Remote Working and Travel Expenses?

akira181

oldernonethewiser said:

Your future line manager may have little or no knowledge of the contract if this is all being handled by an HR department.

I can understand the reluctance to rock the boat but there is no harm in asking for written confirmation that From your base is your home it might save some grief later on.

From what I gather, the HR person is asking my line manager for this information and passing it back to me.

FlorayG

They've offered you the job. I see no harm in asking for clarification; you're not going to say "If I have to come to the office I don't want the job" are you? So ask to have in writing how often you will be expected to visit your 'base' so that you are clear on the terms. If what they come back with is something you can't deal with then YOU can turn down their offer
It's no good finding out these things after you have signed the contract

NCC1701-A

Do you & your new employer have the same definition of occasionally?  

Once a week, once a month, once a year?

One continuous month a year?

Assuming its been sent to you electronically, no harm in changing the address to "home" and signing it and returning it.

akira181

like I said, occasionally has been defined as "as needed". So ad hoc. No weekly, monthly, or any sort of recurring need. It's as and when the project or other requirements, such as training, requires it. So occasionally. You can't define X days a month/year if you don't know what the project is.

NCC1701-A said:

Assuming its been sent to you electronically, no harm in changing the address to "home" and signing it and returning it.

That's not really how contracts work is it. You can't just change it as you see fit, sign it, send it back, and job done. If it was that simple, I'd add a zero to my salary then they can have me come in twice a week if they want, I won't complain.

Undervalued

akira181 said:

like I said, occasionally has been defined as "as needed". So ad hoc. No weekly, monthly, or any sort of recurring need. It's as and when the project or other requirements, such as training, requires it. So occasionally. You can't define X days a month/year if you don't know what the project is.

NCC1701-A said:

Assuming its been sent to you electronically, no harm in changing the address to "home" and signing it and returning it.

That's not really how contracts work is it. You can't just change it as you see fit, sign it, send it back, and job done. If it was that simple, I'd add a zero to my salary then they can have me come in twice a week if they want, I won't complain.

Exactly. However remember that a contract of employment is not just a sheet of paper with the word contract on it. All kinds of agreements form a part of the contract but even then it can evolve and change over time. Broadly, if the employer says the terms have changed you will be deemed to have agreed to those changes unless you positively reject them.

Obviously with a new job, unless you were able to secure very unusual terms, you have no job security at the moment beyond whatever notice period has been agreed. It is a difficult one whether to let this ride and hope it won't become a serious issue or whether to insist on clarification.

Although theoretically what was agreed verbally is just as binding as what has been put in writing, in the real world....

One compromise might be just to "overlook" signing the contract and see if that gets forgotten then rely on the earlier agreements. Unfortunately though that may be less likely to happen if there has already be correspondence to and fro.

NCC1701-A

akira181 said:

like I said, occasionally has been defined as "as needed". So ad hoc. No weekly, monthly, or any sort of recurring need. It's as and when the project or other requirements, such as training, requires it. So occasionally. You can't define X days a month/year if you don't know what the project is.

NCC1701-A said:

Assuming its been sent to you electronically, no harm in changing the address to "home" and signing it and returning it.

That's not really how contracts work is it. You can't just change it as you see fit, sign it, send it back, and job done. If it was that simple, I'd add a zero to my salary then they can have me come in twice a week if they want, I won't complain.

So you may be faced with a scenario where you are required to attend the office for weeks on end as the employer deems it needed.

As the location is a key point for you, you can always do as I say and explain in covering email what you have done so they accept Home as your place of employment.  No doubt they will need do a H&S assessment etc etc of your home/ workplace.

sheramber

I would be concerned as to why they would prefer you to relocate. Are they anticipating the frequency of being required in the office.

Remote working does’t need to be from miles away. You could be based in the same town and still work remotely. 

If this is a potential stumbling block for you then you need to clarify the position. 

LightFlare

sheramber said:

I would be concerned as to why they would prefer you to relocate. Are they anticipating the frequency of being required in the office.

Remote working does’t need to be from miles away. You could be based in the same town and still work remotely. 

If this is a potential stumbling block for you then you need to clarify the position. 

Or it could just be they are trying to avoid the very situation the OP is in where an employee says they can’t attend due to distance and also want expenses and therefore causes potential disruption of the business and/or with other employees 

Andy_L

Two separate issues

1 an employer can pay or not pay whatever expenses they choose and it's a matter of contract and recruiting/retaining staff rather than employment law. So it doesn't matter if they say "home" as your place of work, that doesn't mean they have to pay for travel. They can just say you have to suck up the cost or agree to put the entitlement into your contract 

2 does HMRC think the employee should pay tax on those expenses on claim tax back on expenses not paid

pinkshoes

The contract you have is quite normal for jobs that allow remote working.

A friend of mine works for a company in London. The majority of the time she works from home (NOT London!), but is required to visit the office about once a month, or every other month. She factored in the cost of this (train and hotel) when taking the job. When she travels to clients (not her place of work) she then gets expenses paid.

You need to get them to clarify how many days per month you will be required to travel to the office, as you need to factor this into your salary. 

Remote working became popular during Covid, but I know quite a few companies that are now requiring people to be in the office more often.