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Hmm. £8 today.
This thread shows your personality type. Checking if there is a policy, reading about other employers policy. Seemingly slightly sad there is no policy. I
I like exactly that kind of personality in medical staff, scientists, engineers or lawyers. I believe TJ is one of the former.
Besides, it's what makes him entertaining.
I actually knew the councils policy because my other half worked for them and cycled between sites
Ignorance is no excuse - and anyway its huge fun telling bosses that what they want to do is against policy so they cannot. Got one going at the moment. A boss does not like policy set by the scottish government and is refusing to let the staff follow it. It will end in tears. Especially as I am auditing that ward tomorrow 🙂
My employer stipulates my car must be in decent and presentable condition and roadworthy. well, I have two cars. One is used by my wife and kids and is a ****ing rubbish dump; the other is the Passat - yes, that one 😆
I doubt if my car is dodgy and causes an accident on work time that the company is routinely held accountable either
Well, you'd be wrong.
As part of the car allowance package, there are usually some stipulations around engine size, number of seats etc, plus the requirement to provide a copy of your driving licence, MoT certificate and insurance cert (specifically including business travel) to HR.
On top of that, whether you take the car or the car-allowance, you usually have to do all sorts of arse-covering trainings so that the company can show that you have been told not to use your phone while driving, don't break the speed limit, don't drive while tired, don't smoke in the car (technically part of the workplace). None of this is actually helpful - the company is just doing it to show due diligence in the event that you do have a massive stack, and the lawyers (either yours or a third parties) come calling.
As for bike travel, the risk to the company is actually of YOU suing them if you get knocked-off while travelling on work time - you would obviously be able to claim this as a workplace injury, and without a policy stipulating that you have to wear high-viz, maintain your bike etc etc, they would be open to a suit.
The reason they don't have a policy is because nobody has asked them before, and they don't realize they need one. I think that by asking, and being told "no" - you have probably covered yourself (as long as you follow the highway code etc), but I would make sure I had it in writing.
There is a wee section about cycling while at work on the transport pages of the website - - its just says you can claim expenses and you have to ride responsibly with links to cycle to work scheme and spokes maps. So it has been thought about sort of. But that is not a policy as such and is very vague.
I’m thinking to ‘crowd fund’ in the office for a couple of elephant bikes for works use so that they’re not ‘council vehicles’. Be a good way to support the elephant bike project and encourage less driving to local meetings.
I think that your employer would get very twitchy about who's liability it was if one of their employees, at work was injured riding a bike for which they had no control over the roadworthyness. And you know you'll end up doing all the maintenance on 2 bikes no on else gives two shits about, (assuming they are even ridden).
This is the reason bikes got banned in our work, with the exception of riding in and out at the ends of each day. Weirdly though no one has ever objected to me using my bike for business travel outside site. I'd probably best not mention the inconsistency, just in case someone does! 😊
Update - I just re-read the company travel policy. I'm definitely not mentioning my bike use, as it's expressly not permitted. What a ridiculous policy, would mean four additional taxi charges to/from train stations on days I visit the head office. All in those connections take less than 30 mins on my bike.
My company simply have a policy that a helmet must be worn if cycling on company business, of course that doesn't apply for the commute to/from work as that's a personal transport choice not company business. Apparently I can claim the 20p a mile too, but I've never tried...
I do have a friend who was apparently told and shown a company policy doc for his employer stating that travelling by bicycle on company business was not allowed. When he asked why he was told it was due to the business's insurance, they still have facilities for commuting by bike, operate c2w etc but he's not allowed to cycle as part of his work. He could visit his suppliers by foot, in a car or public transport but not by deadly deadly bicycle... Bonkers.
We have to have business insurance, and for those where it's part of the job we do efficient driving training which covers safety as well for those who don't often drive hired people carriers or vans.
We get 40p per mile for work related cycle trips of which I have done a few but never claimed.
Checked today. There is no policy about cycling. 30pages about cars, including fleet and "grey fleet" vehicles, public transport and passengers but not a word on cycling.
There is a claim figure per mile. So I'm going for that next time I have to do a "trip".
Need to come to D&G
http://www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk/News/Cycling_Scotland_Funds_Fleet_of_Powerbikes_for_NHS_Staff
https://activetraveldumfries.wordpress.com/
I did a good three hours cycling whilst at “work” yesterday! Thirsty work.
😏