Cycle to Work outrage

[brokenbetty]

Our place has just started the scheme. HR knew there was a lot of interest as they have previously said no because they didn't think the existing facilities (showers, bike bays) would cope with the increase.

Before they put the scheme in place they put in an extra 20+ bike bays and we still ran out this summer. Once the novelty of the scheme is over I am sure the lack of showers will become an issue as well.

I do sympathise with their predicament - they were damned if they did and damned if they didn't.

 

[gavintc]

You're not alone. I work for the MoD (say about 300,000 employees) and we are told:

Why is the Cycle to Work scheme not being implemented?
When reviewing the current policy, USofS considered other options, including the Cycle to Work Scheme. The Cycle to Work scheme is not being implemented at this time because there are various limiting factors which it was felt could dissuade new cyclists from committing themselves to taking up cycling. These include the need to use the bike for 50% of journeys to work, for individuals to have to provide their own insurance, liability for injury, and that the bike cannot be used solely for travel between sites.

Interestingly there is however an interest free loan of upto £1k on offer which is even better except that you have to wait for 5 years to use it again...

Bottom line is that it is clearly too onerus to manage the scheme, keep records etc etc.

Not sure you are correct on this one. A friend of mine bought one through the MoD scheme and I just done a quick search on the Defence Intranet. PPPA runs the scheme.

 

[Lizban]

I run my works' scheme and to be honest it is a bit of a pain in the backside, if there wasn't a vested interest (i.e I wanted the scheme!) I would have taken a bit of convincing.

(not helped by us having a crap payroll system that hates salary sacrifces leading to weekly manual calculations for my team)

I can see why people resist - when you have a full day / job these little things become annoying and if you can avoid them you do.

 

[Potter]

Not sure you are correct on this one. A friend of mine bought one through the MoD scheme and I just done a quick search on the Defence Intranet. PPPA runs the scheme.

This is not Cycle to Work - there is no tax benefit available - it is just an advance of salary available to purchase the bike, in much the same vein as is allowed for rail season tickets.

At the end of the day you still pay full tax and national insurance on the salary - it's not a salary sacrifice thingy.

 

[killiekosmos]

A couple of points. My employer runs C2W but we appointed the LBS for the scheme and it does most of the work (forms, application etc). Payroll deduction is not a big issue (they manage to take tax off me every month).

For the original poster - I'd suggest a Freedom of Information request is made to your employer seeking "all information relating to the investigation about Cycle to Work scheme, including H & S information, and the decision not to implement it". A response must follow within 20 working days. If you don't want to make request yourself get a friend to do it or make up an email account in another name. You can then use the response to take issues to MP and others to embarass your employer into doing something.

 

[fruitbat]

A couple of points. My employer runs C2W but we appointed the LBS for the scheme and it does most of the work (forms, application etc). Payroll deduction is not a big issue (they manage to take tax off me every month).

For the original poster - I'd suggest a Freedom of Information request is made to your employer seeking "all information relating to the investigation about Cycle to Work scheme, including H & S information, and the decision not to implement it". A response must follow within 20 working days. If you don't want to make request yourself get a friend to do it or make up an email account in another name. You can then use the response to take issues to MP and others to embarass your employer into doing something.

That is exactly what I was going to suggest! I suspect the OP's employer doesn't want to implement it because of the perceived extra work. However, if defending why not seems more work than implementing it you might get your wish. At the very least the OP's employer will have to at least think carefully about the issues.

In order for a request to be valid under FOI, it must include the Applicant's name and address, as well as a description of the information requested. FOI requests can be ignored if you use an obviously made-up name (eg Mickey mouse), see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7826824.stm.

However, if the OP doesn't want to make the request, or wants others to make additional requests, post the relevant info here so we can help.

 

[junglegusset]

For the original poster - I'd suggest a Freedom of Information request is made to your employer seeking "all information relating to the investigation about Cycle to Work scheme, including H & S information, and the decision not to implement it". A response must follow within 20 working days. If you don't want to make request yourself get a friend to do it or make up an email account in another name. You can then use the response to take issues to MP and others to embarass your employer into doing something.[/QUOTE]

I thought (perhaps wrongly) that you could only make freedom of information requests if they pertained to you as an individual rather than a non personal general issue. I have thought about writing to my MP though, for what good it will do. I suspect that there is not likely to be a large uptake for the scheme and I suspect. I also suspect that it is just because they cannot be arsed doing the neccesary admin. As some of you have said people just say things are a health and safety issue when they can't be bothered with it. Luckily i already have a reasonably good bike, I just think it's a shame for people who might have considered taking up cycle commuting and may now be put off due to expense. Never mind. I might 'fall off my bike' next week and sustain some mild head injuries that prevent me from working for three days. Petty, I know.

 

[Trevrev]

I work for a very large tool company, i suggested the scheme to our finance guy, and he put it forward to the "board". The comeback was, "Lack of interest and administration costs of running the scheme were too high !!"
Thats that then !!!!

 

[gavintc]

This is not Cycle to Work - there is no tax benefit available - it is just an advance of salary available to purchase the bike, in much the same vein as is allowed for rail season tickets.

At the end of the day you still pay full tax and national insurance on the salary - it's not a salary sacrifice thingy.

Thanks - you learn something every day.

 

[Prasad]

In my office, a guy who was first interested in this scheme is managing it now. Obviously fin and admin people don't want extra work. If possible try to volunteer for it.

 

[Jezston]

Then I got an email from the 'Regional Business Manager' saying that Cheshire Probation had 'explored the scheme at some length' and rejected it on the grounds of 'expense and health and safety issues'. She ended her message with 'I hope this clarifys the matter'....well actually no, it doesn't.

What a load of crap.

They just can't be arsed doing the extra admin.

 

[ACS]

I must be very lucky. I asked my Boss if the company would consider joining the scheme, he said Yes there and then, phoned the Head of Finance while I was still standing in his office and told him to ''make it so.'

I asked for a shower facility, phone call to Estates management, installed 10 days later. Secure parking, no problem.

We now have 7 commuting out of 110 staff and if the planned reduction in parking availabilty happens (new building) I think we may see that figure increasing.

Perhaps my Boss is just planning ahead?

 

[MacB]

I must be very lucky. I asked my Boss if the company would consider joining the scheme, he said Yes there and then, phoned the Head of Finance while I was still standing in his office and told him to ''make it so.'

I asked for a shower facility, phone call to Estates management, installed 10 days later. Secure parking, no problem.

Was the shower necessary to try and feel clean after what you'd had to do for your boss

 

[Norm]

I work for a very large tool company, i suggested the scheme to our finance guy, and he put it forward to the "board". The comeback was, "Lack of interest and administration costs of running the scheme were too high !!"
Thats that then !!!!

I'm ashamed to say that I gave a very similar answer to someone back in May this year.

I looked into it a bit further, though, realised the benefits for the company (as well as confessing some personal interest) and our scheme is now in place.

The administration is as hard as you want to make it, IMO. Here, staff bring me a quote and sign the salary sacrifice, I write them a cheque payable to the LBS, they buy the bike and bring me the invoice and... well, that's about it, really. It doesn't need to be any harder than that.

 

[ACS]

Was the shower necessary to try and feel clean after what you'd had to do for your boss

Oh my, what are you suggesting !

What is the point of having an apprentice in the workshop if you cannot get him to turn his hand to just about anything.

Anyway my knees are past that sort of thing.