Upset about mileage- anything I can do?

[Rafiki31]

I started a new job at the beginning of Feb. When I was offered the job I was told the training would be in X location, which is 64 miles one way from the actual office I will be working in and 110 miles one way from my home. I was told I would get mileage from my work location to the training location & back. I was also told that I had the option of staying overnight at a local hotel but that meals and other expenses would not be covered. I tried this one night, the place was a cheapy scary unclean place I opted not to stay overnight again. I was told the mileage rate is 52 cents a mile. I did NOT get this part in writing.

Well fast forward to today. I find out that they no longer offer mileage at 52 cents a mile, they now offer $15 a day for the round trip regardless of how far you travel. That is supposed to cover round trip. I am furious! This is a huge unplanned expense for my family. I called HR and the person who told me the misinformation and she said that unfortunately the policy has changed and there is nothing she can do. She said I could complain to the regional manager, but if I do that I most likely wont be around long. She wasnt threatening or anything, she just genuinely seemed to think they would fire me if I push the issue. Another coworker in training with me was told the same 52 cents a mile as me, and he is not pursing the issue for fear of being fired. I am literally spending most of my paycheck on gas!!!

So instead of 66.56 a day for all the miles and wear and tear on my car I am getting a measly 15 bucks a day. So multiply that by 4 days a week for 13 weeks. That is not even including the fact that it is 110 actual miles each way from my home. I have literally been living in my car.

I am trying not to have a total meltdown. This job is turning out to be a huge budget buster I want to find a new job now. Problem is I like the work. But I feel so ripped off I don't think I can stay.

 

[robinb]

I started a new job at the beginning of Feb. When I was offered the job I was told the training would be in X location, which is 64 miles one way from the actual office I will be working in and 110 miles one way from my home. I was told I would get mileage from my work location to the training location & back. I was also told that I had the option of staying overnight at a local hotel but that meals and other expenses would not be covered. I tried this one night, the place was a cheapy scary unclean place I opted not to stay overnight again. I was told the mileage rate is 52 cents a mile. I did NOT get this part in writing.

Well fast forward to today. I find out that they no longer offer mileage at 52 cents a mile, they now offer $15 a day for the round trip regardless of how far you travel. That is supposed to cover round trip. I am furious! This is a huge unplanned expense for my family. I called HR and the person who told me the misinformation and she said that unfortunately the policy has changed and there is nothing she can do. She said I could complain to the regional manager, but if I do that I most likely wont be around long. She wasnt threatening or anything, she just genuinely seemed to think they would fire me if I push the issue. Another coworker in training with me was told the same 52 cents a mile as me, and he is not pursing the issue for fear of being fired. I am literally spending most of my paycheck on gas!!!

So instead of 66.56 a day for all the miles and wear and tear on my car I am getting a measly 15 bucks a day. So multiply that by 4 days a week for 13 weeks. That is not even including the fact that it is 110 actual miles each way from my home. I have literally been living in my car.

I am trying not to have a total meltdown. This job is turning out to be a huge budget buster I want to find a new job now. Problem is I like the work. But I feel so ripped off I don't think I can stay.

First of all: bummer! That really sucks that they are changing the rules just as gas is hitting all time highs. Secondly, I am not surprised that you received the brush-off from HR. HR is NEVER in the employee's corner. NEVER. They are there to protect the company.

Can you drive somewhere nearby and meet up to car pool with other co-workers? It's not the best solution but it will save everyone money in the long run. Plus, you can take turns driving and relaxing.

 

[ancestry]

If nothing else, track your miles and see if you can deduct it on your taxes next year. Most tax situations would allow one to deduct the mileage from the office to the training location (but not the mileage from your house to the office).

I would talk to someone other than HR to see what can be done. I wouldn't necessarily file a complaint but I certainly would ask the regional manager and would explain that if the policy has changed that is fine but they should adhere to what the policy was when you were hired.

 

[mjkacmom]

DH has been with the same company for 20 years, and there have been many changes over the years, always in an effort to save the company money. I know for a fact that he gets less for his miles. It stinks, but it happens.

 

[cvjw]

With the price of gas so high now, would it be cheaper to just find a hotel to stay in for the week? Maybe one of those hotels that are almost like apartments that have weekly rates? At least it is only 13 weeks, and you can see the end of the situation.

 

[rhiansmom]

Do you happen to live in CA or Mass? If so then you may have a remedy if not then it's left to company policy.

 

[Bell30012]

I clock better than 800 miles a week. Most of it is getting to or from our office locations. So, I can emphasize with your pain. In this day when it is tough to find a job, I have to say that any job is good. I recently bought a 2000 Honda Insight Hybrid to ease the pain in my wallet when I go to the pump. 60+ mpg!!!

 

[ilovemk76]

It is 51 cents, per the IRS site, not 52 cents per mile.

1) Talk to your boss. See if (s)he will pay you.

2) You can take the unreimbursed expenses off your 2011 taxes.

