Withholding Expense Reimbursements – Ask #HR Bartender
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
No, messing with someone’s money isn’t cool. Organizations don’t like it when customers or vendors don’t pay on time. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that employees don’t like it when they feel the company is messing with their money. That’s what today’s reader note is all about.
Can a company withhold money due to you, when you have traveled for business purposes using your own vehicle?
There are so many things we don’t know about this situation. For example, where are the company and employee located? What is the employee’s position? Was there an agreement or understanding in place about business travel reimbursements? How much money are we talking about? And there are more questions that could pop up as we start to investigate.
I’ve published some articles about expense reimbursements in the past, so I’m hoping these might provide some place to start. It probably won’t answer every detail, but maybe it will help someone ask the right questions to get resolution.
Should Employees Receive an Auto Allowance
Asking an employee to run a quick errand or drop off something at another location might not seem like a big deal at the time. And employees might be very willing to do it. But it can quickly become a gripe if it’s abused OR if it’s not compensated properly. Organizations need to do their homework and make sure employees are being paid for the work they do and reimbursed for the expenses they incur.
Company Refuses to Reimburse Expenses
Whether it’s an employee’s paycheck or their expense report, the conversation is about money, and no one enjoys having their money withheld from them. Organizations need to clearly communicate expense reimbursement and allowances, so employees do not have their purchases denied. No one wins in these situations.
Asking Employees for Reimbursement After They’ve Departed
Rules, policies, and procedures can be a real challenge at times. Especially when the rule is completely unnecessary. But there are times when rules serve a valuable purpose. They allow us to handle situations consistently.
Employer Sends Invoice to Former Employee
Overpaying employees is a serious issue. This might not be a regular occurrence at your organization. But knowing that there are legal aspects to consider will hopefully put you in a place to get the information needed to make a good decision.
I wish there was a clear single answer when it comes to situations like this. Unfortunately, there are several dynamics to consider. Hopefully, the employee has a place to express their concerns (i.e., Human Resources) and the matter can be investigated.
Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Salt Lake City, UT
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