Unpaid travel time

lucie333 · 2022-12-10T18:41:53+00:00

Looking for some advice. I started my job as a home carer 2 weeks back I had no idea we didn't get paid for travel time, no one told me this nor does it state it in my contract? So I work from 3:45 to 22:00 and only get paid for 4 hours because that's how long all my visits for the evening total to. I'm a walker and some of my visits are 1.2 miles apart I have 8 visits within the time frame. Is it worth it?

thenewduchessoflapland · 10/12/2022 18:43

No.

If you're going to be looking after mainly elderly people who need help with eating/washing/toileting then you may as well work those hours in a care home and get paid for the whole shift.

monsteronahill · 10/12/2022 18:47

Do you drive at all? I feel like a lot of the time if you're walking would be much quicker driving, work don't normally pay commuting time (especially if there's quicker options than walking, it would cost them a fortune to pay everyone to walk everywhere!).

WaitingForSummertime · 10/12/2022 18:48

I'd have a read of this, and work out if you're getting the minimum wage:

https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/disabled-people-and-carers/caring-someone/issues-facing-paid-care-workers

Original poster

lucie333 · 10/12/2022 18:48

@thenewduchessoflapland thank you. I will have to look for work after 6months other wise I will need to pay for the training I received 😢 but it will give me a proper feel for the job before trying a care home. Should it be in my contract that you will not get paid for travel time ?

OP posts:

Original poster

lucie333 · 10/12/2022 18:49

monsteronahill · 10/12/2022 18:47

Do you drive at all? I feel like a lot of the time if you're walking would be much quicker driving, work don't normally pay commuting time (especially if there's quicker options than walking, it would cost them a fortune to pay everyone to walk everywhere!).

No I don't drive yet. I have my test in January so fingers crossed! I have a bike so I might use that in the mean time 😊

OP posts:

monsteronahill · 10/12/2022 19:09

@lucie333 oo good luck for then!! 😊

I think their stance would be that the commute isn't paid for, just the actual work you do - if biking will help shave time off for you I'd definitely do it 😃

ArcticSkewer · 10/12/2022 19:16

lucie333 · 10/12/2022 18:48

@thenewduchessoflapland thank you. I will have to look for work after 6months other wise I will need to pay for the training I received 😢 but it will give me a proper feel for the job before trying a care home. Should it be in my contract that you will not get paid for travel time ?

I'd imagine if you approach your employer to make sure they are paying you NMW (check out the links on this thread) and say that sadly you will have to take it further to acas if they don't, you will find they are happy to waive the fee for your training programme
Or of course ... they pay you what you are owed!
win win

Overthebow · 10/12/2022 19:19

Well I doubt they would pay for you to walk to each location. I would think a car journeys worth of time would be fair though.

ArcticSkewer · 10/12/2022 19:27

Presumably the job description would state car needed, in that case?

HermioneWeasley · 10/12/2022 19:29

@lucie333 they can’t take your wages below min wage so they can’t reclaim your training expenses. I’d also look into whether you should be paid for travel time

NoelNoNoel · 10/12/2022 19:32

This is quite common for care work, it may be worth cycling until you’ve passed your test if you otherwise enjoy the job.

NEmama · 10/12/2022 19:33

Usually states own transport required. It's not worth your while at the moment

Original poster

lucie333 · 10/12/2022 19:36

ArcticSkewer · 10/12/2022 19:27

Presumably the job description would state car needed, in that case?

The job description was for a walker

OP posts:

Original poster

lucie333 · 10/12/2022 19:37

ArcticSkewer · 10/12/2022 19:27

Presumably the job description would state car needed, in that case?

No not in this case, the job description was for a walker

OP posts:

Hankunamatata · 10/12/2022 19:44

Its usual in care work that tracel isnt paid (which is awful but as I sat the norm). You have 6 hours 45 minute shift and your spending 2 hours 45 mins walking between clients?

WelliesandWine88 · 10/12/2022 19:47

Absolutely not! I'd sooner find a different job that actually pays for my time

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 10/12/2022 19:51

Assuming they can force you paying for you for training, would that be more or less than the extra you'd earn in a care home job in 6 months?

Crazykatie · 10/12/2022 19:53

A close friend is a carer and has exactly the same problem, she is going to chuck it in, so should you, get a proper job, even if it’s stacking shelves.

Annabananna1 · 10/12/2022 19:56

How much would you have to pay for the training? Might still be worth it to get out and take a job at a fixed location.

Crazykatie · 10/12/2022 19:57

HermioneWeasley · 10/12/2022 19:29

@lucie333 they can’t take your wages below min wage so they can’t reclaim your training expenses. I’d also look into whether you should be paid for travel time

Yes they can, if each client is a separate contract, you are self employed and travel at your own expense

ArcticSkewer · 11/12/2022 07:35

That's such a weird job! I almost wonder if it's really a massive scam to get people to pay for their training for a job that doesn't exist.
I would phone the acas helpline for advice on this. Do you have the job ad and job description? Gather up everything you have and give them a call.

0300-123-1100

underneaththeash · 11/12/2022 08:31

Actually, I think they do have to pay you for your travel time.

www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-different-types-work

Unicorn1919 · 11/12/2022 08:44

You should be paid travel time between jobs (but probably not getting to your first or getting home from the last job). Please contact ACAS. Employers like this should be stopped, it is so unfair.

NellesVilla · 11/12/2022 09:51

They should pay your travel time and as others have said, you can claim back if by doing all this extra unpaid travel time it takes you under the minimum wage threshold.

Currently, I’m doing a similar temporary role combined with private home tutoring. It’s v annoying after a while to have all these hours in between and the companies don’t give a toss, do they? I often have four hours between clients and unless I have students to fill part of the time, I have to go to cafes and do admin and keep warm.

It’s a normal everyday thing for me to have one client for 2 hours, then half hour travel to another 1/2 hour client- that’s the best it gets. So fed up already.

At least I have a car I suppose but the mileage is a killer, plus wear and tear 💐

thelobsterquadrille · 11/12/2022 10:01

They should be paying your travel time between jobs (but not from home to job one, or from your last job to home).