Cleaning company van
Discussion
Hi guys
I'm just after a little bit of input on this situation:
So I have a company van issued through work. The vehicle is based with me personally at my home address however I get absolutely zero personal use of the vehicle - It is for business use explicitly and is tracked and monitored with using it privately opening one up to disciplinary action.
We are expected to keep the vans clean, tidy and presentable, but given that its not uncommon for me to do 1000+ miles a week this means that it needs to be cleaned quite often.
I was recently told off for using the company credit card for washing the van... fair enough, I asked my line manager if there was a pay element included in our salary to wash the company van... there isn't.
He retorted that we are able to order shampoo and sponges through our parts suppliers to clean them ourselves, however I live in a flat without a driveway - I don't clean my own cars outside much less a company asset, that's not to mention there isn't actually any time planned into our schedules for this.
I mentioned this and of course got a non answer basically equating to: Go and bum around some of our suppliers/working partners and see if someone will let you use their pressure washer, which is not a feasible solution.
He did say it was a bit like washing the work uniform... however when I pointed out that I do get a tax deduction specifically for washing clothes for work he very quickly changed the subject
.
At the moment I've just stopped washing it. Company car? I'd run it through a car wash once in a while no bother, but I'm quite loathed to spend a penny on maintaining a company asset that I am at the pain of dismissal if I used privately, especially given that my overtime has been absolutely non existent since covid and it seriously has affected my take home earnings.
Any thoughts?
I'm just after a little bit of input on this situation:
So I have a company van issued through work. The vehicle is based with me personally at my home address however I get absolutely zero personal use of the vehicle - It is for business use explicitly and is tracked and monitored with using it privately opening one up to disciplinary action.
We are expected to keep the vans clean, tidy and presentable, but given that its not uncommon for me to do 1000+ miles a week this means that it needs to be cleaned quite often.
I was recently told off for using the company credit card for washing the van... fair enough, I asked my line manager if there was a pay element included in our salary to wash the company van... there isn't.
He retorted that we are able to order shampoo and sponges through our parts suppliers to clean them ourselves, however I live in a flat without a driveway - I don't clean my own cars outside much less a company asset, that's not to mention there isn't actually any time planned into our schedules for this.
I mentioned this and of course got a non answer basically equating to: Go and bum around some of our suppliers/working partners and see if someone will let you use their pressure washer, which is not a feasible solution.
He did say it was a bit like washing the work uniform... however when I pointed out that I do get a tax deduction specifically for washing clothes for work he very quickly changed the subject
.At the moment I've just stopped washing it. Company car? I'd run it through a car wash once in a while no bother, but I'm quite loathed to spend a penny on maintaining a company asset that I am at the pain of dismissal if I used privately, especially given that my overtime has been absolutely non existent since covid and it seriously has affected my take home earnings.
Any thoughts?
Surely it's possible to clean the van wherever it's parked with a bucket or two and sponges? It's not going to do the paint any favours but it's a work van. Use a brush if you want...
It would strike me as being part of basic vehicle maintenance in order to ensure lights, number plates and windscreens are all clear. As well as opportunity to inspect for damage and maintenance issues. That's how the military apply it to white fleet.
It would strike me as being part of basic vehicle maintenance in order to ensure lights, number plates and windscreens are all clear. As well as opportunity to inspect for damage and maintenance issues. That's how the military apply it to white fleet.
Thanks you for your input 
There’s also the matter of my scheduling that doesn’t really have this built in suggesting that I’m expected to do this on my time off? As opposed to the situation where I’d nip into a car wash once a week or so between jobs.
I know I’m probably over thinking this way too much and for the sake of simplicity pay for a wash once in a while to save on the bother, but its the principal
Evanivitch said:
Surely it's possible to clean the van wherever it's parked with a bucket or two and sponges? It's not going to do the paint any favours but it's a work van. Use a brush if you want...
I could, but it means fighting with several flights of stairs with (non company supplied) bucket of water. I suppose that’s the “simple” answer, although if I’m honest I’m loathed to do it when I won’t even go through that hassle on my personal vehicles.There’s also the matter of my scheduling that doesn’t really have this built in suggesting that I’m expected to do this on my time off? As opposed to the situation where I’d nip into a car wash once a week or so between jobs.
