Providing transport

[djgordyp]

I'm not 100% sure if this is in the right place but if not plese feel free to move it.

For a number of years now the firm I work for has been providing a subsidised transport facility. Initially there were 2 coaches (local bus compay) then one of these runs was given to a private bus operator. Eventually this run was discontinued due to only 4 people travelling on this bus. There were two reasons for the falling numbers. 1) the way te conveyor belts are laid out means people finish at different times. Therefore those who finish first would have to wait up to an hour for the last workers to finish. 2) the firm anouncing that they were going to stop the bus caused more people to leave. They are currently talking about stopping the minibus I travel on. There are currently 6 of us paying £15 p/w. There is another minibus travels roughly the same distance in the opposite direction (owned by the firm). The company has another minibus which I have told them I would be willing to drive and another person would cover holidays. The HR manager said there were 'issues with this bus. Whatever she meant by that I don't know, but I get the impression the firm doesn't want to provide transport anymore. She is to speak to the facctory manager and get back to us tomorrow.

 

Sorry this is a bit long winded. My thought are, it would be unfair to remove the bus with 6 people on it and not the one with 4 Both travel roughly the same distance ( 1 hour travelling time each way)

I would just like some info on the current situation regarding provision of transport for emplyees. I have no doubt there would be tax incentives for the firm.

Thanks in advance

[Sidewinder]

This is a tricky one, for where the company is in any way subsidising journeys between work and home, far from being tax benefits to the company, there could also be tax liabilities for yourself. HMRC will not allow subsidised travel for regular work journeys without it being deemed a benefit in kind and therefore subject to tax and NI. The only exceptions are where workers are required to work later than usual on an occasional basis. This may be one of the issues which your employer is concerned about, together with the H&S and insurance implications of transport provision by the company rather than private operators.

 

It seems as though your company is perhaps trying to step away from the potential minefield by withdrawing transport gradually. There is indeed the issue of unfair treatment, and it could also be argued that the company having provided transport for some time it has become a contractual matter through custom and practice. On that side of things it is well worth asking your employer why the benefit is not being made available to all, but as stated above it is not as straightforward as it might seem!

 

I take it that public transport is not available at the time shifts end, but would it not be viable for one or two people on each shift to drive to and from a pre-arranged point on a car-share basis with a contribution towards fuel?

[djgordyp]

Thanks for the info. Just another example of the govt. greed re. thier disapproval of subsidised transport. Yet politicians can claim thousands for new bathrooms etc.

On the bus in question myself and two others travel the full distance of 88 miles there and back and I am te only one who drives. I guess I don't really fancy putting big milage on my car apart from the associated running costs. Mind you, our current driver isn't happy as you can imagine, I believe he gets £400 p/w for the job.

Ah well, I suppose whatever will be, will be. It's bad enough having my wages cut in the first place.