Travel Expenses

[Lauren1983]

I have been in my job for a few years and have always worked at the same location. My partner drives me to work and then picks me back up as I don't drive. We agreed to this at the time so no issues there.

I have now been asked to work in a different location. It is about the same length of journey to my usual workplace so that is fine however there isn't a full days worth of work there and they are expecting me to then travel back to my usual workplace. They are assuming my partner will do it but this means him making 3 round trips and not 2 which he doesn't want to do. I can walk but it is an hour at least or get 2 buses which will cost me £5. I am only on 50p an hour above NMW so the bus fare would cancel most of it out.

Should I refuse to travel back unless I get the bus fare or accept it is my fault that I can't drive and just pay it myself?

They should pay for you to move from one site to the other during the day.

You should be able to claim travel to / from a place that isn’t your usual base.

Thank you for the replies. I will raise it with them and hopefully get it paid. Most of the other employees have cars or have work vehicles so I don't think it has really occurred to them before. Most employees stay at one workplace too while this would be a regular thing for me.

Is there a travel and expenses policy you could refer to? If it’s a big company it will probably be saved on the intranet. Or it might have been sent to you alongside your contract when you joined.

Your partner / how you get to and from work is neither here nor there as far as your employer is concerned. What you need to find out from them is given you're a non-driver, how they propose you getting from one site to another during the day. Will they cover your travel costs & give you enough time to move locations?

It's unfortunate that they've asked you as what sounds like the only non driver to do this. Does it have to be you as it sounds like it would be far more efficient for a driver do it.

Is the bus going to be quick and reliable? Two buses can often take an age, especially if one misses.

Could they get a cheap bike for you to use?