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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Feeling exploited, AIBU?

38 replies

CanYouDoTheTwist · 07/05/2025 08:03

Home based remote worker on min wage, asked (read expected) to stand at an exhibition.
Gave up a Sunday, almost 4 hours train travel each way.
Company paid for a budget hotel, train tickets, 1 course dinner and my time standing on the exhibition floor.
They won’t pay my travel time and no TOIL offered for giving up day off.
Was I expecting too much to be paid £12.21ph for my travel hours?
Does anyone have any useful insight? ACAS sketchy and my contract doesn’t mention it.

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 07/05/2025 08:45

Do you still get paid if you take a day off sick?

Original poster
CanYouDoTheTwist · 07/05/2025 08:45

RandomMess · 07/05/2025 08:44

I would push back that the travel time was not your usual commute and that as you are paid minimum wage then your additional working hours of traveling to and from need to be covered.

is there anything in your contract about attending these events?

Nothing in contract 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Ryeman · 07/05/2025 08:45

IME experience I’ve never been paid extra for travel time/overnight stays and I used to travel a lot, often on a Sunday. But I was salaried. Could be different if paid hourly which it sounds like you might be OP?

Stubtoe · 07/05/2025 08:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

GabriellaMontez · 07/05/2025 08:48

CanYouDoTheTwist · 07/05/2025 08:45

Nothing in contract 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

But you've been paid less than nmw. Which in itself is enough.

Bjorkdidit · 07/05/2025 08:56

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 07/05/2025 08:45

Do you still get paid if you take a day off sick?

Which has nothing to do with the OPs current issue.

Her normal place of work is at home. The company has already saved a substantial amount of money by not having to provide office space for her.

Any time and cost she spends working outside the home should be paid by the company. The OP is on NMW. She must be paid for every minute she spends working, ie doing duties at the direction of her employer, in this case travelling to and from the exhibition venue, or else the company is breaking the NMW legislation, which is a far worse offence than just taking advantage of the OPs good nature by agreeing to give up her Sunday.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 07/05/2025 09:04

Bjorkdidit · 07/05/2025 08:56

Which has nothing to do with the OPs current issue.

Her normal place of work is at home. The company has already saved a substantial amount of money by not having to provide office space for her.

Any time and cost she spends working outside the home should be paid by the company. The OP is on NMW. She must be paid for every minute she spends working, ie doing duties at the direction of her employer, in this case travelling to and from the exhibition venue, or else the company is breaking the NMW legislation, which is a far worse offence than just taking advantage of the OPs good nature by agreeing to give up her Sunday.

Show quote history

All of this is true but if they refuse to pay her for her time I'd be taking the time back some other way if I could.

RandomMess · 07/05/2025 09:08

Time to notify them that they are breaking NMW rules.

thepariscrimefiles · 07/05/2025 09:13

CanYouDoTheTwist · 07/05/2025 08:16

you wouldnt expect to be paid for giving up your sunday to travel 4 hours and stay overnight in prep to do a days work?

Edited
Show quote history

In most jobs where people work 9 to 5 on week days, they would be paid overtime at a higher rate, e.g. double time for working on a Sunday and travel time would be included.

ChaToilLeam · 07/05/2025 09:17

They are CF! I'd be pushing for the travel time to be reimbursed. Don't ever agree to anything like this again without confirmation in writing of all payments.

Ariela · 07/05/2025 09:17

If you really can't get them to pay, then I'd be taking extra each lunch break till I got my time back. And know what to say next time.

TrousersOfTime · 07/05/2025 09:19

HMRC have a hotline for reporting employers who fail the pay NMW. Might be worth a call?

TheAmusedQuail · 07/05/2025 09:22

I'd do a very passive aggressive email.

'I was not aware that the remuneration did not compensate the NMW for the full X number of hours I undertook on behalf of the company. I will bear this in mind in relation to future requests for my attendance.'

Letting them know that:

  1. They have not correctly paid you.

  2. That you won't be doing it again.

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