Cycle to work scheme

[hillwalker]

Am I the only person who works for a company (land based) that will not entertain the cycle to work scheme? Everything I read about it and all the comments say how good it is for everyone. I know several people that got bikes and gear through it.

The company I work for has a workforce of around 230.

I had my eye on a particular bike and when the scheme was knocked back I ended up just going and buying it at full price grrr

 

[hackbike 6]

My company was the same but seem to have gone back on it now.

Perhaps there's something in it for them.

 

[milkmanchris]

Am I the only person who works for a company (land based) that will not entertain the cycle to work scheme? Everything I read about it and all the comments say how good it is for everyone. I know several people that got bikes and gear through it.

The company I work for has a workforce of around 230.

I had my eye on a particular bike and when the scheme was knocked back I ended up just going and buying it at full price grrr

Most companies now (especially employing 230) need to have in place a sustainable travel plan, and the cycle scheme is usually a large part of it.

A lot depends on how many people cycle to work to start with as well as the provisions available for parking spaces etc, maybe useful to speak to your union rep if you have one.

It is also beneficial to the company is as much as any salary sacrifice scheme, the cash taken from your wage (at top line) is exempt from tax and national insurance for both employee and employer alike (take for example my new bike £350, saves me about £120 and my employer around £60 in contributions, and as with any sustainable travel plan other tax breaks and benefits are available too.

 

[porridge]

The company I work for turned the scheme down for one of the folloowing reasons


"In addition should, god forbid, a serious injury or fatality befall a member of staff cycling to work on a cycle supplied under the scheme then ******** might find itself liable to prosecution by the employee or their bereaved family, for not providng a duty of care to its employee, by endorsing the scheme which contributed to endangering the member of staff.

 

[AdamBlade]

Does that not apply to companies that provide company/pool cars for employees????

I've asked my work about the cycle to work scheme but it seems to take for ever to for a decision to be made on whether it will go ahead or not. My current bike, Decathlon Rockrider, is certainly not built for a daily commute and is desperately in need of replacing.

 

[Jake]

Morning, yes the same for me Porridge. It was mostly down to the fact that they would be liable. I didnt save the email though. Another reason was that it was not beneficial to the company and the would not be saving hardly anything in tax, so not worth their while. Great idea in theory, crap when in the real world.

 

[porridge]

Morning, yes the same for me Porridge. It was mostly down to the fact that they would be liable. I didnt save the email though. Another reason was that it was not beneficial to the company and the would not be saving hardly anything in tax, so not worth their while. Great idea in theory, crap when in the real world.

More from the exec as to why they didn't adopt the scheme, of course it doesn't mention anywhere that the reason they didn't adopt was because it would cause too much administrative extra work.

"In addition should, god forbid, a serious injury or fatality befall a member of staff cycling to work on a cycle supplied under the scheme then ***** might find itself liable to prosecution by the employee or their bereaved family, for not providng a duty of care to its employee, by endorsing the scheme which contributed to endangering the member of staff.

We live in a society where the threat of litigation is now an ever present, with the expansion of ambulance chasing legal firms advertising on TV their no win no fee wares.
As an Exec we also have to be mindful of the legal implications and ramifications of our decisions and this was deemed a major risk and was therefore also a contributory factor in our decision not endorse the scheme. "

 

[Bollo]

"In addition should, god forbid, a serious injury or fatality befall a member of staff cycling to work on a cycle supplied under the scheme then ***** might find itself liable to prosecution by the employee or their bereaved family, for not providng a duty of care to its employee, by endorsing the scheme which contributed to endangering the member of staff.

We live in a society where the threat of litigation is now an ever present, with the expansion of ambulance chasing legal firms advertising on TV their no win no fee wares.
As an Exec we also have to be mindful of the legal implications and ramifications of our decisions and this was deemed a major risk and was therefore also a contributory factor in our decision not endorse the scheme. "

Dare I venture the opinion - "bollocks".

 

[beancounter]

The company I work for just introduced the cycle to work scheme.

As I run finance and HR, it wasn't *too* hard to push it through...

bc

 

[John the Monkey]

Gosh, all those other companies offering the scheme without any problems whatsoever must be pooing themselves at the thought of all the claims they'll be getting.

 

[Bollo]

Just to add to that, my company paid for my replacement bike through the bike2work AFTER my previous bike had met its end in the side of a Volvo.

 

[milkmanchris]

Maybe you all don't have the problems we have at work (York University) where car parking spaces are controlled by the local (facist) council, and parking is charged at 0.6% of your gross wage.

Currently £18 a month for an average earnings guy

I still shake my head at having to pay for parking at work, as for litigation that's a piece of shoot cop out, how do they ever get insurance for compnay cars?

 

[milkmanchris]

Just to add a snippet of the agreement I signed

8. The Employee will be responsible for keeping the Cycle Package clean and in good condition and ensuring that it is regularly serviced/repaired as appropriate at his/her own cost and that all requirements of the manufacturer’s warranty and the manufacturer’s recommendations are fully complied with at his/her own cost. The Employee must only use the Cycle Package properly and in a manner which will not breach the manufacturer’s warranty or instructions and the Employee must not modify or alter the Cycle Package in any way. The Cycle Package must also be made available for inspection by the Employer at its request at any time. The Employee shall also be solely responsible for any fines or penalties imposed as a result of his/her use of the Cycle Package and agrees to indemnify the Employer in respect of any claims made against it and all damages, costs and expenses incurred by it as a result of any third party claim arising out of the state, condition or use of the Cycle Package. It is understood that this indemnity obligation shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

9. The Employee will also be responsible for insuring the Cycle Package against fire, theft, loss or damage and will need to provide evidence of sufficient insurance cover, for the duration of this Agreement, to the Employer. The Employee is asked to provide such evidence of appropriate insurance cover as a condition to the commencement of the Agreement. The Employee will also notify the Employer forthwith of any loss or damage to the Cycle Package and hold any insurance money received in trust for the Employer.

10. The Employee must ensure that the Cycle Package he/she selects is appropriate for their personal use and that it is medically safe for them to use it (by checking with their GP where appropriate). The Employee also undertakes to use the Cycle Package in a safe manner complying with road safety requirements and wearing a cycle helmet in appropriate circumstances and not to carry passengers on the Cycle Package. The Employer will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered or any personal injury caused as a result of the use of the Cycle Package.

I signed my life away (again)

 

[rootes]

yes and remember the bike is owned by the company and not the individual - you merely hire the company asset.

 

[beancounter]

Just to add a snippet of the agreement I signed



I signed my life away (again)

Is there any way you could give me a copy of that agreement (PM?)? I need a basic wording and I haven't been able to find one anywhere.

I'd be immensely grateful.

bc