Expense Reimbursement

[imdadman]

My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Massachusetts.

I was laid off Feb 09. In May and July 09 I discovered and submitted unpaid expenses relating to my work. On both occasions my former employer paid these, the last being on a check dated Aug 6.

On Aug 7, I submitted a final round of reports (by email) as within 1 hour received a reply of

"I have to inform you that I'm not able to pay other expenses dated 2008
This is also because the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return is already filed and I can't enter more costs referred to the year 2008. Furthermore, since you don't work anymore with (Our Company), we are not able to justify other payments in your name."

What Section of M.G.L can I use to compel them to pay?

[PattyPA]

What were the expenses for?

[imdadman]

Travel in connection with my job.

[PattyPA]

OK, what were the components? Just mileage? Or meals, hotel, etc.? There's a reason I'm asking.

[cbg]

Additionally, if mileage, did you incur the expenses during the work day, or after hours? It matters, in MA.

[imdadman]

All of the trips are overnight trips of 2-5 days depending on the event.
Airfare, Hotel, Rental car, meals, cell phone, mileage, parking.

If I spent money on it in connection with my duties, they have reimbursed it. I had never had a problem with it before.

It is my belief that since I no longer work for them, they simply don't wish to pay anymore, despite the fact they have paid expense reports filed post layoff in May and July. As a matter of fact, they just paid me last week on the same types of expenses.

[SChinFChin]

All of the trips are overnight trips of 2-5 days depending on the event.
Airfare, Hotel, Rental car, meals, cell phone, mileage, parking.

If I spent money on it in connection with my duties, they have reimbursed it. I had never had a problem with it before.

It is my belief that since I no longer work for them, they simply don't wish to pay anymore, despite the fact they have paid expense reports filed post layoff in May and July. As a matter of fact, they just paid me last week on the same types of expenses.

It seems that you are sending in your 2008 expenses in dribs and drabs, a year late, and they've accomodated you, up till now.

I handle the finances for my organization, and they are very strict as to when I can book expenses. For instance, for all expenses for FY2009 ending 06-30-09, I can book it no later than 8-17-09, and at that point, I close my books.

Occasionally, I get stragglers, and they may hand in expenses in Oct 09, for something incurred, say from Feb 09. And what is my problem with it?? I have to bury this in my current year's budget, 2009-2010 on something that should've been handed in last year, and allocated to the budget last year.

What happens what they start checking my budgets come the end of the year?? I have to say we have to cut back on this, that, or the other thing because some dude couldn't get his paperwork straight last year.

I'll say: "and we're messed up by this guy who left in Feb". I know my wise cracking boss is going to ask if you're going to keep finding things every six months, and if we wouldn't expect another find from you come this Christmas.

I have to say if you didn't hand in expenses from last year, can't collect on it now, you got no one but yourself to blame. Most companies I worked for expect to get expenses in the month after you incurred it.

[imdadman]

I have to say if you didn't hand in expenses from last year, can't collect on it now, you got no one but yourself to blame. Most companies I worked for expect to get expenses in the month after you incurred it.

Yes thank you, I get that. You could have simply pointed out, "I handle the finances for my organization, and they are very strict as to when I can book expenses. For instance, for all expenses for FY2009 ending 06-30-09, I can book it no later than 8-17-09, and at that point, I close my books," and that would have been helpful. A legal opinion would have been more helpful than editorializing.

BTW, I had several times advised them of the status of the reports, they never once informed me that there was a deadline.

[SChinFChin]

Yes thank you, I get that. You could have simply pointed out, "I handle the finances for my organization, and they are very strict as to when I can book expenses. For instance, for all expenses for FY2009 ending 06-30-09, I can book it no later than 8-17-09, and at that point, I close my books," and that would have been helpful. A legal opinion would have been more helpful than editorializing.

BTW, I had several times advised them of the status of the reports, they never once informed me that there was a deadline.

I done finances long enough, and I know that these things are discussed in employee handbooks. State's don't have regulations on how companies manage their budgets, and states don't have laws that says "employees can hand in their expenses any time they feel like it"

I know your're unhappy with my answer, and you didn't have to read the whole thing, but I get people doing this to me all the time too, and I'm not happy with it either.

BTW, I had a landscaper handing me bills a year and a half after he did the work, and I'm supposed to remember if he was there last April, let alone know what he did, if he did something?? He also gave me this: "you never said there was a deadline".

But, you can always go after them in small claims.

[PattyPA]

I don't have the reference in front of me (cbg probably has it), but if you don't submit within a reasonable time (and submitting 2008 expenses now is not "reasonable"), any reimbursement you DO get is completely taxable, right?