Travelling for work purpose when on annual leave

[Whatisthisallabout]

I've name changed for this as it could be outing.

I travel a lot for work, lots of trains and overnight hotel stays, which means a lot of time away from home and family life. Recently we have been told that we have to make as many savings to our travel as possible.

Next week I am working not too far from home on Monday but still 30 miles and £50 return train journey from home. I'm off on annual leave on Tuesday but have to be a 4.5 hour train journey away from home on Wednesday and need to be there at 10am.

My partner lives halfway between wher I m on Monday and where I need to be on Wednesday, however he's not home on Monday night. To save money I thought I would go from my place of work Monday to his, stay there overnight and get a train from there to my meeting on Wednesday. The cost of that entire trip (both legs) is £100. To go from my normal place of work to the Wednesday morning meeting would involve me either leaving at 0500 on Wednesday at a cost of a peak train ticket for £300 or leaving on Tuesday night (on my days annual leave), staying in a hotel approx £75 and a return train ticket at £180. Which basically saved them approx £150.

To my mind this made sense. I was saving the business money and I couldn't have my DC on Tuesday night anyway as I'd either be away or getting up to early. They would have to stay with their dad.

Today my boss called me to say she couldn't approve my trips as she "couldn't find my social to see DP". I explained why I had done it like that and she said that it looked like a social so she wouldn't sign it off. She advised it was better to spend the extra money as it looked better.

She then followed this up with an email to say that "I know it's horrible to have to travel on your annual leave. But I do it all the time and it's expected. You can either do this or travel at 0500; you should be back by 1900"

I'm furious. I was honestly trying to save them money, it also meant I could see DP on Tuesday, which I don't mind paying my own way for, but to expect me to use 4.5 hours of my annual leave to save them money is outrageous in my opinion. AIBU to say this is a breach of employment law and I'm not going to do it?

For context I am contracted 37 hours a week. I work away 2 days a week on average and often work many many more hours than I am contracted.

If our staff are able to stay with a friend or family instead of in a hotel, we will cover a takeaway or something as it still saves us money, surely that's the objective?
Or, ask her for overtime or TOIL to cover the extra time, in addition to the extra cost.

Travel at 5am at extra cost or say no.

Absolutely no way would I travel for work during my annual leave. Companies give annual leave so that employees can recharge and she doesn’t know whether you have plans or not anyway.

You’ve presented her with a cheap plan, she’s rejected it. Essentially she’s pushing business costs on to you in the form of your time. I would absolutely charge the more expensive morning train. If it’s ever questioned, it’s her short sightedness that led to this.

If you don't travel in peak time then be careful that you don't set a precedent or by the sound of it your manager would come to expect it on future occasions. I would just go at 5am.

How are they to know that you don't live there part of the time anyway.

You would “feel bad” for asking for the more expensive ticket that enables you to have your annual leave : that’s just passive. Be assertive and ask for the 5am. If they refuse, ask (by email) whether, since your manager has said they won’t fund your cheaper journey from your bf’s location, they now wish you to cancel your day’s leave in order to travel .

Travel time counts as working time - check with ACAS on this.

I've had this kind of thing before. I worked in a different city to where I lived for about a year and the company paid our train fare home for 4 weekends a month. I booked them as soon as the timetable was available, and could get first class for way less than half the regular 2nd class flexible fare we were entitled to. And the company didn't want to pay until I made them compare my costs to those of colleagues - I had to go through accounting and HR and finally to the MD before anyone saw sense.

Is there any way you can cancel your annual leave (I guess you have an appointment or something otherwise you'd have suggested it)?

I refuse to travel at stupid times these days. But then I live in a country where working more than 10 hours a day is against the law (so, we do it but the company can't actually force us without huge problems).

Go for the expensive, convenient option and next time there's a directive about cost-cutting make suggestions about how they could be a bit more flexible about it.

You travel at 5am and cost them the extra money and put in an email why you have done it

It’s bullying to make you travel on your day off and because everyone excepts it it means the company can continue to take the piss

Always amazes me how woman would feel bad having the CFuckers take the piss out of them...🤦‍♀️ The company doesn’t feel guilty getting free work and then berates you on top

Either travel at 5am or ask for a half day A/L back.
They're being ridiculous.

Absolute dickheadery from your boss here. (I’m half hoping this is a reverse and you see the light )

Put the three options in writing and explain the overnight is not convenient or cheap and reconfirm it’s either a £300 train or your suggestion out going from halfway.

Either that or just do what you want and expense it ( and let your boss try to explain out loud what their issue is)
It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission

I'll admit I'm curious, what did you do in the end?

No way should you travel during your annual leave whether you have something planned or not. Once you start doing that it'll be expected all the time.

Do you get paid for the additional hours you work over your contracted hours?

I’m fuming on your behalf OP.

Personally when I request travel I start at the most expensive and barter them down. If they want me elsewhere then they can bloody pay for it. And I’m not getting up and silly o’clock or getting home super late to save them a tenner.