EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion On-call travel allowance

Had a bit of a surprise last month when my pay packet came through and my travel allowance for attending emergency call-outs had gone down. So much for reviewing it, I would benefit if I used it during the day but as I am "returning to work" I only get the reserve rate now. Are other Trusts implementing this in the same way?

So I used to be paid 47p per mile and it has now gone down to 33p per mile, the "reserve" rate as per Pay Circular (AfC)3/2013. What rate are other NHS engineers being re-imbursed at? Does anyone know if these are local agreements or national?

I would advise you to check with your local trade union representative, they should know if the agreement was being breached.

We got a similar thing through, I think it is a national agreement. According to the conditions it was doubtful if we would get paid for the journey from home to work (base) at all as journeys to and from your base are classed as commuting. We argued that when we are on call our home is the base and all callout journeys should start from there. I've not had a callout since the change but I think we will only get the reserve rate. I'll look for the official document if I get a chance. At first glance we thought we would get the new 66p rate as it is technically duty mileage.

If your on-call and have a call out you'll get the reserve rate from home to your normal base if your on the national agreement. Details here.

http://www.nhsemployers.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/afc_tc_of_service_handbook_fb.pdf

Any travel over your base to home miles should be paid at the non-reserve rate.

You beat me to it Chris.
It's all in the latest version of the Agenda for Change handbook Adrian.

Consider yourself lucky you're not on a (so-called) "zero-hour(s) contract"!

Our union rep successfully argued that our home address was our "work-base" out of hours and that we should be paid at the standard rate of £0.67 per mile.

A4C now theres a phrase:)
Still on Whitley Council on call agreement here.

I've downloaded the lastest handbook and pay circular. Our argument is as we are on-call it should be classed as business mileage. We will have to wait and see how management and HR get on with it, my manager was not aware of the changes. They would have a shock if I was to use taxis with my return mileage!