Can my employer expect me to pay travel to meetings?!

[jamesfranklyn]

Hi UKBF members!

I work in sales/account management for a London based company with roughly 100 staff.

I am based in the same building in central london (zone 1) 5 days a week. I occassionally (maybe once per week) have to go out to visit clients for account management meetings.

I have been advised by my employer that it is company policy that anything in London travel zone 1-2 is not claimable on expenses as its considered everyones 'normal place of work'. So I am having to pay for public transport travel to the clients offices out of my own pocket (I live walking distance from my employer, so I dont have a travelcard.)

Could anyone explain to me if this is legal and acceptable? Have I got any rights here?

This policy is not in my employment contract and I wasnt told about this policy or shown any documentation on this until today...

Thanks in advance

James

 

[kulture]

I would think that you should go back to your manager and tell him that you expect your out of pocket expenses to be covered. Whilst I understand their policy and would normally expect anyone to have a travel card and not be out of pocket, I can also see your point. Now prove your sales expertise and sell them your point of view. Say that you would only expect to be paid expenses if you handed over a paid travel ticket for that journey. That should cover their genuine concern that they are paying expenses for something that most people would be already covered for.

 

[jamesfranklyn]

I would think that you should go back to your manager and tell him that you expect your out of pocket expenses to be covered. Whilst I understand their policy and would normally expect anyone to have a travel card and not be out of pocket, I can also see your point. Now prove your sales expertise and sell them your point of view. Say that you would only expect to be paid expenses if you handed over a paid travel ticket for that journey. That should cover their genuine concern that they are paying expenses for something that most people would be already covered for.

Thanks Kulture.

If they still insist that this is company policy even if I have a ticket they won't reimburse me, will I have any leg to stand on? And would that even be legal for them to refuse to cover the expenses as the travel costs will be solely for the business?

 

[ethical PR]

IGive ACAS a call they provide free advice on employment matters.

 

[fisicx]

In any case, it's a oyster card not a travel card you need. Max of £8 for the days you need to travel to visit clients and probably a lot less if it's just there and back.

How do other employees manage this?

As an aside, when I work in London and have to move around the cost is so low I never bother to claim. If you are only visiting once a week the monthly cost to you is going to be under £20. Is it really worth causing a fuss over?

 

[Newchodge]

There is no legal right to the reimbursement of travel expenses. It depends on your contract of employment. If that is silent on travel expenses it will depend on the company's policies and procedures.

I agree that it is poor practice to expect you to fund your company's travel expenses but you do not have a legal leg to stand on.

 

[Paul Norman]

As above, this is not illegal, albeit a little inflexible of them. I guess how to react depends on the value of your overall package. If a visit to a client earns you a big commission, I guess you dont mind paying for the travel.