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I'll try and keep this quick and not over complicate.
I was made redundant during COVID and bit the arm off a competitor who offered me a position. I live in Birmingham so the commute was always quick and easy. This new position was in Crewe and discussions and agreement were based on around 2 days attendance in Crewe when COVID was over to build up the office, the main office being in Swindon. I was placed onto some contracts run out of Swindon and to keep things simple i needed to travel there to use a simulator setup. I claimed time and the expenses of using my own car which was milage and parking. This was approved well over 10 times by somebody in the commercial team based in Crewe.
Over the coming months several others left Crewe to the point i was only 1 of 4 productive staff left. It was decided we would be incorporated into the Swindon team with a new manager. It's at this point when i next travelled to Swindon this manager realised i was claiming around 2 hours of travel on my timesheet each way (sometimes more) and claiming milage etc and blamed my old manager for giving me false information. This new manager initially said i should not claim anything at all and travel in my own time as the two offices are a comparable distance, he later retracted this and said i could claim the extra miles miles. I've spoken to various Senior Managers and HR who initially agree with me and then ghost me when it gets complicated. I suspect somebody, perhaps the owner does not agree. This is not a large company
Since this conversation I do not offer to attend Swindon , I do all tasks from home. I just miss out on opportunities and meeting the wider Team in the office etc. This stance has carried on now for at least 2 years, i am approaching my 4 year anniversary with the company.
In December 2023 an Appraisal was required and this Swindon Manager suggested i visit as a company wide briefing was also happening that day (also over Teams). As this was for staff welfare as such the company was happy to provide a train ticket and it was suggested i could work on the train. The train is around 3 hours with 2 changes so not straightforward but I was happy with this and thought progress was being made. I was given positive feedback during the appraisal but the subject of the train came up, in the future the company would only pay the difference of the ticket to Crewe, the first £14 to be my expense. I asked for this in writing for me to consider and nearly a year later i am still waiting.
In summary:
I live in Birmingham
I am Contracted to work in Crewe - 1hr 53 mins by train, 1hr 30 mins approx by car @61.4 miles
If i travel to Swindon from Birmingham - 2hr 37 mins by train, 2hr approx by car @79.2 miles
Company will only pay 17.8 miles (79.2 minus 61.4) or a train ticket minus £14 (cost i would pay to travel to crewe)
Any advice other than finding a new company? It's a shame as i would be happy to attend Swindon regularly but it's not in my interest as i will be out of pocket especially as i am still on the same salary i started on in Nov 2020 - No inflation rises
I was made redundant during COVID and bit the arm off a competitor who offered me a position. I live in Birmingham so the commute was always quick and easy. This new position was in Crewe and discussions and agreement were based on around 2 days attendance in Crewe when COVID was over to build up the office, the main office being in Swindon. I was placed onto some contracts run out of Swindon and to keep things simple i needed to travel there to use a simulator setup. I claimed time and the expenses of using my own car which was milage and parking. This was approved well over 10 times by somebody in the commercial team based in Crewe.
Over the coming months several others left Crewe to the point i was only 1 of 4 productive staff left. It was decided we would be incorporated into the Swindon team with a new manager. It's at this point when i next travelled to Swindon this manager realised i was claiming around 2 hours of travel on my timesheet each way (sometimes more) and claiming milage etc and blamed my old manager for giving me false information. This new manager initially said i should not claim anything at all and travel in my own time as the two offices are a comparable distance, he later retracted this and said i could claim the extra miles miles. I've spoken to various Senior Managers and HR who initially agree with me and then ghost me when it gets complicated. I suspect somebody, perhaps the owner does not agree. This is not a large company
Since this conversation I do not offer to attend Swindon , I do all tasks from home. I just miss out on opportunities and meeting the wider Team in the office etc. This stance has carried on now for at least 2 years, i am approaching my 4 year anniversary with the company.
In December 2023 an Appraisal was required and this Swindon Manager suggested i visit as a company wide briefing was also happening that day (also over Teams). As this was for staff welfare as such the company was happy to provide a train ticket and it was suggested i could work on the train. The train is around 3 hours with 2 changes so not straightforward but I was happy with this and thought progress was being made. I was given positive feedback during the appraisal but the subject of the train came up, in the future the company would only pay the difference of the ticket to Crewe, the first £14 to be my expense. I asked for this in writing for me to consider and nearly a year later i am still waiting.
In summary:
I live in Birmingham
I am Contracted to work in Crewe - 1hr 53 mins by train, 1hr 30 mins approx by car @61.4 miles
If i travel to Swindon from Birmingham - 2hr 37 mins by train, 2hr approx by car @79.2 miles
Company will only pay 17.8 miles (79.2 minus 61.4) or a train ticket minus £14 (cost i would pay to travel to crewe)
Any advice other than finding a new company? It's a shame as i would be happy to attend Swindon regularly but it's not in my interest as i will be out of pocket especially as i am still on the same salary i started on in Nov 2020 - No inflation rises
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