Travel and expenses policy

Employees may be entitled to have telephone and office allowances if:  

• they are contractually a homeworker

This does not apply to working from home as part of smarter working.

Entitlements must reimburse employees for expenditure properly incurred in the course of their duties.   

Where we provide mobile telephones for reasons outside this scheme, the same provisions will apply for personal use. For example, due to health and safety, lone working etc. 

Office allowances 

We will make provision within a band of 3 and 4.5 square metres. This is the estimated maximum and minimum space required to accommodate an employee.   

The employee's manager will determine how much space is needed depending on the requirements of the job. This will take into account health and safety needs.  

Rates 

The rate applied in each case will depend on:  

• the amount of space required for safe storage  
• the use of work materials and equipment 

To claim this office allowance, employees can use the form on our intranet. 

Telephone allowances 

Where a decision has been made to provide a telephone, it will be within the following options:  

• a telephone line in the employee's home. They can use this for business purposes only. We will reimburse the cost of line rental and calls.  
• a mobile phone. They can use this for personal calls within the arrangements specified by the director of resources. For more details, read: 
  • Mobile Phones – Health and Safety Advice 
  • the health and safety employee leaflet POEL24 
• Where a work phone is not considered necessary, we will reimburse the cost of business calls on an employee's own phone. 

Smarter working homeworking equipment allowance

We will offer up to £100 per person every three years to purchase office equipment for use at home for example:

• smaller (non-standard) desk
• lamps
• blinds
• heaters or fans
• costs of additional broadband (including set up)

During 2021-22 financial year, employees may claim an additional £100. If employees have not claimed in 2020-21, they can claim up to £200 in 2021-22. In exceptional circumstances where the line manager accepts that a specific piece of equipment is required at home, for example a folding desk (where space is an issue), an additional £100 may be added to the existing allowance.