Deserately unhappy - work related :(

Sorry to be a moany old grump, but I am so unhappy, angry and mystified by the company I work for. they are anal at the best of times, but this is verging on intimidation!!!

once or twice a year I have to go to head office for a meeting/ training session. It is 5 miles from where I work. My motor insurance states that I am covered for social & commuting. Therefore I feel I am covered to go to the meetings, as I am just going to my place of work for that day.

Head Office say I am doing business milage. To have that cover on my policy it will cost me an extra £40. The company refuse point blank to re-imberse that cost (which I don't need anyway!!)
Because I refuse to put business cover on my policy, they want me to sign a statement saying that I understand that by driving my own car to meetings in the future i will be in breach of company policy (because I don't have business cover) & I will be quote "dealt with accordingly" ie a formal disciplinary.

They will not back down and have turned this non event onto a major, major issue with very big consequences for me. i am soooooo upset/ angry/ p'd off!!!
i can't even tell them to stuff their job cos there are no jobs around & I need the money!!! ARGGHH!!!

What should I do? I really don't want to fork out £40, and I don't want them to bully me into this. I can't even catch a bus to the next meeting as there are no public transprot links!!
I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but their attitude stinks.

 

This is simple. Either it is your normal place of work, in which case your car insurance is fine, or it is a business trip, in which case the company has to pay the costs.

In the latter case, either they insure you AND pay mileage, or they provide you with a company car for the trip at their expense, or they lay on some other form of transport.

I'd speak to ACAS. You can do so without actually initiating any proceedings, so you can just get advice. I bet they tell you that if they bully you until you leave of your own free will, then you can get them done for 'constructive dismissal', or if they dismiss you for not complying with their unreasonable demands, then you can have them for 'unfair dismissal'. In either case the tribunal usually rules that the company must continue paying your normal salary, even if you can no longer work for them, until such time as you find equally suitable alternative employment.

However, before it gets out of hand, I'd be tempted to tell them I'm seeking advice from ACAS about the bullying, which you are concerned may be seen as constructive dismissal. The trouble with let it blow up is not that you end up out of pocket (because if you play your cards right you will easily win a tribunal), it is that employers are a sometimes a bit scared of taking on anyone who has fought a tribunal. You don't have to tell them, its just getting references that's the tricky bit.

 

Both & my wife had to have cover for business use in connection employer's businesses, plus as we are named drivers on each others insurance, they also had to include for business use on the other's policy.

Some people seemed to 'forget' about the last bit, but we always specified all of this when taking out insurance and by doing that we always got it included for no additional cost.

Wouldn't want to have an accident and be classed as uninsured.

 

They are correct in saying that you need business insurance for that trip.

Check your contract, as to whether you are obliged to provide a car and insure it for your job - I assume you dont get a car allowance for instance. If there is no such statement then they cant force you to use your car, however they should tell you not to use your car for business purposes. Would they pay for a minicab instead?

 

I'm no expert but my insurers want to know what I use my car for, social domestic & pleasure; business and/or commuting. For the majority of the time it's only the former, I don't use it in the normal course of my employer's business and I commute by train but .... according to my insurers, that fact that I may "... stop off at a meeting on my way to or from the shops" is neither here nor there. In other words, they won't take the occasional trip to a location where a meeting is being held, as 'business' use in the accepted sense.

 

Have a word with your insurance company, if they say it`s business use then find an alternative form of transport, but claim the cost as a business expense. Also I agree you should have a word with ACAS about this " bullying ".

 

Very simple..."do you want me at this meeting or not ? " "well shut the ....up then" :D

Unless you're required to provide your own transport for work on and offsite, offsite meetings are an expense claim all day long

 

Most of my life I've had to travel between hospitals for meetings, supervision or lecturing. Nowadays I am a travelling occupational health nurse but my insurance companies have always assured me that I am okay on social domestic & pleasure with commuting. These companies have been the red phone one (can't recall the name), Churchill, AA, RAC and now Sheila's Girls. There have been others and I always check just to make sure.

 

Thanks guys - lots of help here.
I sopke to my insurance people, who said "oh yes, you will have to have business use, that'll be £35, please". Hmmm - they will say that as they are getting more money!!!
Anyway, there is no public transport from home to head office, and it will take about 3 buses and 3 hours to get from my normal work to head office. I am required to go to these meetings (verbally), and there is nothing in my contract saying I have to go or provide a car & insure it. Although they have just updated their policies and are trying to get me to sign it. I am going to tell them if they require me at the meetings, then they come and collect me. I am also going to see ACAS as there are other issues going on too regarding workload, changes to procedures, etc, etc, and head office are not willing to discuss them what-so-ever. They just say "this is how you are going to do it, end of." even if it will take 3 hours per week longer!!
Thanks for all you help & advice, guys, much appreciated.

 

Oh - and it isn't company policy to refund the cost of the extra insurance - the most I am likely to get is 40p per mile - 11 miles to head office & back from my office - not payable if I go straight from home!!!! & then you have to get so many people to sign the expense form it just not worth the aggro!!!!
They redfine the term "jobsworth"!!!!!!!

 

Don't they just! You have my sympathies.