Evanivitch said:
It would strike me as being part of basic vehicle maintenance in order to ensure lights, number plates and windscreens are all clear. As well as opportunity to inspect for damage and maintenance issues. That's how the military apply it to white fleet.
True, but then by extension I wouldn’t be expected to pay for bulbs, number plates, windscreens or any other part of basic vehicle maintenance on a company asset, and my daily checks are done within working time and paid for. I'm struggling to see why cleaning should be any different I know I’m probably over thinking this way too much and for the sake of simplicity pay for a wash once in a while to save on the bother, but its the principal
The correct answer is that they let you use the company credit card to pay for a £4 automatic car wash when you're fuelling up. Surely they see that's cheaper than paying you half an hour's overtime to wash the van? Or would they prefer you tell your client "I've got to leave early today so I can wash the van"?
Genius cost saving schemes like this are why I'm glad I'm self employed!
Genius cost saving schemes like this are why I'm glad I'm self employed!
So more WorldLackey than WorldBoss. Tell them if they want you to clean it, they have to make time in your schedule and provide means of cleaning it or method of paying for it to be cleaned. And that means putting it in your job description and allotting time for such cleaning to take place. You are under no obligation to clean or service company owned equipment in your own time or from your own wallet.
If they allowed a certain amount of reasonable private use, then it would be reasonable to ask you to keep it clean out of your own pocket and in your own time. But they aren't and it isn't.
If they allowed a certain amount of reasonable private use, then it would be reasonable to ask you to keep it clean out of your own pocket and in your own time. But they aren't and it isn't.
I had a company van that got washed when it was going in to get fixed.
Otherwise it stayed dirty. But that assumes you don’t visit your depot regularly (which I didn’t)
But they also had the crazy regime that the vans were never serviced. Yes you read that correctly. If nothing in my van broke the only reason it would be looked at was if the brake pad warning light came on. I even took it to the tyre depot myself to get tyres as it was simply easier.
So you can see why washing it wasn’t my first priority.
I own a cleaning company, and we provide all the necessary equipment to clean vehicles and have an allocated supervisor who carry’s out weekly checks and ensures vans are cleaned. On the occasion it’s warranted, we use a mobile valeter to make it good as can be.
We are a cleaning company, clean vehicles present a better image than dirty ones so it’s important to me.
If the person was not near our unit, I’d allow company fuel card to cover washes or work something else out.
Seems daft and short sighted.
We are a cleaning company, clean vehicles present a better image than dirty ones so it’s important to me.
If the person was not near our unit, I’d allow company fuel card to cover washes or work something else out.
Seems daft and short sighted.
How much do you value your job?
If you don’t value it very highly, make a fuss. You may get them to relent, you may find yourself in a meeting with HR.
If you do value it, follow the (presumably written) procedures in relation to the van that you (presumably) signed up for and wash it once in a while.
If you don’t value it very highly, make a fuss. You may get them to relent, you may find yourself in a meeting with HR.
If you do value it, follow the (presumably written) procedures in relation to the van that you (presumably) signed up for and wash it once in a while.
LunarOne said:
So more WorldLackey than WorldBoss. Tell them if they want you to clean it, they have to make time in your schedule and provide means of cleaning it or method of paying for it to be cleaned. And that means putting it in your job description and allotting time for such cleaning to take place. You are under no obligation to clean or service company owned equipment in your own time or from your own wallet.
Sounds like a great way to get fired! I’ve driven vans for work since 2005.
You clean it at home in your own time for no extra pay. It’s always been like that.
It’s 30 min.
Granted, I’ve always had a driveway and hose so no real bother.
An additional 30 min to clean the load area and sort tools out which makes life easier for the next week.
You clean it at home in your own time for no extra pay. It’s always been like that.
It’s 30 min.
Granted, I’ve always had a driveway and hose so no real bother.
An additional 30 min to clean the load area and sort tools out which makes life easier for the next week.
How much did you spend getting the van washed on your credit card?
£10 for a basic hand car wash every couple of weeks doesn't seem unreasonable to me, perhaps with the odd few quid on a garage jet wash in winter as required.
