AIBU to think if your boss wants you in the office, they should help pay to get you there?

You write as if all other costs remained the same since 2022 ?

If employers are to be expected to cover employees' commuting costs, will that mean that they also get to dictate where you live and how you travel to work?!

If your contract is to work from home, then it's reasonable not to expect to have commuting costs. If you're contracted to work from the office, then suck it up.

Maybe they could hire an assistant to do your work in the office while you stay at home on full pay and no travelling expenses

Oh completely agree. I'm very much in favour of working in person by the way but also having some flexibility.

But I also think many companies announce BTO in lieu of announcing layoffs.

My pay hasn't risen in line with inflation for ten years so I've taken a pay cut of around £20k. I also earn just over the 40% tax threshold which also hasn't risen in line with inflation so has become more and more punitive. I had to move an hour and a half from my job because I was priced out of the city it's based in and they don't provide free parking so it costs up to £20 a day plus petrol, which has also risen astronomically, just to get there. I'm lucky I don't need to pay for childcare but very many do and they'd have those costs on top.

My employer is trying to force us back into work more days a week with no justification (while also selling off the estate and making people redundant to reduce costs). If it goes ahead, I'll be quitting.

Payment to get to and from work from your home is a taxable benefit. Employers know this which is a tax minefield and for this reason isn't normally done.

Job prospects are usually outside of London. Also some people want the extra 10k salary bump a london job will give you but refuse to move or commute. Companies shouldn’t be moving offices because people don’t want to commute.

Nope, very clear TUPE arrangements checked with solicitors mean this is the case as my “base” is my home. If I need to go to one of the other 32 bases then I claim mileage.

I go to one base every Wednesday and can claim for it.

YABVU should every employer pay getting to/from work costs?

Is that only if they give you the money directly? If the employer buys the employee a rail pass is it still taxed?

I used to work a job in London where some shifts started before the Tube was running or after the Tube stopped and we were sent taxis paid for by the employer to get to and from work on those shifts - I don’t remember being taxed on that.

I have mixed feelings really

yes pre Covid I was paying to go in the office 5 days per week but in the 5 years since my pay rises have not been in line with inflation let alone the consumer price index or fuel inflation so I don’t feel inclined to go in the office more than the minimum (2 days now)

no one expected personal allowance to be frozen for so long. Every year is a pay cut.

if my employers want me to go in more then yes they need to have a think about salary inflation or increasing car allowances (not increased in 10 years) and fuel allowances for business travel (20p per mile which doesn’t change when fuel prices increase)

I think there are 2 arguments.
Coving and hybrid working has caused problems. Pre- covid i lived in a commutable distance to my job.
During covid I moved due to a remote role. Changed role but was verbally told remote and if I went to office it was paid for. The company took advantage of best person for the job rather than best local person. Stayed for over 2 years.
Then I had a new manager who wanted me in the office 3 days a week but wouldn't pay expenses ( office was 5hrs away) unfortunately my contract home office was there. I tried arguing that I was currently doing meetings at 6am (china) and 7pm (usa) so if I did 9-5 onsite I wouldn't be able to do those.
She couldn't understand that all my teams were global, just wanted bums on seats. So I left.
Been at current company over 2 years, ( just been promoted) home contract if I leave my house all my travel is paid- train/hotels/meals. I currently spend about 2 weeks a month somewhere in the UK and the rest at home.
I'd never get a non wfh contract again.

Some employers will just pay the tax on the benefit without involving the employee

there are certain rules around travel outside of normal working hours

theres quite a lot there for an employer to deal with so some will just have a blanket policy

Then they will realise why they used to employ humans.

Good god, at this rate, employees will want their bosses doing the employees jobs and still paying them! Always has been up to employees to find their way to work.