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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU re DP's employers pressuring him to get a car?

57 replies

violetbunny · 11/08/2014 09:01

Genuinely not sure if IABU here, so would love to hear your thoughts.

We moved to a new city 5 months ago, and DP started a new job with an agency that provides a professional service (think along the lines of consulting, etc). He got the job before we moved here, so when it came to finding somewhere to live we deliberately chose to live somewhere within walking distance of his office, so he walks to work.

Since he started several months ago, his boss has been putting pressure on him to get a car. The reason is that roughly 4-5 times per month he is required to travel to client's offices within the city in which we live, and twice so far has had to travel 2-3 hours by car outside of our city. So far, when travelling within our city DP has either been taking public transport there or, if there are no public transport links (maybe half the time), then taking a taxi. On the occasions he has had to travel outside the city he's either gotten a lift with a colleague or, on one occasion where that wasn't possible, hired a car. Any taxis or hire cars have been charged back to the company as expenses with the prior agreement of his boss.

His boss however has indicated several times now that the company is unwilling to keep paying for taxis/hire cars, and that DP should look into getting a car. None of this was ever discussed before DP was hired (they never asked if he had or planned to use his own car, nor is anything mentioned in his contract) and it's a small company so there isn't a written travel policy. His boss's argument is that DP is "senior enough that he should be setting an example" and he has gone as far as to say there are plenty of others out there who could do DP's job and have their own car. Taxi rides are usually under 25 pound and a couple of times a month. His boss is a part-owner of the company so has a vested interest in reducing costs.

They haven't gone as far as telling him he must get a car, but keep having "chats" with him about it and are making it out to be real issue. DP thinks he should offer to fund his own transport (as it'll probably be cheaper than buying and running a car) but I think his work are being tightwads. AIBU to think it's a bit cheeky for them to be pressuring him into getting a car?

OP posts:
wheresthelight · 11/08/2014 09:05

I can see their point over setting an example but if they want it so badly then they ought to be providing it as a company owned car. They cannot in law force him to buy his own

ApocalypseNowt · 11/08/2014 09:06

He definitely shouldn't fund his own transport - pls advise him not to offer that.

If they think a car is essential for the job this should have been stated in the job spec or they should provide a company car.

Is there a car sharing club like WhizzGo in the city where you are? Your dh could suggest using that but he should still claim this back on expenses.

ApocalypseNowt · 11/08/2014 09:07

Something like this

AnnaLegovah · 11/08/2014 09:10

I had this with a previous employer - if it isnt in his job description that he has to have a car and drive it for work, they can't make him. Next time his boss has one of his 'chats', maybe your DH can ask directly for contribution or use of a pool car?

Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 09:15

@ApocalypseNowt - There is a car sharing scheme here, I'll suggest he looks into it. I guess I just wanted to know if other people thought they were being a bit tight by asking him to take on the client-related transport costs, as I agree that it should have been in the job spec (or car/car allowance included in his renumeration).

OP posts:
HappyAgainOneDay · 11/08/2014 09:21

How far away are the non-city venues that your DH has to go to? What about a bicycle. That would be cheaper than a car, wouldn't it?

Or, if he's up to it, a motorbike for those journeys?

HaPPy8 · 11/08/2014 09:23

Do the other employees doing a similar thing get petrol costs reimbursed?

whois · 11/08/2014 09:27

If it's not in his contact then they can do one, and pay for transport to places other than his normal place of work.

Suggest he does try to minimise transport costs eg bus rather than taxi if possible, car scheme etc.

TheTravellingLemon · 11/08/2014 09:29

If he does need one, then they should provide a car allowance. My DH gets this and it works out quite well.

TheTravellingLemon · 11/08/2014 09:30

If he does need one, then they should provide a car allowance. My DH gets this and it works out quite well.

HalfTheSky · 11/08/2014 09:36

Just to sound a note of caution - it's all very well him not getting a car (and I agree it shouldn't be necessary and the taxi/car share clubs would work just as well) but at the point his boss is dropping not-so-subtle hints about how others could do his job just as well and they have cars, I would bear in mind that he has no right to claim unfair dismissal if he has less than two years service. His boss could lawfully fire him and pay nothing more than notice. Unless he's confident he could walk into another job easily, he needs to reach an agreement with his boss and not be too intransigent.

Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 09:43

@HalfTheSky - We aren't in the UK, but where we live his employers could indeed dismiss him and only pay notice. I think this is the main reason he wants to offer to pay for his transport, as he doesn't want to end up losing his job over it (even if they are being a bit unreasonable).

OP posts:
BookABooSue · 11/08/2014 09:43

I think he should prepare a few options for the next meeting (and perhaps even call the next meeting to show he's being proactive about it) so:

  1. I'm willing to drive any other car in the company (looking at you part-owner's car) if the company pays for suitable insurance
  2. I'm willing to consider using my own car if you can confirm the fuel/milege allowance and any depreciation payments
  3. I'm willing to use a car pool vehicle (as long as he has enough notice about events where he needs a car and the car pool will always have availability)

I would also have a little table showing how much he has cost the company in expenses so far and how the above options would break down for expenses too, so it's easy to see what is most cost-effective.

It sounds as though your dh isn't ruling out that he'll buy a car (when he's in the meetings) so if it isn't an option then he has to make that clear. YY the company should have specified about a car. It sounds like an oversight on their part. They have just assumed someone at that level would have a car and now they're scrambling round to find another solution.

Personally I don't see how a bike would work when you've said some of the meetings are 2 or 3 hours out of the city. That seems like a lot of cycling to me and not feasible.

Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 09:45

@Happy8 - Up until recently, a colleague of his also didn't have car so was also claiming similar costs. However she's just gotten a car recently which seems to have prompted more hints from his boss. The colleague is also more junior then him (which I think prompted the comment that he should be "setting an example").

OP posts:
Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 09:48

@whois He has been taking public transport / sharing lifts wherever possible so far. Agree car scheme is worth looking into.

OP posts:
amyhamster · 11/08/2014 09:49

Honestly I think life is too short too short - hrs obviously worrying about it so I'd just buy one
Do you have a car? Could he use yours?

PetulaGordino · 11/08/2014 09:51

will they reimburse petrol?

Sicaq · 11/08/2014 09:53

I've been in a very similar situation: small family-ownedcompany, suddenly told me we needed to take samples for analysis weekly to a village with no public transport. Like your DP's boss they kept muttering about how I "may be a problem for them", and this "could get awkward for [me]", rather than addressing the matter directly.

I got made redundant not long after. Sorry to be negative, but this doesn't sound like a very professional boss; it may be worth DP looking at other options whilst he follows the excellent advice of all the PPs.

Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 09:54

@BookABooSue - He has made it clear until now that he doesn't think buying a car would make financial sense for him, but I think he's realised since the last "chat" last week that he needs to be a bit more proactive and suggest some solutions.

OP posts:
itiswhatitiswhatitis · 11/08/2014 09:55

Tbh I can see their point.

specialsubject · 11/08/2014 09:59

yes, protect the job and suggest some solutions. The company should pay a mileage allowance for those using their own cars (to cover fuel, the extra insurance and wear and tear), so he could be paid that (car or no car) or the company should have a policy on taxi fares etc.

the company should not expect employees to use their own cars for business at no recompense, so it will always cost them something.

Sicaq · 11/08/2014 09:59

itIs, if they were so concerned it should have been in the job spec and contract. Then I could also see their point.

Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 10:00

@amyhamster - I do have a company car, but I work in an area of the city with no public transport links so it's not possible for him to borrow it. Just buying a car would certainly make things easier, but would cost us a lot (not just the car itself, but also paying for a permanent car park, insurance, tax, etc) for the sake of using it once, maybe twice, a week.

OP posts:
Original poster
violetbunny · 11/08/2014 10:02

@PetulaGordino - Yes, they do pay mileage for employees who are using their own cars. It's just the cost of taxis / hire cars they seem to have an issue with.

OP posts:
GingerBlondecat · 11/08/2014 10:03

But when you drive your own car for wok purposes... Aren't you reimbursed?

So It would still cost the company the same in the long run.

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