Expensing unnecessary hotel and travel costs due to missed memo












0














I work as a permanent employee for an IT outsourcing company.



I've turned up to work after the new year to find that the office is empty. It turns out that nobody can Bill the company giving us a contract until later in the month, so we weren't expected to turn up to work yet.



I found out that I was supposed to get an email about it but wasn't included in the recipient list.



The problem is that I have now paid for a train ticket and two nights of hotel costs. And my employer is hinting that they will refuse to pay for any of the travel/hotel costs. I feel hard-done by since this has happened only because I wasn't sent the memo, and I wondered if this is normal or if there is any recourse I can take.




  • Will it depend on my contract with my employer?

  • Is there any general employment law that can help my side?

  • Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?


I intend to try and insist my employer pays for my costs because I don't feel in the wrong. What do you think?










share|improve this question






















  • BTW the is in England
    – HelloWorld
    15 mins ago










  • Is the train ticket and hotel expense a standard part of your working routine? Was this travelling to a client location and if so how is it communicated to you when and where to go? Were you under instruction to go to this location until further notice or where you instructed with a given date range (I'd expect the latter with the given date range being what you were contracted for at any given time). If there is any reasonable way for you to have known (eg six months ago you were told it was only til the new year) then the employer may have a valid point.
    – Chris
    6 mins ago










  • It's travel to a client location and part of the regular routine. I'm a new joiner though so have only been on the project for a month. No dates have been specified thus far so I wasn't told to turn up this week but equally wasn't told that I wouldn't be able to until later in the month. I just turned up after my holiday had finished
    – HelloWorld
    3 mins ago










  • What about regular pay? It sounds like they have wasted a substantial amount of your time. Depending on the circumstances this might be easier to pursue and worth more money.
    – P. Hopkinson
    2 mins ago










  • I get paid either way as a permanent employee rather than a contractor, so don't think I can pull the pay me for my time card aha
    – HelloWorld
    1 min ago
















0














I work as a permanent employee for an IT outsourcing company.



I've turned up to work after the new year to find that the office is empty. It turns out that nobody can Bill the company giving us a contract until later in the month, so we weren't expected to turn up to work yet.



I found out that I was supposed to get an email about it but wasn't included in the recipient list.



The problem is that I have now paid for a train ticket and two nights of hotel costs. And my employer is hinting that they will refuse to pay for any of the travel/hotel costs. I feel hard-done by since this has happened only because I wasn't sent the memo, and I wondered if this is normal or if there is any recourse I can take.




  • Will it depend on my contract with my employer?

  • Is there any general employment law that can help my side?

  • Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?


I intend to try and insist my employer pays for my costs because I don't feel in the wrong. What do you think?










share|improve this question






















  • BTW the is in England
    – HelloWorld
    15 mins ago










  • Is the train ticket and hotel expense a standard part of your working routine? Was this travelling to a client location and if so how is it communicated to you when and where to go? Were you under instruction to go to this location until further notice or where you instructed with a given date range (I'd expect the latter with the given date range being what you were contracted for at any given time). If there is any reasonable way for you to have known (eg six months ago you were told it was only til the new year) then the employer may have a valid point.
    – Chris
    6 mins ago










  • It's travel to a client location and part of the regular routine. I'm a new joiner though so have only been on the project for a month. No dates have been specified thus far so I wasn't told to turn up this week but equally wasn't told that I wouldn't be able to until later in the month. I just turned up after my holiday had finished
    – HelloWorld
    3 mins ago










  • What about regular pay? It sounds like they have wasted a substantial amount of your time. Depending on the circumstances this might be easier to pursue and worth more money.
    – P. Hopkinson
    2 mins ago










  • I get paid either way as a permanent employee rather than a contractor, so don't think I can pull the pay me for my time card aha
    – HelloWorld
    1 min ago














0












0








0







I work as a permanent employee for an IT outsourcing company.



I've turned up to work after the new year to find that the office is empty. It turns out that nobody can Bill the company giving us a contract until later in the month, so we weren't expected to turn up to work yet.



I found out that I was supposed to get an email about it but wasn't included in the recipient list.



The problem is that I have now paid for a train ticket and two nights of hotel costs. And my employer is hinting that they will refuse to pay for any of the travel/hotel costs. I feel hard-done by since this has happened only because I wasn't sent the memo, and I wondered if this is normal or if there is any recourse I can take.




  • Will it depend on my contract with my employer?

  • Is there any general employment law that can help my side?

  • Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?


