“Just claim it back on expenses”

[cs98127634]

I’m a care worker and I have to pay for things for work and claim them back on expenses. Usually this is just the cost of mileage, parking etc.

I have just been asked to go and do a full food shop on Friday (pay day) and pay for this myself and then claim it back on expenses. This means I won’t get paid this back for a full month.

I really don’t get paid very much and this will be a lot of money to me. Would it be unreasonable/unprofessional for me to say no? I could really do with some advice about how to handle this situation.

Definitely NBU!

Is this an expected thing in your job role/previously agreed when taking the role? If not I would raise with the manager and ask them to either either provide cash from the work kitty or ask if they can give you a company cc to use on the day.

Definitely not unprofessional, if anything it is unprofessional of them to ask without thinking about the impact on you.

Why is the client not giving you cash upfront?

Do you mean a food shop for someone you care for ? If so yeah you need to say you can’t afford to do that otherwise it might become a regular thing and you will constantly be out of pocket .

Absolutely YANBU! Anybody with half a brain cell would realise this is a ridiculous request, that's a substantial amount of money. Is there some sort of petty cash you can use instead?

YWBU to do this. It’s such a thoughtless thing for your boss (I presume) to ask you to do. Presumably, they know how much the pay you. You’d also be setting a precedent for them to expect others to do the same, so take a stand! They have 2 days to get the money to you to allow you to do the shop.

Definitely not, you need an advance to pay for the shopping, you shouldn't be paying for it yourself.

@Namechangedlady

Is this an expected thing in your job role/previously agreed when taking the role? If not I would raise with the manager and ask them to either either provide cash from the work kitty or ask if they can give you a company cc to use on the day.

It’s expected that I pay for things relating to me like parking or petrol costs but not large expenses for clients

My Grandad has a shopping call as part of his care package.

My mum who has power of attorney leaves cash with his shopping list in an envelope, carer comes and does his morning call picks up the envelope, takes it with them to do the shopping call returns with the shopping puts it away leaves change and receipt in the envelope.

Could you arrange that?

Yanbu at al

If it’s in your contract they should look at providing you with a work credit card for this.

@cs98127634 then absolutely go to your manager and explain. It's not unprofessional, if anything it just highlights the crap wages they are paying.

Not sure how it works in a care setting, but in my academic job we were expected to pay for conference fees, flights and hotels ourselves and claim it back later. I refused on grounds I couldn't afford it and they magically found a departmental credit card I could use. Several colleagues who incurred interest charges for late payment because the reimbursements were late used to successfully claim that back too. I do think it's unreasonable to expect you to cover payment for a full grocery shop.

Fair enough to expect you to pay for parking and travel then claim back but a full food shop is too much. You need to tell them you can’t afford to do this and they either give you an advance or a company credit card.

Ridiculous to expect you to cover a client's shopping. Speak to your supervisor.

It is totally unreasonable to expect you to fund this upfront. Surely the client should have given you the cash in advance?

My mother has once or twice asked her carers to bring some milk when she was running out and then paid them in cash for it when they arrive, but that is only a couple of quid at most and immediately sorted by her. She wouldn't dream of asking them to do a whole weekly shop and then wait to be paid on expenses from their employer.

Just tell them you can't do it. Ask how they want to pay.

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll tell them I can’t do this. I’m new to the industry and so I wasn’t sure if this was the norm.

I could stick it on a credit card without any worries (not boasting), but I would still say no to this. Your personal finances are not relevant, they shouldn't be asking for this.

An occasional couple of quid for parking fair enough if you are willing, but definitely not a whole shop. If they require this as part of your role they need to agree to pay for the shopping up front or organise a business credit card for you.

Years ago, there used to be a thing called petty cash and employees who needed to buy something for work would get given the cash from petty cash and give back a receipt.

Expenses really should be limited to people who are high rate tax payers. It's outrageous that your employers are effectively asking you to sub the company.

Absolutely not ok or standard for carers to pay for full food shops etc and claim as expenses.

Explain that it will affect your own finances and ability to buy food!

You should not do this. It is not for you to subsidise the firm. If you do it once then you will do it again and before you know it there will be a regular occurrence.

You may also find that you buy stuff that you will not be able to claim.

Too many pitfalls

Would it be unreasonable/unprofessional for me to say no?

No. Tell them clearly you can't afford it and why.

Never be afraid to tell a work place when you can't afford an expense.

If they want you to do this sort of thing they should provide you with a 'float' which is reconciled each month.

@Clymene

Years ago, there used to be a thing called petty cash and employees who needed to buy something for work would get given the cash from petty cash and give back a receipt.

Expenses really should be limited to people who are high rate tax payers. It's outrageous that your employers are effectively asking you to sub the company.

There still is a thing called petty cash

At least in my last two jobs there is/was

I agree though, obviously the employee shouldn't be paying for client expenses out of their own pocket

Christ! I don't mind footing the cost of my own expenses and claiming it back later, but expecting you to pay for somebody's shopping and claim back is a bit much!

It's also a bit archaic to have to wait, most companies I've worked with process expenses straight away.