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Original poster

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

442 replies

Zazzii · 17/03/2021 12:26

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?

OP posts:
MibsXX · 19/03/2021 06:43

@thecatandthevicar

I am amazed by all these people who have different heating costs. Did you all switch off the heating every time you left the house?
yes i do lol, my job sadly doesnt allow for the luxury of working from home, but to answer the question, yes my heating is turned down to 10 degrees whenever i leave the house to go to work, would cost me more than double in heating oil for no reason if I didnt!
londonscalling · 19/03/2021 06:52

You have broadband anyway.

You're not paying travelling costs or spending time travelling.

You have the potential to lie in longer every morning and "be home"'from work earlier etc.

Don't push your luck.

Perhaps you should just be grateful you have a job at the moment too. Many don't!!!

ememem84 · 19/03/2021 07:05

After the first lockdown my employer paid everyone an extra £100 to cover wfh expenses.

We can also claim £10 per week on tax form for wfh providing we had no option but to wfh. I’m not mainland U.K. so our rules are different here.

SimonJT · 19/03/2021 07:23

@thecatandthevicar

I am amazed by all these people who have different heating costs. Did you all switch off the heating every time you left the house?
Our flat has single glazing and no insulation, to heat it during my working hours when I’m at the office would be very expensive.

Now we’re working from home and need to heat in the day it is costing on average an extra £52 per week. That is excluding the short cold snap in February as that would significantly increase the average.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 07:52

@thecatandthevicar

I am amazed by all these people who have different heating costs. Did you all switch off the heating every time you left the house?
Err... yes? Surely that's the norm? Why on Earth would we leave the heating on when the house is empty for 10+ hours?

Our heating bill near enough doubled over winter due to wfh. It's a huge extra expense.

Localocal · 19/03/2021 07:58

I think your employer can give you 26 per month and claim it back from HMRC. You should ask your HR department.

Yes, it's reasonable to do so. You may have to upgrade your broadband to be fast enough for Zoom calling, or heat a house during the day when you would normally be at work.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/03/2021 08:00

By and large I don't think claiming for a chair or a desk is reasonable.

Why isn't it reasonable? If I wasn't working from home I'd have no need for a desk. In normal times I'd have nowhere to keep it (it's wedged in between the sideboard and dining table and looks bloody awful) so why would shouldn't the company pay for something I need purely to be able to work?

If we go back to the office they are welcome to have it providing they can arrange collection!

HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 08:02

OP I'm with you on this. Yes there are some benefits to wfh. And some (not all!) people may financially benefit from reduced commuting costs.

However there are some considerable costs to wfh which rise as a direct result of wfh and are completely necessary (I'm not talking about coffee). A computer, other tech such as headset or webcam, wifi, heating/electricity all day, printer and ink/paper, desk, chair... It's not inconsiderable. And some of us (public sector here) got absolutely nothing. We were told to buy a new laptop if the one we had wasn't up to scratch for work purposes.

I don't expect my employer to pay for my petrol to work. But I absolutely expect them to pay for my computer, for heating the building, for any printing I need to do when I am at work. Costs as a direct result of performing your job should absolutely be met by the employer.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 08:08

Oh and I'll add that we are also required to use our personal phones for work calls. I need to make calls as part of my job, there's no way around it. We were told there is no budget for work phones. It's a disgrace imo. Yes I already have a phone but it is MINE.

What next? Shall I host department meetings in my living room when we're allowed contact? After all, I already have it, I'm not paying extra for my living room just because I wfh. Should I provide lifts to clients just because I own a car?

To argue that I should use something for work just because I (not work, I!) already own it is ridiculous.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/03/2021 08:35

By and large I don't think claiming for a chair or a desk is reasonable

Now I do disagree with that. My work expected everyone to take home their existing full set up, laptop, large screen, docking station and chair (we have a caretaker who could drop things off for people who didn't drive) and set it up and do a DSE assessment at home.

Given that there was a shortage of office furniture this time last year, I don't think they would have objected if anyone wanted to borrow an actual desk, if they had nothing suitable at home. So while I think that arguing over the cost of heating or refreshments is petty, I do think workplaces should do everything they can to provide the necessary equipment for people to WFH.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/03/2021 08:59

We were allowed to take our chairs but I don't have room for an office chair. My work set up doesn't meet the DSE requirements but I don't have the space. I have a laptop and one large screen but I really missing having two large screens.

Regarding the phone, I've had customers asking me for my mobile number but I've refused. Some would be calling me at all hours! They can contact me on Teams from 9-5 and that's it. One did complain about me not giving them my number but why should I?

mrsnibblesisahero · 19/03/2021 09:01

Placemarking to find that wfh benefit claim page

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 19/03/2021 10:15

Why isn't it reasonable? If I wasn't working from home I'd have no need for a desk. In normal times I'd have nowhere to keep it (it's wedged in between the sideboard and dining table and looks bloody awful) so why would shouldn't the company pay for something I need purely to be able to work?

