What would you feel is fair? Return from maternity.

[Slinky40]

I have decided to go back to work at the end of July after 10 months off after having dd1. I hope to work around half of my old hours but work don’t know this is my plan yet. With my full time job came use of a car, iPad and phone. It’s a super small business and the car etc are not part of my contract. It’s a pool car that generally only I use. I got the use of a car after working super hard for a couple of years as a reward. I use 99% personal and 1% for work. My boss is really great and he didn’t mention the car etc when I left for maternity I just took home and continued to use throughout because no one said otherwise. I don’t have access to another car and it’s just dawned on me that there may be a change to this for two reasons, the business hire of the car is finishing at the end of the year (I seen the finance docs, my boss didn’t tell me) and I won’t be returning to work full time.

what do you all think is a fair way to move forward? I obv would like to continue with car use but understand fully that may not be fair on the business nor possible.

the use of a car isn’t in my contract.

How have they managed to do that with any reliability when you said they don't know your plan?

I hope to work around half of my old hours but work don’t know this is my plan yet.

Also you do know that if they agree to reduce your hours by 50% then your salary and pension contributions will also reduce by 50%?

Unofficially means nothing - you need to have a formal discussion and get a change to your contract in writing which you and your employer will both sign. If you’re planning to return in a few weeks you’ll have to get that put in place asap and then you can negotiate the car.

The financial side of car is a separate issue - esp in relation to the tax implications. Have you sorted that?

Do also remember that doesn't mean your take home pay will half

I'd be a bit worried whatever needed doing that involved the car hasn't needed to be done for the last 10 months (as you had it) and I'd be facing redundancy

Sounds like you have an unconventional set up here so you really need to speak to your boss.

We have a pool car and it has to meet quite specific rules. It has to stay at work overnight and can’t go home with an employee (except we’re nice and allow them to use it occasionally if their car is getting repaired or something, but we probably shouldn’t!). If you and your employer haven’t been reporting the car as a benefit in kind there could be a big tax bill for both of you if HMRC finds out - no idea how they would find out though.

Sounds like youve been really lucky getting use of the car up to now and I personally wouldn’t push that luck. Maybe as it sounds like your employer wants to keep you, and is clearly happy for you to use car then you could negotiate it as part of your new working hours, but you not having a car out of work isn’t really your employer’s problem

I think this thread comes under CFery!

Omg do either you or anyone you work with actually understand what a pool car is supposed to be for?! You are totally taking the piss taking it with you on maternity leave. It doesn’t sound like it’s being used as a pool car at all but like your own company car which has significant tax implications. It’s madness that your work have allowed you to do this.

An extract from the linked article
When it comes to using a pool car, there are some important rules that businesses need to be aware of. Firstly, the use of the pool car must be restricted to business purposes only.

https://fleetgo.com/kb/c/pool-car/#:~:text=a%20Pool%20Car%3F-,A%20pool%20car%20is%20a%20vehicle%20that%20is%20owned%20by,meetings%2C%20site%20visits%20or%20deliveries.

Well this OP.
It doesn't matter what anybody else on here says. If the business doesn't care, why should you?
The main issue I see here is a potential tax bill for you.. keeping the car on maternity leave means it's your personal company car, no longer pooled. You might want to get that sorted.

Also are you even insured to have the child in the car, if it’s a pool car I would be very surprised.

in fact the insurance is void anyway as a pool car must be kept on office premises more often than not.

you need to urgently check you are insured never mind the tax implications!

it was discussed as a possibility

Part of my job is fleet management. ALL vehicles are insured for any driver, even non employees. For business, social, domestic and pleasure with the permission of the company. Not a concern at all. Thanks.

Yes I understand it will more than likely be processed on the next lot of benefit in kind inputs. It’s a small car, 1 litre and not expensive at all so I don’t mind this at all.

We understand this thanks. I wasn’t asking insurance nor tax advice so I’m surprised at the madness of how many people have ignored this and have given unsolicited opinions and advice. Our next lot of benefit in kind inputs will be due soon and I wholly understand that I’ll more than likely be taxed which doesn’t concern me at all.

This is somewhat ironic.

If fleet management is your job - surely you're aware that under the current arrangement you have no right to a vehicle at all?
The car isn't included in your terms of employment. You also didn't state that it was given to you out of necessity - but as a 'reward'. You use it mostly for yourself and not the business.
It's thus 100% fair for them to take it away and not give you a replacement.

However, it's a small business and your boss didn't care enough to take the car back on maternity leave. I see no harm in asking whether you can keep having one. If they say no, then that's the end of it.

What are they going to do - fire you for asking? Whether MN strangers think this is CF or not doesn't matter. It's an unusual arrangement.

For all we know you might be paid below the market rate, your role difficult to recruit for etc etc so the company might be happy to let things like this slide. If you feel that taking the car away is unfair you're welcome to switch jobs, or get it formally entered into your contract.

No! Really?

I don't think anyone is dim enough to think they'll retain a full time salary for doing half the work.

My attitude? I’m simply asking for opinions? I am so very grateful for the car, the tax that comes with it and the fact I’ve been able to use it to date. I am also aware of my worth. What I have done for the business and everything the business has done for me in return. We are great for each other hence me asking what the general consensus was. That’s all. Thanks.

I didn’t say I couldn't buy my own car?

This was very obvious to me. Thanks.

If you’re great for each other then I’m sure your employer will allow you to drop days and keep the car - just get both confirmed in writing asap.

You can't have spent much time on this board then.

You’ve described it as a pool car. You’ve said you used it for 99% personal use and 1% business use. Uou took it with you for maternity leave. You can’t use a pool car for personal use. So you’ll have to forgive me for thinking you don’t understand what a pool car is…..

You definitely sound like the sort of valuable asset any company would be in a state of desperation to retain.

So, why not just rock up on the day you intend to return, tell them what your hours are going forward, ask where your new car is located and return the keys of your current car to yourself as part-time fleet manager?

That's how it works when you're literally indispensable. Trust me, I know, 😉

Well you did say it was a pool car, but only you used it and 99% of your use was personal use. Is it even officially allocated to you?

Of course people are going to comment on the apparent undeclared BIK. When did you start using the car? Did they declare your BIK last year?

Surely there is no justification for the company to keep the car, not if it’s needed for 1% of one person’s working time (ie around quarter of an hour per week).