I wouldn't expect an employee to wash a van if they lived in a flat
I used to regularly use pool cars and if I wasn't happy with the cleanliness - usually if the glass was dirty - I'd expense a wash or clean it myself at home if the car wash was shut. I'd have been annoyed if anyone questioned me expensing it.
£10 for a basic hand car wash every couple of weeks doesn't seem unreasonable to me, perhaps with the odd few quid on a garage jet wash in winter as required.
I wouldn't expect an employee to wash a van if they lived in a flat
I used to regularly use pool cars and if I wasn't happy with the cleanliness - usually if the glass was dirty - I'd expense a wash or clean it myself at home if the car wash was shut. I'd have been annoyed if anyone questioned me expensing it.
Thanks for the insight guys.
I was a little bit embarrassed to post this incase it came across as being a bit petty but I'm glad some people agree with where I'm coming from.
Full disclosure is that I have worked here for about 4 years and used to pay to wash it at an automatic car wash thinking that I got a pay element, or at the very least thought that Overtime and tips would cover it.
I started using the company card occasionally only recently when I'd be dispatched to a rural area and my van gets filthy Inbetween those weekly washes (I end up in farms and quarries and all sorts in the rain).
When the payments (a few £6 washes, the cheapest car wash with a dry) on the card were questioned I explained this but it fell on deaf ears and prompted the whole - Why should I pay for any washes out of my pocket? especially when overtime has been non existent.
I do get an hour a month to sort of bits and pieces, I'm going to start washing it precisely once a month during this time, I'll even generously pay for the auto car wash and if it doesn't meet the company standards (which it won't given the areas I cover) it's almost tough luck I think.
I won't go into details too much but it's a national company with likely thousands of vans, I can't believe this hasnt been brought up before tbh. We have policies and procedures for everything else but nothing on cleaning apart from the expectation that we keep it presentable, presumably on our own time and pound which just seems wrong to me..
Might be ok for a bygone era where the Job would get everyone a house with a drive and down time Inbetween calls to justify running a hose and bucket over it, but those days are long gone!
Thanks for the input all
I was a little bit embarrassed to post this incase it came across as being a bit petty but I'm glad some people agree with where I'm coming from.
Full disclosure is that I have worked here for about 4 years and used to pay to wash it at an automatic car wash thinking that I got a pay element, or at the very least thought that Overtime and tips would cover it.
I started using the company card occasionally only recently when I'd be dispatched to a rural area and my van gets filthy Inbetween those weekly washes (I end up in farms and quarries and all sorts in the rain).
When the payments (a few £6 washes, the cheapest car wash with a dry) on the card were questioned I explained this but it fell on deaf ears and prompted the whole - Why should I pay for any washes out of my pocket? especially when overtime has been non existent.
I do get an hour a month to sort of bits and pieces, I'm going to start washing it precisely once a month during this time, I'll even generously pay for the auto car wash and if it doesn't meet the company standards (which it won't given the areas I cover) it's almost tough luck I think.
I won't go into details too much but it's a national company with likely thousands of vans, I can't believe this hasnt been brought up before tbh. We have policies and procedures for everything else but nothing on cleaning apart from the expectation that we keep it presentable, presumably on our own time and pound which just seems wrong to me..
Might be ok for a bygone era where the Job would get everyone a house with a drive and down time Inbetween calls to justify running a hose and bucket over it, but those days are long gone!
Thanks for the input all
LunarOne said:
So more WorldLackey than WorldBoss. Tell them if they want you to clean it, they have to make time in your schedule and provide means of cleaning it or method of paying for it to be cleaned. And that means putting it in your job description and allotting time for such cleaning to take place. You are under no obligation to clean or service company owned equipment in your own time or from your own wallet.
If they allowed a certain amount of reasonable private use, then it would be reasonable to ask you to keep it clean out of your own pocket and in your own time. But they aren't and it isn't.
Yes i agree with this. If they allowed a certain amount of reasonable private use, then it would be reasonable to ask you to keep it clean out of your own pocket and in your own time. But they aren't and it isn't.
Seems bad to expect you to wash your own van at home without being given allocated time.
Never heard of this way of work. Take it to the drive through like everyone else does.
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