Cycle2Work conspiracy investigation!

[maurice]

Hi guys,

Bit of a strange request for help this. Events have led me to suspect my employer is offering/has offered the cycle2work scheme to only the top brass in my company, and kept it very hush hush.

Is there a way to find out externally via tax records or other means whether my company has ever participated in the scheme? Anyone who has participated in the scheme or organised it may also know some other methods?

If I could find a smoking gun it could help out a lot of cyclists at my place,

Thanks

 

[yello]

I don't know the answer to your question (though I suspect you can't get the info you ask for from other than your employers due to data protection etc) but I would have thought that the scheme is at the discretion of your employers, as unfair as that is.

But it would surprise me if they'd go through the administration process of setting up the scheme within your company and then not offering it to all.

 

[maurice]

Hi yello

Yeah I accept the scheme is at the discretion of the employers, however it's existence is being denied. If I could point at some evidence to back up the strong rumours surrounding it I feel we would be in a much better position to apply pressure.

 

[Willow]

Do you have a personnel handbook that might list benefits of working for company. How big is the company?

 

[Fnaar]

Have they all started coming to work on Bianchis, or something?

 

[maurice]

It's a medium sized limited company < 1000 employees. We've been told by someone that the scheme has been run for a couple people, however can't drop that someone in it.

 

[yello]

Is there a secretary to one of the directors, or a finance junior, or someone of that like that you can feign innocence to and simply ask? They may not be aware that the scheme is hush hush.

But what if you do get your suspicions confirmed? You're still in a tricky position re getting the scheme applied to the mere underlings. Perhaps you can bypass the process by simply asking for the scheme to be started.

 

[maurice]

Is there a secretary to one of the directors, or a finance junior, or someone of that like that you can feign innocence to and simply ask? They may not be aware that the scheme is hush hush.

Something to think about.

But what if you do get your suspicions confirmed? You're still in a tricky position re getting the scheme applied to the mere underlings. Perhaps you can bypass the process by simply asking for the scheme to be started.

We've been asking for it to be started for years, my last attempt only this morning. If I did get it confirmed it would be passed onto the employee forum representatives to deal with, I feel then it would be 'started' rather more quickly.

 

[yello]

We've been asking for it to be started for years.

Ah, okay. I didn't appreciate that.

Could you go to your employees' forum with your suspicions anyway?

 

[Soltydog]

Under the scheme the bike has to be used at least 50% for commuting to work, so you'll have noticed top management leaving their BMWs at home & cycling in Maybe a call to the tax office to tell them that your employer has abused the system would make you feel better

 

[yello]

Maybe a call to the tax office to tell them that your employer has abused the system would make you feel better

That'd definitely get the door slammed shut on the scheme for everyone!

 

[Panter]

When we set ours up, I'm pretty certain that it HAD to be available to everyone, or all permanet staff anyway.

All the gumph is at work now, but if you haven't had an answer by tomorrow I can have a look through if you like?

 

[maurice]

When we set ours up, I'm pretty certain that it HAD to be available to everyone, or all permanet staff anyway.

All the gumph is at work now, but if you haven't had an answer by tomorrow I can have a look through if you like?

That would be very helpful, thanks

 

[maurice]

Hmmn interesting, haven't found the exact rules yet but googling it seems it has to be "generally available" to employees, and not just limited to directors etc.

Thanks for the pointer, panter.

 

[mikeitup]

Are you in a Trade Union?

If so go and see your shop steward about it.