I intend to try and insist my employer pays for my costs because I don't feel in the wrong. What do you think?










share|improve this question













I work as a permanent employee for an IT outsourcing company.



I've turned up to work after the new year to find that the office is empty. It turns out that nobody can Bill the company giving us a contract until later in the month, so we weren't expected to turn up to work yet.



I found out that I was supposed to get an email about it but wasn't included in the recipient list.



The problem is that I have now paid for a train ticket and two nights of hotel costs. And my employer is hinting that they will refuse to pay for any of the travel/hotel costs. I feel hard-done by since this has happened only because I wasn't sent the memo, and I wondered if this is normal or if there is any recourse I can take.




  • Will it depend on my contract with my employer?

  • Is there any general employment law that can help my side?

  • Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?


I intend to try and insist my employer pays for my costs because I don't feel in the wrong. What do you think?







united-kingdom expenses






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 26 mins ago









HelloWorld

1223




1223












  • BTW the is in England
    – HelloWorld
    15 mins ago










  • Is the train ticket and hotel expense a standard part of your working routine? Was this travelling to a client location and if so how is it communicated to you when and where to go? Were you under instruction to go to this location until further notice or where you instructed with a given date range (I'd expect the latter with the given date range being what you were contracted for at any given time). If there is any reasonable way for you to have known (eg six months ago you were told it was only til the new year) then the employer may have a valid point.
    – Chris
    6 mins ago










  • It's travel to a client location and part of the regular routine. I'm a new joiner though so have only been on the project for a month. No dates have been specified thus far so I wasn't told to turn up this week but equally wasn't told that I wouldn't be able to until later in the month. I just turned up after my holiday had finished
    – HelloWorld
    3 mins ago










  • What about regular pay? It sounds like they have wasted a substantial amount of your time. Depending on the circumstances this might be easier to pursue and worth more money.
    – P. Hopkinson
    2 mins ago










  • I get paid either way as a permanent employee rather than a contractor, so don't think I can pull the pay me for my time card aha
    – HelloWorld
    1 min ago


















  • BTW the is in England
    – HelloWorld
    15 mins ago










  • Is the train ticket and hotel expense a standard part of your working routine? Was this travelling to a client location and if so how is it communicated to you when and where to go? Were you under instruction to go to this location until further notice or where you instructed with a given date range (I'd expect the latter with the given date range being what you were contracted for at any given time). If there is any reasonable way for you to have known (eg six months ago you were told it was only til the new year) then the employer may have a valid point.
    – Chris
    6 mins ago










  • It's travel to a client location and part of the regular routine. I'm a new joiner though so have only been on the project for a month. No dates have been specified thus far so I wasn't told to turn up this week but equally wasn't told that I wouldn't be able to until later in the month. I just turned up after my holiday had finished
    – HelloWorld
    3 mins ago










  • What about regular pay? It sounds like they have wasted a substantial amount of your time. Depending on the circumstances this might be easier to pursue and worth more money.
    – P. Hopkinson
    2 mins ago










  • I get paid either way as a permanent employee rather than a contractor, so don't think I can pull the pay me for my time card aha
    – HelloWorld
    1 min ago
















BTW the is in England
– HelloWorld
15 mins ago




BTW the is in England
– HelloWorld
15 mins ago












Is the train ticket and hotel expense a standard part of your working routine? Was this travelling to a client location and if so how is it communicated to you when and where to go? Were you under instruction to go to this location until further notice or where you instructed with a given date range (I'd expect the latter with the given date range being what you were contracted for at any given time). If there is any reasonable way for you to have known (eg six months ago you were told it was only til the new year) then the employer may have a valid point.
– Chris
6 mins ago




Is the train ticket and hotel expense a standard part of your working routine? Was this travelling to a client location and if so how is it communicated to you when and where to go? Were you under instruction to go to this location until further notice or where you instructed with a given date range (I'd expect the latter with the given date range being what you were contracted for at any given time). If there is any reasonable way for you to have known (eg six months ago you were told it was only til the new year) then the employer may have a valid point.
– Chris
6 mins ago












It's travel to a client location and part of the regular routine. I'm a new joiner though so have only been on the project for a month. No dates have been specified thus far so I wasn't told to turn up this week but equally wasn't told that I wouldn't be able to until later in the month. I just turned up after my holiday had finished
– HelloWorld
3 mins ago




