When do hours of work start?

[Vendice Partners]

I've just started a new contract at a large industrial site and drive in every day. I have been told I have to park my car in a certain car park that is about 15 minutes walk from the office (across a main road and down two dark and muddy lanes).

You can see my question coming over the hill in it's fluorescent jacket.

Do my hours of work start in the car park or at the door of the office?

I seem to remember in the distant past of another life, when I was attempting accountancy exams, that there was a case of coal miners only started being paid when they got to the coal face. This was held as incorrect and the law was made so their work started at the pit head. Is this true? Can you remember the case details?

Any advice gratefully received.

Regards.

 

[Thermodynamic Man]

As far as I am concerned....self employed... the moment you leave your door
employed...........as soon as the boss tells you (which is normally when you are in the office and ready to start)

 

[MOIC]

At the door of the office . . . . . .and entering!

 

[Paul Murray]

Working as a freelancer I charge from the time I'm expected in their studio (typically 9:00am) until whenever I've finished the work I was brought in to do. Sometimes I'm done by 4, in the past I've been there until past midnight.

 

[Nuno]

Are you paid a salary, by the hour or by the project?

 

[james@alpha]

when your sat at your desk with your email open

 

[deniser]

Yes I agree it is when you are sat at yours desk and ready to work. So if you need to faff about with coffee and stuff then you need to get in earlier. It is amazing how much time some people can waste between entering the building and actually starting to work.

You are lucky to even have a car park to park in for free.

 

[Ian J]

it is when you are sat at yours desk and ready to work.

Agreed

 

[fisicx]

Do my hours of work start in the car park or at the door of the office?

Neither, it's when you are ready to start work.

This means after you have been to the loo, got a cup of tea and are sat at your desk.

 

[yorkshirejames]

Do you *have* to park 15 mins walk away?

Is there a chargeable car park/bus stop/metro station any nearer?

 

[paulears]

Travelling time - to work, isn't work. The coal mine case was where the people clocked in, on site - and then had to travel to the work location on site. Clearly, when you arrive at work, and transit from public to private, that's when you start work - if you then had to travel to the other side of the site, like the coal mine - you're already at work. Nobody has to park miles away, you could walk, bus, cycle - and the clock starts when you are 'in' work. Why not just leave earlier?

 

[Vendice Partners]

Thanks for all the replies.

Looks like the overriding idea is that it's NOT in the car park!
Then whether it's at the door or at the desk is moot.

To answer various random questions:
I'm a independent contractor paid by the "day"
Yes, I have to park where I'm told, and there is no public parking nearby
I cannot walk in or get the bus due to locations
I can get a cup of tea after switching on PC and before it's ready to work (I could bake a cake before it's ready to work!)
(I'm told) The main doors record time of transit

 

[Newchodge]

Travelling to work, whether by car or on foot or a combination does not normally count as work time. They may have told you where you can park, but they cannot insist on it - you could choose to park further away and walk for an hour to the office. It still doesn't count as work time.

 

[paulears]

Do you also want to get labelled a clock watcher? One new guy started with me and the first two questions were - what time is the break and second was what the deal was on a physio if he needed one! Guess what, he now does!

 

[james@alpha]

Do you also want to get labelled a clock watcher? One new guy started with me and the first two questions were - what time is the break and second was what the deal was on a physio if he needed one! Guess what, he now does!

go to the job centre?

 

[The Byre]

Run, then it's less than five minutes away!

 

[james@alpha]

Run, then it's less than five minutes away!

haha

 

[Nuno]

Do you also want to get labelled a clock watcher? One new guy started with me and the first two questions were - what time is the break and second was what the deal was on a physio if he needed one! Guess what, he now does!

Jeez. What did you do to him that he needs a physio?

 

[Vendice Partners]

Run, then it's less than five minutes away!

I'll try that...

 

[Vendice Partners]

Do you also want to get labelled a clock watcher? One new guy started with me and the first two questions were - what time is the break and second was what the deal was on a physio if he needed one! Guess what, he now does!

Don't want to get too serious, but in my experience the first questions to be answered, after being offered the contract, are:

Where?
How much?
How long?
What are the hours?​