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not resolvedMy employer doesn't currently pay mileage for us if we use a bicycle on business.
They are considering paying 20p/mile (the HMRC standard rate), but the Group Policy and Employment Board (which will make the decision) is looking for reasons why they should. I've been asked to provide some!
So, why should my employer pays its employees to use their bicycles for work-related travel?
Any suggestions that I can use in my submission to this august body would be most welcome...
Wear and tear on components. Lube expenses. Fuelcakes. Equipment and clothing (which, even if you are a Proper Citizen Cyclist who just wears whatever is in our closet, still incurs movement-related depreciation.
Wingpig is correct - but I suspect he's answering the 'wrong' question.
Is your employer asking 'why should I bother'?
Obviously if employer pays for staff using their own vehicles it's perfectly reasonable/fair/essential to pay for bike use.
There have been plenty of threads on here about the actual cost of running a bike - and it's certainly not "nothing".
Of course it may be a belief that a 20 minute car trip would be a 40 minute bike trip so the cyclist would be costing £x more than a driver.
Presumably if you are talking about short journeys or city centre ones that's another bonus over the car users.
PLUS you'll have fewer sick days and you'll arrive bright and raring to go to work (most) mornings.
PLUS you'll have fewer sick days and you'll arrive bright and raring to go to work (most) mornings.
this is the type of thing employers should wake up to.
I roll into work fresh and good to go
no slothing round the office with coffee while waking up
Reducing organisational carbon emissions/footprint.
Helping to reduce traffic congestion.
Reduction in parking space requirement.
Reduced likelihood of third party liability in event of a road accident.
Remember - if your employer doesn't pay the HMRC approved amount of 20p/mile, you can claim tax relief on that amount. You should, of course, keep proper records in the event that anyone does a check/audit.
Civil Service has paid 20p a mile since at least 1992. As has been said, if an employer is paying a car mileage then paying a motorbike mileage is likely to be required and indeed cheaper for the employer. Similarly, a bicycle mileage also required and even cheaper. City of Edinburgh Council pays at 25p per mile. If your employer is already paying car mileage then they should already be paying bicycle mileage.
"Why should we pay you bicycle mileage?"
"Because if you don't I'll take my car and you'll have to pay me car mileage at 40p per mile..."
OK, so the Group Policy and Employment Board has knocked back the initial approach, which was really a bit of a surprise. We're (that's me and one of the Sustainability Managers) going to try again. We're knobbling a few of the board members before the next Board meeting.
One thing we need before this is the names of other employers (in Edinburgh in particular) who pay expenses, to use as a lever. As you can tell from the 'Boards' and 'Managers' listed above, I'm particularly interested in large financial institutions... ;-)
If you work for a large financial institution in Edinburgh, and if you know for certain that they pay mileage expenses for cyclists, please could you let me know which employer it is (by PM if you wish).
City of Edinburgh Council pays 25p per mile.
kirst I said that six months ago and civil service pay 20p but what green roofer is after is a big financial institution which pays bike mileage, now that I don't know.
The CTC page on cycle-friendly employers might be worth a look, too.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaigning/views-and-briefings/cycle-friendly-employers-ctc-views
Someone who rides to work each day is likely to cycle on business by preference, or use public transport. Someone who rides to work each day might be expected to have one day's sick leave every 12-18 months.
One way in might be:
Does the organisation have an environmental policy?
If so, what objectives does that policy contain to minimise pollution?
Does the organisation maintain a travel plan or travel strategy, or travel hierarchy designed to minimise both environmental impact and costs? If so, what ambition is there? What targets are in place?
Does the organisation pay mileage for private car or motorbike users? If so, how much, and what is the organisation doing to reduce those costs?
Does the organisation pay mileage for staff who have no option but to use a private vehicle for business travel, such as mobility-adapted vehicles?
Does the organisation pay for staff using public transport for business purposes, and what is it doing to reduce those costs?
@Arellcat: Good points all. Part of our problem is that we're working with this 'Board' whose interest isn't sustainability, but HR policy.
We're therefore also trying to appeal to straight competitor envy. We want to say to them "If BigBank plc* can do it, why aren't we doing it?"
*Insert name of large financial institution here.
@Greenroofer, what about the hard cash argument, cheaper per mile to cycle, and no parking charges to be reimbursed.
I found this through google. You can bet Lloyds pay bicycle milage or they would not be advocating it in the press.
http://m.guardian.co.uk/money/2001/may/19/tax.incometax?cat=money&type=article
Most organisations pay per mile unless you are a taxi then you charge for time as well. If your company pays car drivers for their mileage I think it perfectly reasonable that they pay for your bike mileage. The NHS does and I believe it is about 17p per mile.
@Greenroofer my employer is large but of IT rather than financial flavour. I think they pay bicycle mileage rate, but would have to wait till Monday to check. Is this of use?
Claggy Clog - I think the NHS varies from organsiation to organisation. 10~11p per mile in some cases. Not sure how this fits in with what are supposed to be National terms of service under Agenda for Change?
I would have though big financial institutions would be keen to embrace being "Green" and show their corporate responsibility, particularly given that some of them would have gone to the wall without government cash!
Perhaps they're still living in the past and more focussed on the image they used to think they should be projecting...
@fimm - thank you, that would be great. I'm really after any local large private-sector employers that I can use as a lever...
Just picking up on something druidh said 7 months ago - I can't claim tax relief for being an employed person cycle commuting to work, surely?
"I can't claim tax relief for being an employed person cycle commuting to work, surely?"
No
Mileage (as with car use) is for/during work.
My former flatmate was a Cooncil housing officer and used to claim for cycling from centre of town out to Niddrie and Greendykes. He always took the bike into the flats.
@greenroofer I've checked and we do. (20p per mile).
I'll PM you with a bit more detail (like the name of my employer!)
Resurrecting this because I think we might be one step closer to achieving this at my employer (a large financial institution) but they are now asking who else does it.
If you happen to know for certain of large institutions in Edinburgh or elsewhere that pay mileage to cyclists for business travel, it would be totally awesome if you could let me know (by PM if you prefer). It would be great too if you could tell me the re-imbursement rate if you know it.
I'll look at the lists of cycle-friendly employers again, so it would be good to hear of employers who aren't on there.
"I think we might be one step closer to achieving this"
Sounds good.
I am aware of who this is about, and I'm sure you (they too?) are conscious of wider 'PR benefits' this would have.
"I'll look at the lists of cycle-friendly employers again" - also worth contacting Cycling Scotland and try to find out if other large employers are going through the CFE process.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/transport/cycling/facilities/bike-mileage
I really should start claiming when I cycle to the station....
PM sent, although rereading your request I don't think it is of much help....oops.
@SRD thanks. I don't know about you, but for me it's not about the actual money (£1.60 for a return trip to the station) it's the principle of the thing!
Yeah, £1.60 wouldn't buy a coffee or bun in PY.
(But two trips would cover the coffee).
I mean would go part-way to dealing with The Cycle Service bill.
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