It's travel to a client location and part of the regular routine. I'm a new joiner though so have only been on the project for a month. No dates have been specified thus far so I wasn't told to turn up this week but equally wasn't told that I wouldn't be able to until later in the month. I just turned up after my holiday had finished
– HelloWorld
3 mins ago












What about regular pay? It sounds like they have wasted a substantial amount of your time. Depending on the circumstances this might be easier to pursue and worth more money.
– P. Hopkinson
2 mins ago




What about regular pay? It sounds like they have wasted a substantial amount of your time. Depending on the circumstances this might be easier to pursue and worth more money.
– P. Hopkinson
2 mins ago












I get paid either way as a permanent employee rather than a contractor, so don't think I can pull the pay me for my time card aha
– HelloWorld
1 min ago




I get paid either way as a permanent employee rather than a contractor, so don't think I can pull the pay me for my time card aha
– HelloWorld
1 min ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















0














Since it's really their fault you acquired said costs, I would say a formal email addressing the issue directed to all relevant people, keeping it factual and not inflammatory of course, is the correct course of action.



That being said, they really have all the power in this case, since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go.



On your specific questions:




  • Yes, indeed, reading your contract will provide you insight on how this can be handled in case relevant provisions were included, in which case you should make sure to quote that in the aforementioned email.

  • That varies wildly based on the country/state your employment takes place and the contract was formed.






share|improve this answer





















  • Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
    – HelloWorld
    14 mins ago










  • "since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
    – Chris
    9 mins ago











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









0














Since it's really their fault you acquired said costs, I would say a formal email addressing the issue directed to all relevant people, keeping it factual and not inflammatory of course, is the correct course of action.



That being said, they really have all the power in this case, since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go.



On your specific questions:




  • Yes, indeed, reading your contract will provide you insight on how this can be handled in case relevant provisions were included, in which case you should make sure to quote that in the aforementioned email.

  • That varies wildly based on the country/state your employment takes place and the contract was formed.






share|improve this answer





















  • Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
    – HelloWorld
    14 mins ago










  • "since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
    – Chris
    9 mins ago
















0














Since it's really their fault you acquired said costs, I would say a formal email addressing the issue directed to all relevant people, keeping it factual and not inflammatory of course, is the correct course of action.



That being said, they really have all the power in this case, since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go.



On your specific questions:




  • Yes, indeed, reading your contract will provide you insight on how this can be handled in case relevant provisions were included, in which case you should make sure to quote that in the aforementioned email.

  • That varies wildly based on the country/state your employment takes place and the contract was formed.






share|improve this answer





















  • Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
    – HelloWorld
    14 mins ago










  • "since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
    – Chris
    9 mins ago














0












0








0






Since it's really their fault you acquired said costs, I would say a formal email addressing the issue directed to all relevant people, keeping it factual and not inflammatory of course, is the correct course of action.



That being said, they really have all the power in this case, since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go.



On your specific questions:




  • Yes, indeed, reading your contract will provide you insight on how this can be handled in case relevant provisions were included, in which case you should make sure to quote that in the aforementioned email.

  • That varies wildly based on the country/state your employment takes place and the contract was formed.






share|improve this answer












Since it's really their fault you acquired said costs, I would say a formal email addressing the issue directed to all relevant people, keeping it factual and not inflammatory of course, is the correct course of action.



That being said, they really have all the power in this case, since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go.



On your specific questions:




  • Yes, indeed, reading your contract will provide you insight on how this can be handled in case relevant provisions were included, in which case you should make sure to quote that in the aforementioned email.

  • That varies wildly based on the country/state your employment takes place and the contract was formed.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 18 mins ago









Leon

3,79321021




3,79321021












  • Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
    – HelloWorld
    14 mins ago










  • "since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
    – Chris
    9 mins ago


















  • Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
    – HelloWorld
    14 mins ago










  • "since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
    – Chris
    9 mins ago
















Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
– HelloWorld
14 mins ago




Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'm in a not overly formal email thread talking about it at the moment. I'll have to dig up the expense policies and my contract (boring), not exactly what one wants to be doing aha.
– HelloWorld
14 mins ago












"since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
– Chris
9 mins ago




"since escalating the issue may take it too far in which case you may have to be prepared to be let go" - can you clarify that? I'm hard pressed to think how it would escalate to this point. Perhaps some pointers on how to not escalate it that far. I certainly can't think emails arguing the point (that it was standard work expenses and therefore owed and that it was the employers fault that the expenses were incurred unnecessarily) would provide any grounds for dismissal unless the OP was rude, insulting, or otherwise unprofessional in those emails...
– Chris
9 mins ago


















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