Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

“Just claim it back on expenses”

77 replies

cs98127634 · 23/06/2021 10:11

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.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 23/06/2021 12:23

Very unreasonable to expect you to do this. If the company finds it necessary they should provide you with cash or a card.

Dh’s old aunt used to get her (self funded) cleaning lady to do her shopping (no extra pay) and expected her to go to different shops just for butter or whatever, because it was 1p cheaper!

No surprise that she had plenty of money - just absolutely hated parting with any of it.

a8mint · 23/06/2021 12:24

Expenses mean your expenses to enable you to do the job, not buying things on other peoples behalf!

FictionalCharacter · 23/06/2021 12:31

@Sleepyquest

Nope that's taking the piss and their accountants would have something to say about it too. Refuse OP
Yes, this. The employer is abusing the expenses system, which is for employees to claim back expenses that they have incurred so that they can do their job. That’s things like parking and travel, not a full food shop for someone else. I’m guessing it’s a manager who had this bright idea and that it isn’t company policy at all.
lottiegarbanzo · 23/06/2021 12:31

It's not your expense, is it.

If shopping for clients is part of the role, there will be a budget for it. Your boss could could get in trouble for trying to process an item from one budget heading, through the staff expense account. So could you. It looks like you / they are trying to avoid the relevant sign off, scrutiny and accounting.

Doorhandleghost · 23/06/2021 12:33

Even if it was part of your contract it wouldn’t be reasonable to ask you to do this!

Babyroobs · 23/06/2021 12:34

I get where you are coming from. We have to but our own ink cartridges working from home, expenses can be up to £70- £80 a month and we can wait two months to get that back. We are low paid and whilst I can afford to do it, others in my team struggle.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 23/06/2021 12:40

That's absurd, no way would I be paying for peoples food out of my wages. They need to supply you with a card or cash.
I've worked in the NHS for 40 years and I've never heard of such a thing. Talk to your manager.

Viviennemary · 23/06/2021 12:47

Just say no. This isn't acceptable. Parking is a different thing altogether. This isn't expenses it's somebody else's shopping. They need go provide you with the cash. They should get it from the client upfront.

Wiglio · 23/06/2021 12:47

Definitely unreasonable
If you were to start this how many other shopping requests would you get?
Nip this one in the bud.

MzHz · 23/06/2021 13:00

@cs98127634 who was it actually who asked?

Client? Or your employer?

Either way the answer is No.

If they want shopping, they can use online ordering- family can help to do this for them on a weekly basis perhaps to coincide with your appointments, or click and collect?

Absolutely not something you need to fund.

Snowpatrolling · 23/06/2021 13:16

Absolutely not! The company can pay for it and claim it back, not your issue.
I’ve been asked this before by a family member, didn’t hesitate to say no!!

Whyareblokesonhere · 23/06/2021 13:19

If you paid that out on work instruction and then didn't receive it back for a month would they not be potentially paying you less than minimum wage?

Famousinlove · 23/06/2021 13:28

No way would i be doing that, whether i could afford it or not. Tell them to give you cash, vouchers or company card

randomkey123 · 23/06/2021 13:29

It's not normal no, and don't start it.

Ellie56 · 23/06/2021 13:38

I agree expenses relating to you are your expenses, like fuel for your car and your car parking.

But how is someone else's food shop in any way related to you?

Tell them you need the money upfront. You can't afford to outlay that amount of money; you need it for own food shop.

StuffinThePuffin · 23/06/2021 13:40

Ridiculous. Don't do this.

Why haven't they set up a credit card or petty cash system for this? That would make much more sense. I would suggest something like to them.

MilduraS · 23/06/2021 14:03

Not unreasonable at all. I used to claim the odd train ticket back once a month but when I had to use the train for 5 day in a row (£250) I had to ask my employer for a cash advance. I was a bit bashful about it but they arranged it without a second thought. Didn't occur to me until afterwards that they knew how much I was being paid!

kookiekook · 23/06/2021 14:22

NBU at all.

I'm a SW and had to pay for someone's electric last month. 'Only' £20 but it was the 11th of the month, couldn't then put the claim in until the following month then so I'll get paid it next week - so that's 7 weeks without! I can suck it up but not the point is it?

A full shop - no way!!

starfishmummy · 23/06/2021 14:27

And what if this isn't a one off? Assuming its the clients shopping then it could happen every week - or at least top up shops for fresh items.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 23/06/2021 14:34

If they need you to buy a lot of things out of your own pocket regularly for work they need to trust you with a corporate credit card. Especially on a low wage, it's really unfair.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 23/06/2021 14:46

This is not usual practice in the care industry and you should refuse.

How is the client paying for the shopping,? Is the care agency billing them?

My PiL have a shopping call every week from a care agency as they are housebound. We sort out the money by having a prepaid card the carers can use. We load it with money (online) and the carer uses it to pay for the shopping and sends us a photo of the receipt. It works brilliantly and it means the care workers don't have to pay for anything

fernrosie · 23/06/2021 15:47

I am in a professional role and when I was a junior my salary after fuel car parking fees etc was about £4 and hour. I was expected to pay all expenses up front and claim back for every client I saw.
I had to get a credit card that I would put all expenses on then claim back. But in my industry the way my firm did things was the same everywhere so they wouldn't have been helpful if I refused.

I don't think YABU though if it's not the industry norm and even if it is it's not great and if you can't afford to do it or get a credit card you'll have to push back.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 23/06/2021 15:49

Nope, no way.

The company can order a delivery to the person via asda/Tesco. At a push I'd offer to get it via click and collect and unpack it in the home (but claim mileage and petrol for the trip).

RedMarauder · 23/06/2021 20:05

@kookiekook

NBU at all.

I'm a SW and had to pay for someone's electric last month. 'Only' £20 but it was the 11th of the month, couldn't then put the claim in until the following month then so I'll get paid it next week - so that's 7 weeks without! I can suck it up but not the point is it?

A full shop - no way!!

It's not "only £20" if it means you skip meals or can't afford some other essential costs.
Coffeemakesmehappy · 23/06/2021 20:49

YANBU - carrying out your NORMAL work, relating to fuel, parking etc. … those are expected expenses which you would be able to budget in advance and claim for.

Doing a full food shop on Friday (so 2 days away when they have plenty of time to arrange a cash withdrawal from petty cash) but still expect to to claim it as an expense which you will have to wait a month for)? Absolutely not. And are you going to be paid for the time/mileage it takes you to actually do the shop, take it to the persons home/put it into cupboards/fridge/freezer?

I occasionally pick up milk and bread for clients I clean for (because I have expressly told them that I’m happy to do that) and they give me cash on the day. If they started asking me to do a full food shop, we are into totally different territory.