Mat leave/company car advice

[swiftt]

Hello. Looking for some advice. Currently pregnant and still working. As part of my role, I travel to various locations and have a company car which I pay tax on. It’s not a pool car and I pay for personal fuel usage. I have been asked if I would take an alternative role on return from mat leave which would mean no travelling and therefore no car. What I’m concerned about is that if I accept this, will they try and take the car back before I go off on leave? From what I’ve read, I am entitled to the car whilst off as it’s a contractual benefit. But if they change my contract before this to reflect the new role, could they do that? Do they have to pay me the same as what I get now if I accept an alternative role? Basically, what are my rights in this situation? To be honest, a static workplace would suit me better once I come back for things like childcare, but obviously the costs of then running a car as well as buying a car is playing on my mind! Thanks.

Hi,

Do you have a maternity handbook which outlines your benefits and entitlements
You need to double check. I've just been doing this myself, as l am due to go on maternity leave soon.

@MissKhan1990 no, there’s just a general section about statutory mat pay. My role is quite niche, so my pay and benefits are individual to me. From what I’ve read on ACAS, if they offer me an alternative role on return from leave, it can’t be any worse off in terms of pay or benefits so from that, I’d make the assumption that I am entitled to the same pay and benefits (car) that I receive currently...

Yes, that is correct. However, l would email HR and get everything in writing. And check if the car is still yours to use.

@MissKhan1990 I’ll see what my work say. This was just a suggestion offered to me today so
Nothing formal yet, just want to get my ducks in a row so to speak in case they try any loopholes!

If it's an offer of an alternative role with no car, rather than enforcing it, then it's up to you whether to accept. I would assume you wouldn't accept unless the other terms were favourable enough to make up for losing the car.

If/when the offer is formalised, I would ask for the change to your terms and conditions to be effective on the date you are due to return from maternity leave. You will lose the car from the effective date of the change.

If they're saying the new role is compulsory, because there is some reason returning to your current role is not practicable, again that would normally take effect from your return date. If that happens it cannot be on less favourable terms. That doesn't necessarily mean keeping a company car, it might be more money instead.

In my company, company car's are offered for role types. So if, for example, you're in a field sales role you would get the offer of a company car (or cash alternative) but if you were an accountant based out of an office you wouldn't. No additional cash would be offered to the accountant because they didn't need the car to fulfil their role.

Also some senior roles get a cash allowance, and some get an option of cash or car.

So it may well be that you're not offered a car for the new role. I'd be asking them if they would offer a cash equivalent, or indeed if you can keep your car for at least your maternity leave.

@flowery yes, it is an offer so I could say no. But they are already implying that I’ll be unable to do my current role when I have a child due to the travelling. But it would be discriminatory of them to not allow me to do the role on that basis, I think. Most of the travelling i do is within the same distance as the static branch that they are suggesting I work at, so I think I could make it work. I just really don’t want to end up being worse off, it will be difficult enough trying to juggle childcare, work and being a single parent. Having to source a car is the last thing I need right now!

Don't quote me on this but I'd have thought you'd be able to keep your car whilst on mat leave as your new job starts when you return and not before, therefore when you're on mat leave, you're still employed as your current job role with the same benefits

It's not up to them to decide whether you can do your job or not now you have a child. It is, as flowery says, entirely your choice as to what you do.