Long Term Working Away From Home
Long Term Working Away From Home
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the_g_ster

Original Poster:

384 posts

224 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
Hello All

Thanks for opening. I have a question below for some ideas and feedback.

I working away from home, so being over a two hour drive my employer gives me an allowance to pay for a flat, along with the fuel to get here. That allowance is such that I don't make any money on it, and with the increase in energy bills over the last 4 years I have been away from home then it has stayed fixed for the flat element. The flat is modest, and it is good to get fuel paid for too. As part of my payroll I have seen pay increases every year, though nothing amazing relative to role and responsibility.

My question is this, do people get a premium for being away from home? I have seen people in my company get a premium for being overseas, even europe, yet not in the UK. I would like to go about getting some case for asking for something more from my employer as I have been away for four years, and that's a big investment in personal life and work. Only coming back at weekends.

Ideas?

crofty1984

17,064 posts

233 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
Have I misunderstood? You're a two hour drive from where you live? Presumably you're home at the weekends?
That sounds more like a long commute or contracting work to me, I'd not call it "away from home". You've been working there 4 years? Is it likely to continue? Maybe you could move.

That aside, when I've worked abroad, I've had flat and bills paid for, plus either $40 or EUR20 per day spending money. I also got a flight home every couple of months.

If I'm right about the first part, to be honest I think you've got a pretty sweet deal. Do you have Partner & kids back at home?

McHaggis

59,267 posts

184 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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A 2 hr drive is really marginal for being given a flat in most companies, I think.

jpringle819

734 posts

268 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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In my company if the drive is 2 hours or less I wouldn't even get a hotel for the night.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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You're getting a very good deal as it is IMO. Many people commute that far every day.

Du1point8

22,853 posts

221 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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I have several friends who commute that far everyday...

Long term working away from home I thought you meant like my OH... Coming up to 2 years and me in UK and her in Egypt, visiting each other every 6-8 weeks and skyping most nights... not 2 hours!!

the_g_ster

Original Poster:

384 posts

224 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all

Thanks, yes, its 2 hours, 110 miles on off peak hours (220 mile round trip). In summer if travel at normal hours is 2.5 here and 2.5-3 back.

I cant believe that people commute a 4-5 hour round trip each day?


McHaggis

59,267 posts

184 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
I have several friends in the city who live in Essex and takes them 2hrs each way to get to Canary Wharf. Public transport, admittedly.

crofty1984

17,064 posts

233 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
the_g_ster said:

Thanks, yes, its 2 hours, 110 miles on off peak hours (220 mile round trip). In summer if travel at normal hours is 2.5 here and 2.5-3 back.

I cant believe that people commute a 4-5 hour round trip each day?
Some people do. Normally those that work in That London. But it's not unheard of.

I got a job 2.5 hours away from where I was living at the time. So I moved to where the work was (Doncaster-Norwich in this case). Went to interview on the Wednesday, got an offer on Friday, moved in the following Monday smile

I'm not trying to be unduly rude or attack you personally, I hope I don't come across that way, but getting a free flat AND petrol money just because you don't want to move is a hell of a deal. Is there a particular reason you can't don't want to move? Kids in school, sick relatives, etc?
If it was me I'd be reluctant to rock the boat.

Did you start work at an office located close to you, then have to move at the company's request?

the_g_ster

Original Poster:

384 posts

224 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
I moved to pursue a good job away from home, still in the same company though. It was meant to be for a year, yet extended it since as role been very interesting.

Don't worry, comments not taken offensively at all, I appreciate it's a good deal, though ultimately it needs to be in order to get resource in the right place and not have people move company.

I have always thought there should be some "premium" or acknowledgment for investing time away from home in the company, yet take on board the views that the relocation deal is reasonable. When I return to HQ I won't be seen in any better light role wise, as I have been off the radar away from there. I am also told by my boss that I am paid well below the same bands of people in the company doing similar work though because we aren't doing so well that he can't fix that.


Nickelson23

150 posts

198 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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I get 10k a year for living away from home (tax free). In reality it probably costs me around £4k in actual cost. I also earn an above average wage for my age and experience on top of this.

AClownsPocket

899 posts

188 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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As above, think you have quite a good deal. I spend about 70 minutes commuting to work, so another 50 wouldn't bother me really. You're not gaining, but not losing either and its good career prospects for you by the sounds of it.

I did 3 years in Qatar while my wife was in the UK. Saw each other every 6 months. Now that deserved extra cash !!!

sleep envy

62,260 posts

278 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
AClownsPocket said:
I did 3 years in Qatar while my wife was in the UK. Saw each other every 6 months. Now that deserved extra cash !!!
Some people would pay their employer for an opportunity like that.

AClownsPocket

899 posts

188 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
Some people would pay their employer for an opportunity like that.
laugh We'd been married a week before I went, novelty hadn't worn off.

98elise

32,494 posts

190 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
the_g_ster said:

Thanks, yes, its 2 hours, 110 miles on off peak hours (220 mile round trip). In summer if travel at normal hours is 2.5 here and 2.5-3 back.

I cant believe that people commute a 4-5 hour round trip each day?
Me...I work in London and live in Kent. Its a minumum 2 hours each way (door to door), and I've been doing it for over a decade. On a bad day it can be 2.5 to 3 hours, but thats not often.

I'm up at 5:30am, and out the door by 6:00. I generally don't get in until after 7:00pm, more like 7:30 these days.

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
Hate to poke holes in your happiness (oh, alright, it's fun) but...

You've been at the secondary site more than 18 months, which means IIRC, that HMRC now regard it as your primary work location, so you shouldn't be getting business mileage on the monies from home to place of work, and the company supplied flat should be regarded as a BIK.


Heartworm

1,938 posts

190 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
Hate to poke holes in your happiness (oh, alright, it's fun) but...

You've been at the secondary site more than 18 months, which means IIRC, that HMRC now regard it as your primary work location, so you shouldn't be getting business mileage on the monies from home to place of work, and the company supplied flat should be regarded as a BIK.
My mates company kept paying him the same for his mileage after 18 months and took the hit on the tax/expenses rule to keep him on site.

the_g_ster

Original Poster:

384 posts

224 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
Thanks Marcus, yep, it's all grossed up for tax under PAYE, so I get the net benefit and pay PAYE on it so all square with the taxman.

crofty1984

17,064 posts

233 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
Oh also relevant maybe was that I had the cushty deal for 2 years then after that I would have been just employed as a normal Italian citizen, without any of the perks. But I was made redundant after 1.75 years so it never came to it.

bristolracer

5,949 posts

178 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
The next time you pass a large construction site or shop being refitted spare a thought for the many builders electricians carpenters and other trades who week in week out work away from home and family every week of the year.
Most of these guys are lucky to get £25 per night to get a bed and a meal.
A flat and petrol allowance? and you want extra for the hardship of being away from home?