I work in a mobile role where I am required to travel directly from home to customer sites chosen by my employer. This travel is essential to my job but is often unpaid, meaning I regularly start earlier and finish later without that time being recognised. Over time, this reduces real hourly pay and has a significant impact on work–life balance, particularly for apprentices and early-career workers who have less flexibility.

For many mobile workers and apprentices, the working day effectively begins before officially clocking in, often involving long journeys in varying weather conditions, while still being expected to perform to a high standard. Despite being required by the employer, this travel time is frequently unpaid, reducing the effective hourly wage.

At a time when the cost of living is rising, unpaid mandatory travel places additional pressure on workers, especially those at the start of their careers. These hours are not optional; they are a direct result of fulfilling job requirements.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has highlighted that many UK workers regularly carry out unpaid work, with travel time being a significant but often overlooked factor. This disproportionately affects younger workers, apprentices and those with limited bargaining power.

We call for UK employment law to clearly recognise mandatory travel time as paid working time where it is required by the employer and necessary to carry out the role. This should apply equally to apprentices and mobile workers travelling to and from customer or client sites at the start and end of the working day.

Clearer rules would support compliance with the National Minimum Wage and Working Time Regulations, promote fair pay, and improve retention and wellbeing in mobile roles.

By signing this petition, you are supporting fair treatment and reasonable pay for mobile workers and apprentices, and helping to push for clearer, fairer employment protections in the UK.