Mileage and hours claims policies - public & private sector"
Discussion
Hi just started a new job and have got notice of the location I'll nominally be base out of, but I'll be hotdesking from a number of locations depending on need.
I haven't been shown official policies as yet on what to do regarding claiming mileage or recording hours for the induction and training courses I've attended this week that have been in the opposite direction to my normal place of work.
1)Do you normally have to take off your home to work mileage of any claim?
2) Do you take off your normal home to office commute time for locations you visit which take longer to get to.?
I've been given some details from a person I shadowed today, but I'm not entirely comfortable with their interpretation for a few things like, starting work as soon as I leave the door. Expenses and time recording mistakes are the type of things that can get you sacked. So I'd like to know what way most claims work before I speak to my very busy line manager (some 60 miles away) on the subject, to ensure I do the correct thing.
I have the option to collect a pool car, rather than use my own, but I feel I'd be less productive if I only ever used this option, rather than claiming for the mileage and go straight to wherever I need to travel to.
I haven't been shown official policies as yet on what to do regarding claiming mileage or recording hours for the induction and training courses I've attended this week that have been in the opposite direction to my normal place of work.
1)Do you normally have to take off your home to work mileage of any claim?
2) Do you take off your normal home to office commute time for locations you visit which take longer to get to.?
I've been given some details from a person I shadowed today, but I'm not entirely comfortable with their interpretation for a few things like, starting work as soon as I leave the door. Expenses and time recording mistakes are the type of things that can get you sacked. So I'd like to know what way most claims work before I speak to my very busy line manager (some 60 miles away) on the subject, to ensure I do the correct thing.
I have the option to collect a pool car, rather than use my own, but I feel I'd be less productive if I only ever used this option, rather than claiming for the mileage and go straight to wherever I need to travel to.
By the way, the time spent travelling between home and a non fixed work location can, (depending on the particular circumstances) form part of the employee's working time for the purposes of the Working Time Regulations. Ordinary commuting time between home and fixed place of work does not so count. I reiterate that all depends on specific circumstances.
On another topic, there are rational fears, and there are irrational fears. The fear of being sacked for breaking a rule that no one has yet told you about because you have just started is not a very rational fear. The fear of being sacked for breaking a rule that you did not bother to ask your boss about (instead preferring to rely on whatever nonsense you might pick up on the internet) might be a less irrational fear.
On another topic, there are rational fears, and there are irrational fears. The fear of being sacked for breaking a rule that no one has yet told you about because you have just started is not a very rational fear. The fear of being sacked for breaking a rule that you did not bother to ask your boss about (instead preferring to rely on whatever nonsense you might pick up on the internet) might be a less irrational fear.
thepeoplespal said:
Hi just started a new job and have got notice of the location I'll nominally be base out of, but I'll be hotdesking from a number of locations depending on need.
I haven't been shown official policies as yet on what to do regarding claiming mileage or recording hours for the induction and training courses I've attended this week that have been in the opposite direction to my normal place of work.
1)Do you normally have to take off your home to work mileage of any claim?
2) Do you take off your normal home to office commute time for locations you visit which take longer to get to.?
I've been given some details from a person I shadowed today, but I'm not entirely comfortable with their interpretation for a few things like, starting work as soon as I leave the door. Expenses and time recording mistakes are the type of things that can get you sacked. So I'd like to know what way most claims work before I speak to my very busy line manager (some 60 miles away) on the subject, to ensure I do the correct thing.
I have the option to collect a pool car, rather than use my own, but I feel I'd be less productive if I only ever used this option, rather than claiming for the mileage and go straight to wherever I need to travel to.
There are various different policies across the Public Sector. It depends on how bolshy the Unions were and how timid HR were when the Policy specific to your organisation was agreed as to how "employee friendly" the policy is going to be.I haven't been shown official policies as yet on what to do regarding claiming mileage or recording hours for the induction and training courses I've attended this week that have been in the opposite direction to my normal place of work.
1)Do you normally have to take off your home to work mileage of any claim?
2) Do you take off your normal home to office commute time for locations you visit which take longer to get to.?
I've been given some details from a person I shadowed today, but I'm not entirely comfortable with their interpretation for a few things like, starting work as soon as I leave the door. Expenses and time recording mistakes are the type of things that can get you sacked. So I'd like to know what way most claims work before I speak to my very busy line manager (some 60 miles away) on the subject, to ensure I do the correct thing.
I have the option to collect a pool car, rather than use my own, but I feel I'd be less productive if I only ever used this option, rather than claiming for the mileage and go straight to wherever I need to travel to.
In respect of Q1 - you can claim the lower of "Home to Temporary Base" or "Permanent Base to Temporary base".
In respect of Q2 - no you do not need to deduct "normal commute time" if your temporary site is quicker to get to. However it should work the other way round as well. ie if your temporary site is further away than your normal location then I wouldn't necessarily be adding on an extra 15-30 minutes as "work time". It's swings and roundabouts. What can nark management is when employees try to benefit both ways IYSWIM.
A lot of roles DO let you "clock in" the moment you leave the door but in my experience that tends to be for staff who are always out and about (at client sites etc).
Finally got access to my profile on our intranet and I'm glad my spidey senses were tingling and I didn't just accept my colleagues interpretation.
I have to take my home to office mileage off the mileage claim and must keep VAT receipts for 4 years covering time period too. As the rate is pretty generous there will be tax to pay too. I have to take off normal commute time off any journey time that takes longer than this, which I'm a lot more comfortable with.
I can now see why getting a pool car from my home office is the easy option, but I'll take the option that makes the most productive use of my time.
I have to take my home to office mileage off the mileage claim and must keep VAT receipts for 4 years covering time period too. As the rate is pretty generous there will be tax to pay too. I have to take off normal commute time off any journey time that takes longer than this, which I'm a lot more comfortable with.
I can now see why getting a pool car from my home office is the easy option, but I'll take the option that makes the most productive use of my time.
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