To expect my work to pay for broadband and other wfh expenses?

[Zazzii]

Since last March like many of us I have been working from home - I have a work laptop and phone and use our spare room. I had always worked the odd day at home when it was convenient for wating in for deliveries/ appointments etc but only once or twice a month. I, and line manager etc, were happy with this but it was seen as a bit of a perk

Now that working from home is established as the 'new normal' is it wrong for me to expect my employer to cover my broadband costs? They dont seem inclined to give us anything telling us that as we have it already there is no increased costs for us of using it for an additional 7 hours a day.

It is vital for the business that we are connected therefore the cost should be met by the business. Plans from teh summer are for us to continue working from home at least for part of the week so it will be long term.

I undertsand that they dont want to get involved in discussions about individual broadband contracts etc but a standard amount for all staff - say £30 a month?, £40?- should be part of our expenses claim. Or do I need to accept it as part of the new way of working?

Then there are other expenses which I have incurred over the past year - bigger things like the heating and electricity during the day but also small things like the coffee, tea and other refreshments I would normally expect to have at work which I have had to pay for.

I havent reduced any costs in other areas - my commute is 2 miles by bike so negilible cost and time saving.

Am I being unreasonable? Would it be unreasonable to try and rally my fellow workers to ask for this?

And just to reiterate - any such payments will be taxed if they are more than £6 a week due to the antiquated and excessively complex tax system in this country.

@DynamoKev

And just to reiterate - any such payments will be taxed if they are more than £6 a week due to the antiquated and excessively complex tax system in this country.

...which would have been quite easy to tweak in the budget just gone or an earlier interim budget to respond to the unusual situation we find ourselves in.

But no, nothing, and people are just expected to be little sheep and not complain. Presumably.

I think you sound very tight and mercenary. I dont work in a job that gets free tea/,coffee and pastries. Presumably you're not hard up if they pay a reasonable salary and these extra perks too. I work at my small kitchen table and have to pack away my work laptop etc to feed the kids when they come home, do you expect your employer to pay towards your spare room???

I would absolutely not raise this with your boss, don't think it would be seen as team spirited during a pandemic.

@DynamoKev

And just to reiterate - any such payments will be taxed if they are more than £6 a week due to the antiquated and excessively complex tax system in this country.

That's a very subjective view. Clearly the tax system is working, or the government would change it.

@DGRossetti I'm not sure that's true: every Government for decades has said the tax code is onerous and complicated (and this is what creates loopholes) and expressed a desire to overhaul it. Unfortunately it is very difficult and complex to do, and inevitably would create winners and losers so would damage popularity with some voters, therefore it always gets kicked into the long grass.

@DGRossetti

I'm waiting for HMRC to view WFH as a benefit in kind and whack tax on it.

I don't think that would fly. You can't tax people for the privilege of being inside their own house!

Think yourself lucky you’ve still got a job. Tightarse.

Government for decades has said the tax code is onerous and complicated

Governments say an awful lot of things that they don't actually believe ...

and inevitably would create winners and losers

As long as the current winners win, and the losers lose why change anything ?

therefore it always gets kicked into the long grass.

Which was exactly what was intended at the top. Rinse and repeat.

I don't think that would fly. You can't tax people for the privilege of being inside their own house!

That isn't how taxes work, I'm afraid. You can tax daylight if you like. And we did.

@thedancingbear

Many employers are still incurring office rental costs and associated costs. You seem to think they should pay all of your increased costs as well?

In short, yes. These are known as 'costs of doing business' ('CDB'). They're a recognised balance sheet items. They are distinct from travelling costs, or food costs, or clothing, and historically have almost always been borne by the business, not the people it employs.

Most of my business' fixed costs have stayed the same but we have seen a reduction of around 3% in total, by virtue of no-one being in the office. That's more than enough to pay for people's broadband, an chair that's not going to damage someone's back if sat in for 40 hours a week, etc. And the cost will be largely recovered in goodwill too.

Exactly. Why should a company that needs broadband to do their business not have any costs for broadband? The costs of doing business are an expense for the business. It's not the same as asking them to pay for your food, clothes and commuting.

I’m paid to work, they pay for my labour, I don’t work for free.
It’s not a race to the bottom, I’m not grateful that I am being paid for my working hours. Work should be grateful I’m working, works both ways.
But I’m going into the office because I’m not giving up my house space for work.
Nobody is irreplaceable.