 

[Tink-aholic]

It is 51 cents, per the IRS site, not 52 cents per mile.

Companies don't have to use the IRS guidelines, you know. They CAN offer more. Mine pays 60 cents per mile.

 

[ilovemk76]

Companies don't have to use the IRS guidelines, you know. They CAN offer more. Mine pays 60 cents per mile.

Since the OP is only getting partial reimbursement she can only claim the IRS number on her taxes to get the difference in a tax write-off.

 

[disneychrista]

Companies don't have to use the IRS guidelines, you know. They CAN offer more. Mine pays 60 cents per mile.

If you are paid MORE than IRS guidelines that the additinal part is taxable income

If you are paid less than the IRS guidelines you can claim the difference on your taxes.

 

[disneymarie]

Gee, I can imagine how that was a budget cruncher. I have been getting .36 a mile and it is killing me with gas price. Plus my car will only run on premium. I tried a mid grade and got knocks.

I have to ask for at minimal .46 a mile.

Hope things resolve and they can pay fairly for the wear and tear, and gas expenses.

 

[Bell30012]

The company that I work for has paid 27¢ per mile for at least 10 years. It has never changed.

 

[fireflymedic]

With the price of gas so high now, would it be cheaper to just find a hotel to stay in for the week? Maybe one of those hotels that are almost like apartments that have weekly rates? At least it is only 13 weeks, and you can see the end of the situation.

thats what I was thinking find a hotel with some kind of discount

 

[powellrj]

Our company changed our car policy this year and it STINKS!!

We were getting car allowance and gas card. We use to drive company cars and they changed to this policy a few years ago.

This year they dropped the car allowance and gas card and went to .36 a mile with the first and last 20 miles a day unpaid, plus they figure the mileage!!!

Needless to say its a huge hit!!

I am going to guess this is a company change and there really isn't much the OP is going to be able to do about it. They will tell her too bad, quit if you don't like it. Thats what we were told.

I really feel for you, but it seems to be a sign of the times.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I started a new job at the beginning of Feb. When I was offered the job I was told the training would be in X location, which is 64 miles one way from the actual office I will be working in and 110 miles one way from my home. I was told I would get mileage from my work location to the training location & back. I was also told that I had the option of staying overnight at a local hotel but that meals and other expenses would not be covered. I tried this one night, the place was a cheapy scary unclean place I opted not to stay overnight again. I was told the mileage rate is 52 cents a mile. I did NOT get this part in writing.

Well fast forward to today. I find out that they no longer offer mileage at 52 cents a mile, they now offer $15 a day for the round trip regardless of how far you travel. That is supposed to cover round trip. I am furious! This is a huge unplanned expense for my family. I called HR and the person who told me the misinformation and she said that unfortunately the policy has changed and there is nothing she can do. She said I could complain to the regional manager, but if I do that I most likely wont be around long. She wasnt threatening or anything, she just genuinely seemed to think they would fire me if I push the issue. Another coworker in training with me was told the same 52 cents a mile as me, and he is not pursing the issue for fear of being fired. I am literally spending most of my paycheck on gas!!!

So instead of 66.56 a day for all the miles and wear and tear on my car I am getting a measly 15 bucks a day. So multiply that by 4 days a week for 13 weeks. That is not even including the fact that it is 110 actual miles each way from my home. I have literally been living in my car.

I am trying not to have a total meltdown. This job is turning out to be a huge budget buster I want to find a new job now. Problem is I like the work. But I feel so ripped off I don't think I can stay.

If you can't live at the unacceptable hotel, then you have few choices. Is there another hotel nearby that the company would accept? Good luck with a difficult situation.

 

[mrodgers]

Gee, I can imagine how that was a budget cruncher. I have been getting .36 a mile and it is killing me with gas price. Plus my car will only run on premium. I tried a mid grade and got knocks.

I have to ask for at minimal .46 a mile.

Hope things resolve and they can pay fairly for the wear and tear, and gas expenses.

How is that killing you in gas prices?

Even if you get 20 mpg, at $0.36/mile that is costing $0.20 per mile at $4/gallon (current where I am for premium which I also have to run.)

Sounds far different than the OP where he would be losing money at $15/trip driving 64 miles one way from the office.

 

[Hannathy]

Have you tried asking the company to give you what they would pay for the hotel you find unacceptable and using that toward staying somewhere you are comfortable?

I think rather that driving 4 hours a day I would give the hotel another try. What was wrong with it? I have a hard time believing a company would put their employees somewhere unsafe, it would be too large a liability. It doesn't have to be great, just safe and if it isn't that is what I would be presenting the company that they wanted to put me up somewhere that wasn't safe and how did they want to deal with it.

 

[auralia]

I guess the question is would you have taken this job if you knew it was 15$ per day period? If the answer is no perhaps you should persue it and risk being fired because you wouldn't be there any way if you had known the 15$ per day thing.

If you would have taken it either way i'd just suck it up and look for a car pool.