Pictured: John Mehtam
Winter weather conditions could cause havoc when it comes to
Shropshire employees getting into work.
But a Telford solicitor says there are solutions which could
help ensure your business can continue, whatever the weather.
John Mehtam is the employment law specialist at Martin-Kaye LLP
Solicitors, and he said employers must consider how their staff
would cope should bad weather strike.
"In snow and ice, employees who drive off-road vehicles may not
be concerned, but for drivers of smaller vehicles, you may need to
look at alternative travel arrangements.
"If you have a contract to complete and you're relying on your
staff to turn up, paying for another form of transport such as
taxis might be the way forward. But normally the Taxman will treat
any payment of home-to-work and back travel by an employer as
taxable for the employee.
"So instead you may like to consider a more cost-effective
car-sharing arrangement over the winter where the more confident
drivers pick up their colleagues and bring them into work.
"You can offer the drivers an allowance as an incentive, but set
this at a level that will cost you less than a taxi. The payment
will be treated as extra wages and subject to tax and National
Insurance as normal, but the drivers will still be better off."
John said if for some reason, the employee driving the shared
car can't offer their colleagues a lift on any particular day, they
will have to make their own way into work.
"If this happens, and you pay for the employees who would
usually share the car to travel home by taxi, in these
circumstances it won't be counted as taxable income.
"In such difficult economic times, it's vital that company
bosses consider all the options in order to keep their business
operating in order to meet urgent deadlines and delivery dates.
"By developing a transport policy now, before the really bad
weather strikes, your company will be better prepared and ahead of
the competition when it really matters."
For more information on Martin-Kaye Solicitors visit their
website here: www.martinkaye.co.uk