Free parking scrapped - no notice!

[curiositycreature]

Hi all,
My organisation have paid for us to have permits at a council car park since they began leasing the office some years ago. Today they announced they were taking away the benefit, effective as of 1st March.
We’ve been VERY lucky with free parking for years and I understand all the arguments for the company not to fund it.
My question is... does anyone know if I have ANY rights anywhere which might ease this financial burden? It’s £8.50 a day. We are not in a City Centre so there aren’t alternative car parks, the public transport links are naff, and there is no park and ride. It’s mainly permit-only residential around us so that’s out of the question.
It is what it is, but trying to find an extra £170 a month with no notice is going to be a struggle. Is there anything I can do? Or does anyone have any advice how I tackle this with work? The way I see it, I don’t have a leg to stand on

Can you car pool and share costs?

Have a read of this...

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/changes-to-employment-contracts-overview/

If you object to the change you must say so otherwise you will be deemed to have accepted it.

@MiniMum97 that’s very interesting!! Thank you, I’ve had a good read. I’ll share with colleagues, we must be able to do some collective bargaining somehow!

Your argument is that the parking permits are part of your established terms and conditions, therefore cannot just be changed. They are reducing your overall remuneration by over £2k annually - essentially a paycut.

The way you challenge this is together, as you rightly identify.

There are ways for an employer to force through changes to terms and conditions where this is essential for business reasons, but that doesn't include cutting pay with no consultation and with a fortnight's notice!

Challenge and ask for an amount to be added to wage as it’s a cut.

How did you get on?

Because if considered removal is a wage cut, then the value of the perk is taxable, and the Revenue might come knocking. Rules about this are complex, and it is a 'careful what you wish for' situation.

Winnie, the provision of parking at or near your place of work is not considered a taxable benefit in kind by HMRC so OP doesn't need to worry about this.

Had to check out the rules on this at a previous job where I was responsible for tax compliance and company provided parking permits for all employees.

DancingHipposOnAcid is correct

www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-parking-spaces/whats-exempt