Employer refusing to pay mileage

Altior

It wouldn't bother me to be honest but they can't force you to use your own transport to ship stuff around the site if you don't want to. Unless it was in the contract (unlikely). The choices as I see them are to carry on as you are, refuse to transport/transfer equipment using your own vehicle (unless otherwise agreed), or seek alternative employment.

Savvy_Sue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81856326#Comment_81856326

Note that if you are claiming TAX RELIEF on the mileage, it's not 45p per mile: it's the tax you've paid on 45p per mile. I may not be explaining that very well so hopefully someone else can do it better and explain what the tax relief on c. 400 miles would be … (first post). Or have a read here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/vehicles-you-use-for-work

Also, I'm not going to get into a discussion about whether or not staff should be reimbursed for mileage between main location and a second location, but it seems to me that if they are NOT paying that mileage, they should be explaining that you can reclaim the tax as above, OR justifying that it is not due. The one I used to work for did not increase the amount paid once the 'approved rate' rose to 45p per mile: staff were therefore entitled to claim the TAX RELIEF on the difference.

I'd also suggest that one lone voice can easily be ignored, you need to be listened to as a staff group. And sometimes the only way to do that is via your trade union. And please don't say "we don't have a union" because everyone is entitled to join a trade union, and if enough of you do so then you can ask your employer to recognise the union. And if the employer says "no, we don't want to recognise the union" it's not the end, there are circumstances in which you can force the employer to recognise the union if enough people would like that. Your local rep will support and advise.

Even before the union is recognised, being a member can be very useful - just saying "I shall have to consult my union" can concentrate minds.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-a-union

Been there, got the T-shirt with a charity. Note it's not an immediate solution to everything - or indeed anything - but it's a start. And IMO if the CEO hadn't been so adamant that they would not recognise, the joining figures wouldn't have been as impressive …

I'll also add that charities are not necessarily renowned for 'best employment practices'. This sounds like one which is large enough to know that the entirety of UK employment law applies to them, which some smaller charities struggle to believe. And they sometimes think "oh, they won't sue us, we're a charity, they're nice people", but however altruistic we may be in working for a charity, we still have rights which we may wish to uphold.

luddieBoy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81856739#Comment_81856739

Nothing to do with my question, but I have business insurance.

Altior

tbf, HMRC list it as tax relief, which is very misleading.

If you use your own vehicle for work then the 45p/25p is in play I believe as it covers wear & tear etc as well as fuelling. It could really be called out of pocket expenses, as the amount is intended to cover all of the costs associated (eg depreciation, wear & tear).

Businesses reimbursing these expenses can only reclaim the VAT element of the fuel (that's why we need those receipts :) )

This case is a tad unique, as it seems the employees are moving stuff (and themselves) around the same (very large) location. I feel like if they have no choice (employer refuses to supply on site transport but demands the equipment is moved around by the workers) then they should pay the relevant expenses (ie the 45ppm).