[quote MagentaZebras]@DGRossetti I'm not sure that's true: every Government for decades has said the tax code is onerous and complicated (and this is what creates loopholes) and expressed a desire to overhaul it. Unfortunately it is very difficult and complex to do, and inevitably would create winners and losers so would damage popularity with some voters, therefore it always gets kicked into the long grass. [/quote]
Governments have all said the tax code is too complex, and then every single government has gone on to make it even more complicated!

It's just soundbites, they're not actually interested in making it simpler. Most politicians, including Chancellors, don't actually understand the tax system themselves, so every little "tinker" they make causes even more complexity and anomalies.

We've had the laughable "Office of Tax Simplification" for over a decade. Other than no doubt costing a lot of taxpayers money in travel expenses, tea and biscuits, they've achieved bugger all. Their biggest claim to fame is abolishing luncheon vouchers which were completely irrelevant, worth just a few pence, and used only by a tiny minority of people anyway.

And then there are the other costs which people have mentioned- loo paper, water, general wear and tear etc which are only pennies
Oh my god, those were joke posts to highlight how ridiculous you're being but you actually think this is a valid point

I get nothing extra for wfh, I had broadband before so don't see why my employers should pay it, I'm grateful to have a job and one I love

They've provided me with a decent laptop and phone and I've provided a desk, chair, keyboard, monitor and mouse. Well I had all but the chair already but I treated myself to something comfortable to sit on for 8 hours a day.

I no longer drive 50 plus miles a day taking up to two hours so I'm perfectly happy and largely anti social so enjoying wfh very much

Why should a company that needs broadband to do their business not have any costs for broadband? The costs of doing business are an expense for the business. It's not the same as asking them to pay for your food, clothes and commuting.

Difference is that most people have broadband anyway.

There's an argument that the employer should pay/contribute if they specify a specific speed of broadband or want better reliability etc. In fact existing tax laws allows for that, i.e. the costs of an "improved" broadband service into an employee's home is claimable if there's a "business" need for it and the employer requires it.

The thing is that a "normal" level of broadband in someone's home is mainstream these days. If an employee didn't have electricity and lived by gas light/candles etc., you wouldn't expect the employer to pay to have electricity installed in their employee's home so they could use a computer would you? (Yes, an extreme example!)

I agree with you regarding elec & heating - my “office” is at the bottom of the house next to the garage, no rooms on that floor that are lived in etc, it’s literally just the hallway. I have to have the heating blasting because it’s always so freezing down there.

I don’t agree re broadband though because as others have said, you don’t pay more the more you use it.

but also small things like the coffee, tea and other refreshments I would normally expect to have at work which I have had to pay for.

I actually think this is even grabbier than the broadband request.

Maybe they should pay for your bog roll as well so they can literally wipe your arse for you?

Personally I think it's a little shortsighted to concentrate on just he issues of bills and broadband when looking at the concept of WFH.

There are a lot of other factors - give and take - that can be thrown into the mix.

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

And then there are the other costs which people have mentioned- loo paper, water, general wear and tear etc which are only pennies Oh my god, those were joke posts to highlight how ridiculous you're being but you actually think this is a valid point

This is a valid point.

my business probably spends a low five figure sum each year on bog roll, water rates, wear and tear on carpets, furniture etc. it'll be less than 1% of total costs but that translates to a few % extra profit. it's probably not enough to cover everyone's broadband but it would, for example, pay for everyone to have a half decent office chair.

Managing a successful and profitable business is, in part, about marginal gains like this (of course there is much more but it is part of the picture). The biggest and most profitable law firms are notorious for their Happy Shopper-equivalent tea and coffee. Shithouse employers up and down the country are probably loving people decrying the OP as a 'tightarse'.

Managing a successful and profitable business is, in part, about marginal gains like this

The biggest part seems to be which cabinet minister to become friends with.

Nope. Pay for it yourself. You don't have commuting expenses, that's your savings.

I paid for a new desk and chair to work from home, and hoping that it will continue forever as I don't want to go back into the office ever. Happy to accept the slightly higher electricity bills for it, although to be honest we've not noticed much of a difference.

Nope. Pay for it yourself. You don't have commuting expenses, that's your savings.

Some people walk or cycle to work. Not much scope for saving.

@ClarkeGriffin

Nope. Pay for it yourself. You don't have commuting expenses, that's your savings.

I paid for a new desk and chair to work from home, and hoping that it will continue forever as I don't want to go back into the office ever. Happy to accept the slightly higher electricity bills for it, although to be honest we've not noticed much of a difference.

My commuting has always cost £0.

@changi

Nope. Pay for it yourself. You don't have commuting expenses, that's your savings.

Some people walk or cycle to work. Not much scope for saving.

Not even the time ?

20 minutes a day. How much is that worth?