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

This - for years, if they have had an office based contract but been working at home, they have effectively benefited from no commute costs.

My DHs company has done everything over last 4 years to get back to pre COVID work practices : tried to meet staff half way by increasing back to 3 days slowly but barely 30% have complied. Many played games by arriving for half a day or even just a few hours before going back home, for example. They decided to play hardball recently and said office presence would be an appraisal criteria and will impact performance assessment and bonus calculations - which has caused furore, even though they just want people to comply with their contracts. It was also considered in a recent round of redundancies - those who were non compliant were in a weaker position. Staff have had years to adjust childcare and to work with spouses the rejig (or find alternative jobs) but still expect to be carried.

Another round of redundancies are pending, with AI services being cited as useful and cheaper alternatives to human staff that no one ever sees or interacts with. They’ve shot themselves in the foot really. My DH is present 5 days a week 7.30-7 and on call outside those hours (he is c-suite adjacent though). Its the only way to prove indispensability. People are foolish to kick off about wanting more money in this climate when the easiest option for firms is to let staff go.

How do you think their wages are paid? Does it “magically” appear in their “fake” bank accounts?

What a ridiculous comment and really shows you are completely ignorant about any other type of work done.

This

It's always been the employee's responsibility to get themselves to work; it's a factor when applying to jobs. And if the contract says a particular office is their place of work, they have to get themselves there.

Now if they have to travel to a different office on occasion at the request of the employer, that cost should be picked up by the employer. But again, that will be in the contract.

I think if people were hired with contracts stating hybrid working and listing how many days they were expected in the office or with home working contracts then I can understand why employees are annoyed that the employer wants to change their part of the agreement/contract.

For those who are live in completely different locations it makes sense that the employer either honours their hybrid/remote working or contribute to transport costs.

People who live close to work obviously don't need this extra support.

I am always surprised and saddened at how many people commenting on this type of threads who blindly support employers no matter what they do...

Transport costs but we all have to pay our transport costs to get to work

Unless the job was originally advertised as remote and they are changing that then no they shouldn’t pay your travelling expenses for you to go to work. Should people pay the money back to the company that they have saved during lockdown by working from home?

I think it depends on the contract.

I was employed on a work from home contract, with no office expectation at all. I factored that in to the overall offer when I took the job.

After 3 years they wanted to do a change of contract (all done legally) which stated that we were in the office 4 days a week. Some people left because of how far from the office they lived (like 4 hours each way away). And others wanted to renegotiate pay because the lack of commuting costs had been factored in to their accepting the job. I don't think that is unreasonable.

If someone was on an office contact and just happened to be allowed to WFH more then it's unreasonable to ask for more money.

That’s ridiculous. I can see some reason for it if they decide to move offices over an hour from original location then paying the difference but otherwise no. Where you chose to live is not the employer’s concern.

Nice try.

Yes but when wages don’t keep pace with transport costs (or indeed housing costs local to the office location), then what?

The cost of rail travel in the UK is prohibitively high for many.

We either pay it or make alternative arrangements, what else can we do?

Push back on presenteeism.

I was told by someone at work seeking to have her travel covered that it wasn’t the case. I hadn’t read that HMRC guidance.

My separate point stands though that it’s not a big expense to be taxed on so neither here nor there really.

I’m all for hybrid working and luckily my employer seems to want to stick at 50%

however I have seen the negative impact it has on new joiners - particularly new grads if it isn’t managed properly

and just last week someone in my team had an issue and had a moan and the team in the office that day worked together to resolve it. That wouldn’t have happened if he’d just been stewing on it at home

so whilst there is an element of presenteeism some time in the office as a team or being able to have face to face meetings is important

She probably found the advice on the same channels that tell small business owners that they can put their kids school fees through the business and get a tax deduction

Surely people are required in the workplace for as many hours as the employer asks them to be?

The guidance the previous poster linked was that it can be paid for by the employer but the employee has to pay tax on the amount.

I think it’s different with Barclays as many secured their roles under the understanding it was two office days a week.

I don’t work for Barclays but when I applied and secured a role (which I turned down) they really sold the “only required to two days a week in the office”.

If they suddenly changed that requirement I would be livid too.

Ha, she gets a lot expensed as she travels a great deal for her role, so probably assumed commuting was the same deal!

Yes - if that was the agreement when they secured the job. I doubt many actually need to be in the office for three days.

Entitled off the scale
There are loads of people looking for jobs
They will just get someone else

Thats like asking for your employer to pay for your electric, heating and equipment for at home, can't have it both ways

Except you can get tax relief for those things! And most employers do provide equipment for home working such as monitors, docks and chairs.

Surely it must depend on what their original contract says. People are being ridiculously selfish and entitled.

It never...just entitled people seem to think it is...they are going to have to do a bit at work now where everyone can see them instead of at home in their own time so they kick up a fuss.