So on-site workers should have all travel expenses paid then? After all they wouldn't need the train ticket/bike/car if they didn't have to commute.

dontdisturbmenow · 19/03/2021 10:19

For those who expect extra pay towards for extra costs of working for home, are you saying that you'd jump at the chance to go back to the office if offered?

Somehow I bet not for most. They just want their cake and eat it.

DGRossetti · 19/03/2021 10:24

Regarding the phone, I've had customers asking me for my mobile number but I've refused. Some would be calling me at all hours! They can contact me on Teams from 9-5 and that's it. One did complain about me not giving them my number but why should I?

Depending on your role, your employer would be best off giving you a phone. There have been situations where employees left and because customers had been given their direct numbers were able to poach customers to their new role.

Seems to me there are a few employers here trying to do things on the cheap. It would make me wonder where else they were skimping.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 10:46

@dontdisturbmenow

For those who expect extra pay towards for extra costs of working for home, are you saying that you'd jump at the chance to go back to the office if offered?

Somehow I bet not for most. They just want their cake and eat it.

I have gone back to the office now and I much, much prefer it.
HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 10:47

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

Why isn't it reasonable? If I wasn't working from home I'd have no need for a desk. In normal times I'd have nowhere to keep it (it's wedged in between the sideboard and dining table and looks bloody awful) so why would shouldn't the company pay for something I need purely to be able to work?

So on-site workers should have all travel expenses paid then? After all they wouldn't need the train ticket/bike/car if they didn't have to commute.

No I wouldn't expect them to pay my bus fare or petrol, but I would expect them to pay for a desk for me to work at when I get there! And my computer and phone.
HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 10:53

I see it as there are things that are essential for me to actually do my job (computer, phone, printer, desk) and things that I need to get to my job (commuting costs, work clothes). My employer should absolutely provide the essentials, regardless of whether I'm in the office or wfh.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 10:54

Clarification - I don't think my employer should pay commuting costs or work clothes, but should pay the essentials that I absolutely need to do the actual job.

thedancingbear · 19/03/2021 10:54

@dontdisturbmenow

For those who expect extra pay towards for extra costs of working for home, are you saying that you'd jump at the chance to go back to the office if offered?

Somehow I bet not for most. They just want their cake and eat it.

I think, all some of us are saying is that, if wfh leads to savings for the business, then those should be shared with its employees, and not all go straight in the employer's back pocket.
HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 19/03/2021 10:56

But if you must work in the office then you "absolutely need" to travel to do the actual job.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 19/03/2021 10:58

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

But if you must work in the office then you "absolutely need" to travel to do the actual job.
But it's not up to the employer where I live. I could live a 2 minute walk away or a 1 hour train away, that's up to me and it's not the employers responsibility.

It IS their responsibility to make sure I have the equipment I need to do the work.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/03/2021 11:12

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

Why isn't it reasonable? If I wasn't working from home I'd have no need for a desk. In normal times I'd have nowhere to keep it (it's wedged in between the sideboard and dining table and looks bloody awful) so why would shouldn't the company pay for something I need purely to be able to work?

So on-site workers should have all travel expenses paid then? After all they wouldn't need the train ticket/bike/car if they didn't have to commute.

Of course they shouldn't, it's up to me whether I have a long or short commute. However, they should supply the equipment I need to do the job properly, i.e. computer, screen, desk, keyboard.
NoSquirrels · 19/03/2021 11:14

Sorry you’re pissed off at WFH, OP. Hopefully it won’t last too long for your company. You are being vastly unreasonable though. Free tea and coffee and the perk of free photocopying is hardly something to ask for compensation for. Claim the HMRC rate tax relief. Job done. Obviously if you’ve had to get a higher speed broadband package or buy an office chair then do discuss that. But a general moan about having to WFH in a pandemic- just be glad you’ve got a job, eh?

The expectation that we have the space, willingness and capacity to work from home takes a very blinkered view of peoples circumstances. I guess it might be considered discriminatory in that it would exclude many people who do not have a spare room/ dining room table or other area they can set aside for company business.

If we were not in a pandemic then yes, a company just expecting people to be able to do this easily and satisfactorily from an occupational health perspective would be discriminatory a d blinkered. But they’re not. It’s temporary and it fucking sucks for those who have less space - predominately those starting out in junior positions. But a few quid extra for their heating bills and free teabag compensation isn’t going to get them a bigger flat with a better workspace so it’s a total red herring in this scenario.

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 19/03/2021 11:17

@dontdisturbmenow
For those who expect extra pay towards for extra costs of working for home, are you saying that you'd jump at the chance to go back to the office if offered?

YES! I’d love to be back in the office 5 days per week. I hate WFH. Hate it. I’d happily go back to the office tomorrow and never WFH ever again.