Return of company car - advice needed
Discussion
Sorry for the long post, but here goes.
I am leaving my current job, the final day of my notice being 31st October. I am taking remaining paid holiday from 24th - 31st October, and as such understand I am entitled to keep my company vehicle until 31st October.
I am based in Leeds. The usual procedure for employees leaving is to either bring co. cars back to the Leeds office on their last day, or arrange collection and storage with our fleet provider, which comes at a cost to the company.
However, because nobody within my division of the company wants the car as yet, my Director is asking that I drive the car to Redhill, Surrey after the 24th October to be stored in a secure company Office car park, avoiding the storage / collection costs from the fleet provider. This would involve (at least) a 4hr drive to Surrey, train from Surrey to London and train from London to Leeds. I have been told I can claim all reasonable expenses back for this, and tkae it as a business day rather than holiday, i.e. freeing up another day's holiday to take.
I don't want to do this because a) it's hugely onerous b) I don't want to waste 11 hours travelling to take a car back when a policy already exists for this and c) I'm not confident my expenses would be processed and returned after I have left, due to issues in the past.
I have been told by our Employee Assistance helpline that I'm not obliged to take the vehicle to Surrey, and only really have to bring it back to the Leeds office on my last day.
However, like most I work in an incestuous industry and if I dig my heels in on the basis of 'procedure' I suspect my Director(s) would do all they could to make life difficult for me, both immediately before I leave and with my new firm (I'm only moving up the road to a competitor). They're not best pleased I'm leaving anyway as I am the only person in Yorks / the North East that does what I do for the firm, and I do it well.
What's the best way to handle this diplomatically and avoid an arduous, unnecessary 11hr round-trip?
Funny suggestions also welcome, but I'd like some serous advice too!
Cheers.
I am leaving my current job, the final day of my notice being 31st October. I am taking remaining paid holiday from 24th - 31st October, and as such understand I am entitled to keep my company vehicle until 31st October.
I am based in Leeds. The usual procedure for employees leaving is to either bring co. cars back to the Leeds office on their last day, or arrange collection and storage with our fleet provider, which comes at a cost to the company.
However, because nobody within my division of the company wants the car as yet, my Director is asking that I drive the car to Redhill, Surrey after the 24th October to be stored in a secure company Office car park, avoiding the storage / collection costs from the fleet provider. This would involve (at least) a 4hr drive to Surrey, train from Surrey to London and train from London to Leeds. I have been told I can claim all reasonable expenses back for this, and tkae it as a business day rather than holiday, i.e. freeing up another day's holiday to take.
I don't want to do this because a) it's hugely onerous b) I don't want to waste 11 hours travelling to take a car back when a policy already exists for this and c) I'm not confident my expenses would be processed and returned after I have left, due to issues in the past.
I have been told by our Employee Assistance helpline that I'm not obliged to take the vehicle to Surrey, and only really have to bring it back to the Leeds office on my last day.
However, like most I work in an incestuous industry and if I dig my heels in on the basis of 'procedure' I suspect my Director(s) would do all they could to make life difficult for me, both immediately before I leave and with my new firm (I'm only moving up the road to a competitor). They're not best pleased I'm leaving anyway as I am the only person in Yorks / the North East that does what I do for the firm, and I do it well.
What's the best way to handle this diplomatically and avoid an arduous, unnecessary 11hr round-trip?
Funny suggestions also welcome, but I'd like some serous advice too!
Cheers.
I don't honestly thing there is a diplomatic way of saying it.
To me they are offering for you to go on a massive jolly instead of working which 99% of people would jump at the chance of.
However you refuse that is, in my opinion, going to seem like you are being bloody minded and needlessly awkward hence I think you'll just have to accept that you may just as well say "Sorry I don't want to" as attempting to say it diplomatically.
To me they are offering for you to go on a massive jolly instead of working which 99% of people would jump at the chance of.
However you refuse that is, in my opinion, going to seem like you are being bloody minded and needlessly awkward hence I think you'll just have to accept that you may just as well say "Sorry I don't want to" as attempting to say it diplomatically.
Interesting that you both make the same point. It's possible I am being bloody-minded and unreasonable, because I've been messed around on a few points since handing my notice in.
For clairty, normal expenses would be the cost of fuel to drive down there, cost of train tickets back up and perhaps a sandwich in between. Full round trip to be done in the same day. The expenses would be paid in arrears to me and I'm suspect about actually getting them back, as normal timescales would mean they woudl be hitting my account after I have actually left.
