To think I shouldn't have to shell out for Vodafone when i can't help working from home?

[Maria53]

I have been working from home for a month now using my 4G router and for the first time have gone over my allowance. Clearly this is due to the fact I am working 9-5 and zoom calls are sucking up a lot of data.

Vodafone added on more data for me, which cost £12 and still I was cut off again before the end of working day at 4.40pm.

I called them 2 days ago, was on the phone for an hour and they told me I cant change my plan because I am locked in for a year. They also said I would have to start paying £50/£60 per month - I currently pay £25!

I informed my boss what was happening but she didnt say much. Who is responsible here? How can I be the one having to shell out for this when the situation is outside my control?

Surely you should be able to claim expenses back from work? I'd ask the question of your boss directly

I think it is telling that they didnt equip us with the appropriate wifi in the first place. A lot of us are having issues with zoom and more.

Why can't you just get a wired broadband connection without a data limit? You're using a mobile broadband device to work from home. This is not your boss's problem.

Tell your work that if they can't pay for your data then you will have to communicate with voice only calls? I imagine it isn't essential to see people in most meetings.

I'd just count yourself damn lucky to have a job. An extra £30 is nothing

Not everyone can get broadband, hard as that may be to believe.

I am using a mobile broadband device because that was most suitable for me when I was not working from home.

I am now only working from home due to the virus.

I am not sure what logistics will be with a wired broadband if I am tied into this other contract for a year. I am not willing to pay for two sources of internet.

Switch to Three.

Unless you’re in a rural area or very badly paid, I think workplaces can reasonably expect you to have broadband.

Of course it's her boss's problem. She's using her home internet provision, which is perfectly adequate for her personal use, but is not adequate for work.

I would (i) put the additional costs incurred so far on expenses and (ii) inform your boss that they will either have to pay the additional costs for the new plan or that you will have to minimise the amount of internet-based work you can do from home. You do not have to be out of pocket for work-related expenses.

I think workplaces can reasonably expect you to have broadband.

But if you are working from home, they can also expect to have to pay for you to have that broadband. You are not actually supposed to use home internet packages for business use at all, though obviously at the moment, no one is enforcing that. But workplaces cannot reasonably expect employees to pay for additional services at home that they need in order to do their job. That is not how that works.

@oncemorewithfeeling99 why on earth should my work expect me to have a certain type of internet when I don't generally work there? Nice Buffy username though.

Tell your boss you don't have internet access. We've provided a dongle for staff who don't. No wifi, no work.

If you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot, go to the myvodaphone app and click on very me.

They are giving 30 days unlimited data to the first 500,000 customers.

That should help.

try again

It’s about £1 a day, you’d spend more than that going to work.

Oh FFS. It's a global pandemic. Just get wi fi like every other office worker in the land. We ALL. have to take some pain in this lockdown. Jesus Christ.

@Grobagsforever I know lots of office workers that have dongles at home.

@lalafafa yes but what about in a few months, if restrictions are lifted and I once again have to pay for that travel on top of the new expensive contract?

I suppose it all depends on whether I have to keep paying for this current one. I dont see a way out of that and they were saying I am tied in for the year.

I am very concerned about this. Sure, in the short term, we can all suck it up and take the view that it's cheaper than commuting etc but I have started reading about firms planning to move to more WFH and while I think it's great, I feel that thought needs to be given to how this works. Broadband, safety, work spaces etc

Interesting to see the mix of 'get over it' and 'of course your work should provide this'll...

I’m claim it as a work expense.

I've WFH for years. My company used to pay entirely for my broadband (when it was horribly expensive). Then it became an allowance. Now it's assumed everyone has broadband access in the same way we have water and electricity.

You are not actually supposed to use home internet packages for business use at all,

You may not be supposed to run a business using a residential package; that's not the same thing as an employee working from home.

Exactly. Having broadband is considered similar electricity. It's entirely reasonable that your employer expects you to have it.

My ex doesn’t have WiFi his boss supplied him with a work dongle. Not sure what else I can say we’re not in the U.K. though but his job isn’t a important one.

Your employer needs to provide you with the tools to WFH. You should receive an allowance for utilities or you can claim directly from HMRC.They have to ensure your workspace wherever it is is safe and does not breach any H&S issues ef DSE RA.