Hi - when I've worked in organisations that have field based roles, there has normally been a clause in the employment contract that says that the employee has to live within a certain area.

In cases where the employee wanted to move out of the area, if they did not have a role within the new area, we had sometimes agreed it, on the understanding that travel from their new address to the edge of the area they cover is not working time, nor the mileage claimable e.g. they an only claim working time and mileage from the point at which they reach the edge of the area (we did check this with HMRC and they did advise that for field based employees, they would class any travel from outside the area to the edge of the area as travelling to and from the normal place of work in terms of business mileage).

It is trickier if you don't have a clause in your contract or a policy, but i would probably have the conversation with the individual along those lines. Ultimately, if the distance is great and you are unable to come to an agreement with them which doesn't lead to unreasonable costs for the business and/or an inability of the business to deliver the service effectively, you could potentially be looking at a SOSR dismissal.

In reply to Teresa:

thank you Teresa this is really helpful.