What’s the cost of broadband for a remote worker?

-

With remote working set to increase due to the spread of COVID-19, research has discovered that it nearly costs £12 a month for an UK employee in broadband bills for the use of the internet, to work at home.

This research comes from MoneySupermarket, a price comparison website, which found that the average UK worker spends £11.94 being spent on broadband bills at their employer’s benefit. The average broadband bill per month is £31.08.

Three-quarters of employees have never claimed back broadband expenses, even though 40 per cent believe their broadband bill should be eligible for expenses when used for work at home.

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Nearly half (47 per cent) of company owners, board directors and director-level staff believe that the full amount for broadband should be able to be claimed as a business expense.

As well as 73 per cent of employees spending at least one hour every week working online at home, these workers could claim back this expense.

Emma Spencer, the broadband expert at MoneySuperMarket, said:

Working from home is a benefit that many UK workers enjoy, but it’s interesting to consider the tools, like broadband, that they need to do so – and the potential associated costs.

Brits are busier than ever, so with more employees working from home or checking emails during their commute, it’s unsurprising that they may need to use personal broadband or data allowances to get their work done.

If you work from home, you may need faster broadband, especially if you regularly download large files or use video conferencing, so a fibre optic package may be better for you. It’s also worth remembering that some packages have a monthly usage limit, which means once a cap is reached, you may experience slower speeds or be charged a fee for over-use. There are a number of unlimited deals available which could be worth considering if you work from home, or if you work on the go, then the best option might be a mobile broadband dongle.

Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.

Latest news

Personalising the Benefits Experience: Why Employees Need More Than Just Information

This article explores how organisations can move beyond passive, one-size-fits-all communication to deliver relevant, timely, and simplified benefits experiences that reflect employee needs and life stages.

Grant Wyatt: When the love dies – when staying is riskier than quitting

When people fall out of love with their employer, or feel their employer has fallen out of love with them, what follows is rarely a clean exit.

£30bn pension savings window opens for employers ahead of 2029 reforms

UK employers could unlock billions in National Insurance savings by expanding pension salary sacrifice schemes before new limits take effect in 2029.

Expat jobs ‘fail early as costs hit $79,000 per worker’

International assignments are ending early due to family strain, isolation and poor preparation, as rising costs increase pressure on employers.
- Advertisement -

The Great Employer Divide: What the evidence shows about employers that back parents and carers — and those that don’t

Understand the growing divide between organisations that effectively support working parents and carers — and those that don’t. This session shows how to turn employee experience data into a clear business case, linking care-related pressures to performance, retention and workforce stability.

Scott Mills exit puts spotlight on risk of ‘news vacuum’ in high-profile dismissals

Sudden departure of a long-serving BBC presenter raises questions about how employers manage high-profile dismissals and limit speculation.

Must read

Mark Kaye: What does the extension of furlough scheme mean for employers?

Employment lawyer Mark Kaye at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP discusses the extension of the furlough scheme and what this means for employers and HR.

Malcolm Scovil: Take a leaf out of Google’s HR book

I urge all HR managers to read more about...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you