For clairty, normal expenses would be the cost of fuel to drive down there, cost of train tickets back up and perhaps a sandwich in between. Full round trip to be done in the same day. The expenses would be paid in arrears to me and I'm suspect about actually getting them back, as normal timescales would mean they woudl be hitting my account after I have actually left.
valais said:
I'd either take the jolly, or return it to my local office.
Those are basically my options, hence the question. 
It's not a 'jolly' though becuase a) it has to be done in one day, b) I can only claim minimal expesnes abck (which I'm not confident of even getting) and c) doing so would mean breaking up the 'block' of holiday I have before my final contracted day.
The other thought in my mind is to offer to take the car back on either 23 / 24 October before my holiday starts. A bit of a pain to be without the car, but I don't actually need it.
ManNeedsAPlan said:
I'm suspect about actually getting them back, as normal timescales would mean they woudl be hitting my account after I have actually left.
It's understandable if that's your main worry.I think I would be inclined to be up front about that and whoever has asked you to do it, tell them your reasons for not particularly wanting to and effectively put the onus on them to make sure you get the expenses if you do them this favour
ManNeedsAPlan said:
Those are basically my options, hence the question.
It's not a 'jolly' though becuase a) it has to be done in one day, b) I can only claim minimal expesnes abck (which I'm not confident of even getting) and c) doing so would mean breaking up the 'block' of holiday I have before my final contracted day.
The other thought in my mind is to offer to take the car back on either 23 / 24 October before my holiday starts. A bit of a pain to be without the car, but I don't actually need it.
No, I'm asking where your contractual base is. If it's Leeds then I'd say you were within your rights and couldn't be seen as bolshie to take it there.It's not a 'jolly' though becuase a) it has to be done in one day, b) I can only claim minimal expesnes abck (which I'm not confident of even getting) and c) doing so would mean breaking up the 'block' of holiday I have before my final contracted day.
The other thought in my mind is to offer to take the car back on either 23 / 24 October before my holiday starts. A bit of a pain to be without the car, but I don't actually need it.
If however you collected the car from Surrey, and your contract says Surrey then I think you should take it there.
If you're not confident about getting the expenses back, say you've not got enough spare cash just now to pay for the petrol, so ask for a tankworth in advance?
The way I see it: your current boss wants you to do something as a favour to the company, and you're trying to weasel out of doing it.
The way I see it: your current boss wants you to do something as a favour to the company, and you're trying to weasel out of doing it.
I left a job and on the last day I was told to drop car in local NCP car park (Central London). I did this, put keys in envelope along with note saying what bay car was in, and dropped them off at reception.
9 months later I get a call...what did I do with the car??
Christ knows what the car park bill came to!!!!
9 months later I get a call...what did I do with the car??
Christ knows what the car park bill came to!!!!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I left a job and on the last day I was told to drop car in local NCP car park (Central London). I did this, put keys in envelope along with note saying what bay car was in, and dropped them off at reception.
9 months later I get a call...what did I do with the car??
Christ knows what the car park bill came to!!!!
Looks to me like it might not have been in the car park for long 9 months later I get a call...what did I do with the car??
Christ knows what the car park bill came to!!!!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I left a job and on the last day I was told to drop car in local NCP car park (Central London). I did this, put keys in envelope along with note saying what bay car was in, and dropped them off at reception.
9 months later I get a call...what did I do with the car??
Christ knows what the car park bill came to!!!!
That's if the car was still there 9 months later I get a call...what did I do with the car??
Christ knows what the car park bill came to!!!!
See section numbered 12:
http://www.ncp.co.uk/help-centre/website-terms-and...
simoid said:
If you're not confident about getting the expenses back, say you've not got enough spare cash just now to pay for the petrol, so ask for a tankworth in advance?
The way I see it: your current boss wants you to do something as a favour to the company, and you're trying to weasel out of doing it.
Valid comments, and i can see how it might be perceived this way. Although not particularly keen on the journey, I'm not averse to travelling and doing them a favour. It's more that taking the day out in the middle of my block of holiday doesn't fit with my other plans. The way I see it: your current boss wants you to do something as a favour to the company, and you're trying to weasel out of doing it.
Will have a chat with them and see what flexibility there is on shifting my 'holidays' round and when I actually take the car back.
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