To think it’s an awful way to treat an employee?

[heathcliffeeee]

I claimed an expense (to do with my studies which I was granted x amount for) and this triggered the top manager to go through my previously approved expenses. It was horrible, I felt like I was being accused of embezzlement. It took up time outside of my hours.

They then concluded it was fine and I hadn’t stolen company funds. This was just indirectly told to me.

There was no conversation by the manager who accused me. No explanation. Nothing. Just me being left with this view that they thought I was a thief and were proved wrong.

If they suspended me then fine, an investigation is what it is. But to go silent afterwards … am I being too sensitive??

I’m looking for a new job as this has devastated me. But it’s a serious accusation to make and to have no follow up …

Sounds like due diligence? You probably reached some trigger of x£ and they're checking?

what accusation was actually made? Reads as if you have assumed a lot

All expenses are checked - have you actually been accused of anything

Hard to know without more details about what the expense was, how much it was and what your previous form was for expenses. If it was a cup of coffee on the sidelines of a conference they were probably being a bit mean. If it was a two night hotel stay with a train ticket and the third time you'd done it in a month it's a bit different.

But the reality companies have to make sure expenses are legit. Maybe they don't have a very effective way of recording what expenses are for but I don't think on the face of it that they did anything wrong: surely better to check than just wave things through?

With kindness, I think you're being a bit oversensitive.

If you were allowed say £400 and your receipt was £20 they have to check you haven’t been paid more than £380 before. Did someone actually say stealing or embezzlement or are you just feeling over-managed? They are the ones that will be in trouble if they pay over the level approved so don’t jump to feeling negatively about it.

It's a basic check. If you have been approved X to do something, then the person approving the costs needs to check how much you have been reimbursed so far and how much is left to spend. It's fiscal responsibility.

It doesn’t sound like they’ve actually made any accusation against you? Just a standard audit, which is very mundane and routine.

I claimed an expense to do with my studies ... I’m looking for a new job as this has devastated me.
If you leave so soon will the expense be repayable?
It would be better to talk this through with somebody, if nothing else then it may make them think twice before they put the next person through this.

Checking expenses isn’t an accusation.

I think you are being a bit over sensitive OP, did they actually make an accusation? We have to get special prior approval for study related expenses.

The two things aren’t necessarily linked OP, unless you’ve been told this directly?
You claimed an expense, which was approved.
An audit was carried out in your expenses (not necessarily just yours, but you only know about yours).
The first thing didn’t necessarily trigger the second and, as you’ve done nothing wrong, all was found to be ok.
Your reaction does feel a bit extreme in looking for a new job as a result - where you unhappy already, or is it just based on this incident? If it’s the second perhaps take some time to reflect?

In my work we have regular expense audits, some are triggered by amount, some by irregularity (i.e. an unusual one off expense) and then randomised checking. I will get a system email saying this expense is being audited, someone in finance checks it, then signs it off. Its not a reflection of you, just your company doing its due diligence.

So they did an audit of your expenses?

Isnt that pretty standard if you have a large expense? It should also be done at least yearly. They dont need to contact you if everything is OK.

Your being dramatic.

catch yourself on, they’ve audited your expenses, they haven’t accused you of anything.

I know what you mean. There's ways to manage a process like this so the person being scrutinised understands the process and understands when it's been concluded.

I had to verify the expenses of a previous line report who had moved teams and wasn't getting on with their new manager. They'd made decisions outside policy but being scrupulously honest had flagged it with me every single time. So I was able to verify every single exception and it went away. But it only existed because the new line manager was looking for trouble.

In my case my previous line report then left for a new organisation where they flourished. But if I was you and the trust is broken I would look for a new job.

My place audits plenty of expenses. Some a random sample, some triggered by certain things (either specific items or amounts or just general change in pattern).

Pretty sure no one has thrown a strop and left because of it.

Sometimes in my job the manager or accountant will be worried about bigger money problems & will panic about random expenses. This is due to pressure from the powers that be. They haven’t accused you of anything? Just looking at where they can save.

It does sound ham fisted.

Are they paying for your course?

It’s hard to know to be honest. Was it an investigation/ audit or use an extra check?

it’s never good to tell an employee you’re investigating them and not give them the outcome- is that what they did?

You may find it was your manager being investigated for his approvals of expenses.

It sounds like a slight overreaction from both sides.

You are devastated because your employer did an audit of your expenses?

This is pretty standard procedure and isn’t personal. It usually just means you have reached a certain level expenditure and they have a policy to review everyone who gets that high.

Generally if you are under suspicion you will be the last to know as they will be trying to catch you out and won’t let on that they are watching you.

I understand why you are feeling a little humiliated and micromanaged, but this might just be company policy to do spot checks on employees expenditures.
They may not have discussed it with you post investigation because It just wasnt that big of a deal to them.
On the other hand if you genuinely feel they have deliberately singled you out and you are feeling under threat you could bite the bullet and ask them straight out why they felt they had to investigate you in the first place.

Sounds like you (or your manager) got pulled for an expenses audit.

Happened to me a couple of times over the years.

Not pleasant but just "one of those things".

I'd forget it.

Edited for typo.