'[I] was told to "actually read the policy". So I did': Employee complies with company meal policy after bosses demand $1.50 in overages

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  • 01
    Gesture - 'I very happily removed the $1.50 overage and added an additional $300'
  • 02
    Font - Was told to "actually read the policy". So I did. M I work for an office and we have an 8 week busy season with mandatory overtime (12- 14hrs/day). During this time, the company agrees to reimburse us for dinner, up to $13/meal. We just have to submit a claim with our receipts at the end of the busy season.
  • 03
    Font - Food options around my work aren't great so I usually brought my dinner from home. But sometimes I was too tired to cook after a long day so out of the 8 weeks, I purchased maybe 10 meals. 3 of those meals I spent $13.50, going $0.50 over the limit. This resulted in a whopping $1.50 overage which my manager said it was no big deal and that I could include on my expense claim. He signed off on it and everything.
  • 04
    Font - A few days after I submitted my report Head Office emailed me saying they rejected my expense claim and that I could resubmit after I removed the $1.50 overage. I wrote back saying my manager was fine with the $1.50 overage and even signed off on it, and they responded by telling me that they do not allow overages under any circumstances, that the $1.50 must be removed or they wouldn't approve any of my meal expenses. They ended their email with the advice that I should "actually read the
  • 05
    Font - Fine, they were right and I was wrong. So I decided I'd read the policy very thoroughly before redoing my expense claim. Yes, the policy clearly stated a $13/maximum on purchased meals. Oh, and what's this? The policy also allows a $10 per diem for meals you bring from home.
  • 06
    Font - I very happily removed the $1.50 overage and added an additional $300 for the 30 meals I brought from home. I should read the company policy more often!
  • 07
    Font - EDIT: Thank you for the gold benevolent redditor! It's my first time. Some of you are asking if I got paid the $300 and the answer is yes. Many are suggesting the person was sincerely trying to help me out, but I'm not 100% sure because they were so snippy in their email. Also, when we were emailed the meal policy at the beginning of busy season there was no mention of the per diem and no one else in my department knew about it. Either way, I made sure to thank them just in case they were
  • 08
    Font - hollisbwoods I do the employee reimbursement at my company and I would be GLEEFUL if someone came back with this. In my experience, if I have to make someone edit their report, it's because I literally cannot process the report through the system or if I will personally get in trouble for pushing something through. Good on you for using your resources.
  • 09
    Font - TheRomper OP. Come to think of it, this was around the company fiscal year end so I bet there was added pressure on them not to budge. Hopefully they got a kick out of it or learned they had some per diem dinners they could expense!
  • 10
    Product - midflinx Great! +1 Was there any place on the form to comment and thank them for helping you get $300? 9.1k Reply Share TheRomper OP. Yes there was and I made sure to thank them!
  • 11
    Font - kpsi355 Did you tell all your coworkers? That would really be malicious:) and beneficial for them! 1.1k Reply Share TheRomper OP. Yes I did and they were very happy to hear it.
  • 12
    Smile - Tinabird20 That is awesome way to get the money that is coming to you.
  • 13
    Font - Mechasteel Sounds like you made a beancounter's life a little easier. All the numbers where they should be and no extra paperwork or explaining things to his boss.
  • 14
    Font - Dioxycyclone Definitely read your policies. I spent weeks in a town not far from my parents hometown when I lived 1000's of miles away, and instead of spending weekends in a hotel, I spent the weekends with the parents. Well, if you do that, at my old company you could buy up to a 75 dollar gift on the company dime. I bought my parents a nice 75 dollar gift card each time I stayed the weekend. Win win!
  • 15
    Font - GretaVanFleek Way to take a bite out of them!
  • 16
    Font - carlbandit Maybe the person that sent the email was trying to help you out, but wasn't allowed to just say "you know you can get $10 for fetching food in from home, right?" They might have figured you more then likely fetched it from home as you was only claiming 8 meals in an 8 week period and didn't want you to miss out
  • 17
    Human body - Owens2k3 Compliance never tasted so good!
  • 18
    Font - oleboogerhays I hope you informed your co workers of that policy. I also really hope that you thanked the head office for snarkily telling you to read the policy. 147 Reply Share TheRomper OP. Yes and yes!

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