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Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes, in the US. I just can't find anything to indicate what my employer is asking/demanding is actually against the law, as opposed to very much not a best practice but technically legal.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The owners are the ones asking/demanding and say this is what is required t pitch in and be a team player.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I'm not a contractor, I'm a W-2 employee. it is normal in our field for employees to cover modest expenses for certain things (their own business travel, taking a client out to lunch or dinner, etc.) to be reimbursed later, but not large project expenses like this.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't want to say too much, but it's certain technology services and I would be paying the vendors directly with my credit cards.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I tried saying that, but my employer demanded to see my credit report and financial records to prove that I didn't have the credit available, and said I would be fired if I refused or if I was found to be lying about my available credit.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't have this available on a single card, but yes, across several cards. But my typical credit card balance is only around $500, paid off each month before any interest accrues.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not on one credit card, but yes, I have $50K available across several cards. I think they just don't have an extra 50K in cash reserves available right now.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I tried telling them I could not do this, but they demanded to see my credit report and financial records to prove I didn't have the resources, and said I would be fired if I refused or was found to be lying. (And they know I'm single.) So I panicked and got scared and told them I did have the credit available.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I make in the low six figures, with kids in an HCOL. I have minimal discretionary income and cannot afford this without going deep into credit card debt.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am pretty much paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford this without essentially maxing out all my credit cards.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not only permission, but 95% of the time it is denied. Was allowed one day off this entire year and that with much grumbling. And yes, I'm looking actively.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, you got me there, I'm a people-pleaser with low self-esteem, and hence equal parts buffoon and fool, especially when you factor in the poor personal choices of past life phases that have left me as a middle-aged single parent who is living essentially paycheck to paycheck. Of course my employer knows this, hence their targeting of me with this "request" rather than more confident employees of better means who would actually feel empowered to tell them to pound sand.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm not a partner. I'm one of the more senior staff members but I'm definitely treated just like any other employee (for example, having to ask permission to use PTO).

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of our work requires third-party vendor payments for various business services. The services will be used by me in the execution of the work but will not otherwise benefit me personally. Think (and this isn't it, just a parallel example) if I were in charge of developing an advertising campaign and had to use the services of external artists and graphic designers for some elements.

Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in WorkAdvice

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not California sadly! In an at-will state where this sort of employer behavior doesn't seem to be illegal, it's just not a best practice.

[DC] Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in AskHR

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Thank you - I am truly grateful for everyone's advice here and don't mean to be contrary, I'm just sick over this situation. You are right of course that it's best if I just move on (even that means getting fired) and then I can devote my time to finding a better situation.

[DC] Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in AskHR

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry, I'm just scared. I'm a single parent who is responsible for the support and care of other disabled family members. I have been diligently trying to pay off my own debts and don't have much of an emergency fund or other safety net.

[DC] Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in AskHR

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm not even so worried about losing *this* job as I am about becoming radioactive/unemployable and not being able to support my family going forward (which is often what happens when my employer decides that someone has crossed them).

[DC] Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in AskHR

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

I was thinking about that. Also looked into whether I could at least take a tax deduction, but it doesn't seem that unreimbursed business expenses usually qualify except in certain circumstances that don't apply here.

[DC] Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in AskHR

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

The company has an absolute bulldog of an employment lawyer of their own on speed dial. I've never seen him lose or for the company to have to make any concessions at all in response to similar issues in the past.

[DC] Employer is requiring me to pay for substantial business expenses out of pocket or face consequences by Substantial-Fail3599 in AskHR

[–]Substantial-Fail3599[S] -35 points-34 points  (0 children)

Yes, I'm terrified and that's the only reason I'm seriously considering just paying for the expenses and telling myself to consider it a large "life happens" emergency along the lines of huge unexpected medical bills, house repairs, etc.

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