to return to office

acemdrgn

The exact wording from employment contract is as follows:

"Your normal place of work is at your home address. However, you may be required to work, either temporarily or permanently, at such other place of work as the Company may reasonably require."

I suppose the question would be does "reasonably require" allow them to insist I incur £5k annual travel expenses without reimbursement? 

DigSunPap

You could always try and explain your situation to them and how much it is going to cost you having to commute in under the new rules. Perhaps there would be an option for them to put your travel costs on expenses? It's worth an ask than just straight refusing.

OrbitHeadache

Zoom tells staff to come into the office at least two days a week

The policy will apply to those living a “commutable distance” – within 50 miles of the office.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/07/zoom-tells-staff-to-come-into-the-office-at-least-two-days-a-week

Not saying your employer is Zoom but they are also saying those who live within 50 miles of the office should be in the office 2 days a week 

I am sure massive employers like Zoom must have unions representing employees.

If yes contact the union.

Alot of companies are trying to find out what the best fit is in terms of WFH and most are going with 2 or 3 days in the office.

But even than in the civil service for example we have contractual homeworkers, and also those who do less days in the office due to workplace adjustments for variety of reasons including illness, looking after family members etc.

Would your employer have similar?

acemdrgn

DigSunPap said:

You could always try and explain your situation to them and how much it is going to cost you having to commute in under the new rules. Perhaps there would be an option for them to put your travel costs on expenses? It's worth an ask than just straight refusing.

Unfortunately they have been clear, no travel to the office will be reimbursed regardless of how much it might cost people.

elsien

Are the two days a week you are expected to be in next to each other or flexible? 

Just wondering if it will be cheaper to find somewhere to stay overnight rather commute both days.

Savvy_Sue

acemdrgn said:

DigSunPap said:

You could always try and explain your situation to them and how much it is going to cost you having to commute in under the new rules. Perhaps there would be an option for them to put your travel costs on expenses? It's worth an ask than just straight refusing.

Unfortunately they have been clear, no travel to the office will be reimbursed regardless of how much it might cost people.

That's not unusual or surprising. Where you choose to live and how you choose to travel is rarely any of your employer's business.

MeteredOut

Savvy_Sue said:

acemdrgn said:

DigSunPap said:

You could always try and explain your situation to them and how much it is going to cost you having to commute in under the new rules. Perhaps there would be an option for them to put your travel costs on expenses? It's worth an ask than just straight refusing.

Unfortunately they have been clear, no travel to the office will be reimbursed regardless of how much it might cost people.

That's not unusual or surprising. Where you choose to live and how you choose to travel is rarely any of your employer's business.

...and would likely have to be recorded as a benefit in kind, and the employee taxed as such. There is (typically) no tax allowance for employees to expense travel to their normal place of work.

MrsStepford

When my husband does interim jobs with agencies, the client isn't his employer, so he is able to claim for the journeys to and from home. If he then took the job on permanently with client as employer, this wouldn't be allowed by HMRC.