I went on a training trip in October. I had to pay for meals and etc out of pocket. I found a new job and left last week and now they are saying that they will not pay for my expenses that they were going to. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do?
Update:The trip was a 2 week trip to DC, they book the hotel and flight in advance and pay it.. then your expenses are turned in and reimbursed. When I got back, the person that would usually take care of all of that, was fired while I was gone. We did not have a fax machine or copier where I worked and due to a shortage of staff.. I was on the phones and too busy during my work day to do it. I waited about 6 weeks afterthe trip before addressing it. At my exit interview, I was told they would not be paid because they have to be turned in within one month, and I advised that NO ONE told me that, and it is not written anywhere. It was all so unorganized anyway.. they even gave me the company credit card and told me to book the flight, then later bytched about the price and the airport I flew to. (they just said go to DC, so I didnt know to book Reagan instead of Dulles). AND not to mention.. they did all of that, 3 days before my flight and wee upset because the ticket was $850.
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Verified answer
Depends on your State.
In some states, such as CA, an employer is legally obligated to reimburse such expenses. In many states they aren't.
However, even if your State doesn't require it, you might still have a case if the employer told you ahead of time that they would pay it, based on the legal concept of "detrimental reliance" - ie you spent the money only because your employer told you he'd pay you back.
Your State labor board would be the first place to check, but in most places they don't deal with expenses. If they don't or can't help, you can write to your employer reminding them that they said they'd pay, and asking for the money. If they don't pay, then you can sue them in small claims court for the money.
To daisy - the practice that you describe is illegal under both Federal labor law AND the labor laws of most States, except under certain clearly defined parameters.
First, the training must be clearly transferable to other employment. The cost of training someone on, for example, your companies internal accounting procedures must be at the employers expense, but the cost of doing a "Quickbooks" school 'could' be made an employee cost.
Second, the training must be optional to the employee. If your boss tells you you have to do it, he has to pay for it.
Third, the employee must agree in advance, and in writing, that she will be responsible for reimbursing the training costs if she leaves the company within a certain period.
The poster said "now they are saying that they will not pay for my expenses that they were going to." That tells me that she had NOT agreed in advance to be responsible for the expenses if she quit.
Richard
Lots of employers have policies against paying for someone's expenses when they leave a company. Where I work if you leave within 6 months of that training and they paid for any portion they take it out of your last check. You are not automatically entitled to reimbursement. You need to check the policies of your former employer.
specific you will desire to yet you are able to desire to try this VERY delicately. particularly you have been an adjunct to fraud. it is likewise possible to be charged with conspiracy. So that's what i could do, touch the state lawyer's place of work. Ask them "oftentimes speaking" in case you had advice some attainable crime, what you are able to desire to do approximately it without implicating your self. Odds are in substitute on your archives. and any data you are able to off they'll forget approximately any fees for your self. It seems such as you probably did no longer extremely have an energetic area, yet you have been conscious of against the regulation, and you haven't any longer pronounced it. by utilising no longer reporting him, you're inquiring for a good number of problem later. just to be on the secure ingredient, with the possiblilty (even easy) you're able to be fees you are able to desire to get an lawyer, first.
Before you go flying off to a lawyer, the labor relations board or anyone else, have you asked you employer why he will not reimburse you for your expenses?? What did they say??.
Take everything you have to the Labor Relations board. It's what they do; mediate disputes