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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask if there are any employment law types around

25 replies

Namechangecommuter · 12/12/2016 19:26

I've named changed for this thread as some of the details on here are quite identifying if anyone knows me.

I work for a large organisation who have a number of sites across the city I work in. Last month our entire service was moved from one end of the city to the other. In reality it's only 8 miles further but it's added anywhere between 1/2 hour to an hour into my already hour long commute.

Today I left the house at 7am to get there for 9 and (unusually) left at 5 and got home at 7pm. It's crushing me. I'm just knackered every evening. I literally come in, walk the dog, eat and go to bed. It's no life.

Also the cost of the extra (approximately) 350 miles a month is killing me financially.

My question is even though my contact contains a clause about requiring me to work in any of their sites are they liable for any of the extra cost I'm incurring?

OP posts:
flossietoot · 12/12/2016 19:29

No, I don't think so! When I was a manager in my lady job we did exactly the same and my team just had to accept it as the business required it. We checked it out with our HR person (outsourced), and she advised it we were within our rights to do this. I know it's a bit crap.

flossietoot · 12/12/2016 19:30

My last job!

Original poster
Namechangecommuter · 12/12/2016 19:32

I didn't think so, but it was worth a try!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 12/12/2016 19:36

No only if it's temporary apparently.

Nicketynac · 12/12/2016 19:36

I work for a large organisation with a similar clause in our contract but when we moved we were entitled to claim travelling expenses for the difference in mileage but nothing for any extra time incurred. We were allowed to apply for a change in hours as well (not necessarily given a change in hours). Not sure if this is because of union involvement but wouldn't hurt to ask.

Nicketynac · 12/12/2016 19:37

Also we can only claim for a limited period

Original poster
Namechangecommuter · 12/12/2016 19:38

Ooh thanks Nicketynac we have a union too.

OP posts:
Crisscrosscranky · 12/12/2016 19:39

Unlikely, without seeing the contract it's impossible to know if it's a proper mobility clause (or if you have a defined place of work with reasonable travel expected in line with other polices re: mileage) however a distance of 8 miles would be seen to be a reasonable redeployment distance if the alternative would otherwise be dismissal (redundancy or SOSR)

ToucheShay · 12/12/2016 20:27

No help but is your dog on its own from 7-7?

Original poster
Namechangecommuter · 12/12/2016 20:33

No, the other half works from home. He does mornings and lunch times.

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 12/12/2016 20:39

As others have said, it's difficult to advise without seeing the exact wording, but it's unlikely to be unreasonable and it's unlikely that they are obliged to meet the costs.

It sounds like the issue is you're so far away to start with. If it's not sustainable you'll need to move house or get another job. I feel your pain, a 2 hour commute is miserable, but only you can do something about it.

Original poster
Namechangecommuter · 12/12/2016 20:58

Moving is absolutely out of the question. Yes it's a shame I'm so far away to start with but when we chose the house the office move hadn't been mentioned and I said I was prepared to travel for an hour which I was totally comfortable with.

OP posts:
RestlessTraveller · 14/12/2016 10:29

Well I spoke to the union and we have no comeback on this. Sadly I'll be looking for another job then.

RestlessTraveller · 14/12/2016 10:29

And I've just outed myself with a name change fail!

FriedPisces · 14/12/2016 10:36

I'm no help on this one but I just wanted to say companies seem to be able to write little clauses into their contracts which allow them to do what the hell they like. We've just been told we'll be closing over Christmas for 2 weeks which is something that does happen in this industry. However, in order to cover that we have to use our own holiday allowance which leaves us with 15 per year. Fuck's sake. Xmas Angry
Good luck in your new job search though, I've started and it's bloody soul destroying.

teachergirl2011 · 14/12/2016 10:54

No as there is a clause in your contract. The only grey area is if your contract lists your base and then you can claim expenses to/from that.

AndShesGone · 14/12/2016 11:17

Why is moving out of the question if your dh works from home and there's no kids ? Confused

If no moving house what's the job situation like nearer your house?

Commuting is so crap Flowers

RestlessTraveller · 14/12/2016 12:02

Because we absolutely love the house, it fits all our needs and it took us ages to find!

RestlessTraveller · 14/12/2016 12:03

That's awful friedpisces Flowers

ProfYaffle · 14/12/2016 12:12

Is there any scope to change your working hours? Tweak your start/finish times to miss the worst of the traffic? Compressed hours, so 4 long days and one day off? Or work from home sometimes?

TeenAndTween · 14/12/2016 12:19

(says very quietly)
But the house doesn't fit all your needs as it is 2 hours away from where you work ...

RestlessTraveller · 14/12/2016 13:03

But it wasn't when we found it and there's no way we could get somewhere similar closer to the city.

RestlessTraveller · 14/12/2016 13:05

Plus a week before we were told we were moving we just signed a lease for another year!

maggiethemagpie · 15/12/2016 19:00

No, they can change your base within a 'reasonable travelling distance', where I work we class this as up to an hour's travelling time (from the old base).

Without seeing the clause in your contract it's hard to know how specific it is, but I think your goose is cooked...

estateagentfromhell · 15/12/2016 19:11

So its only a rental? I thought you meant you owned it! Of course you can move, what a no-brainer...

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