Travel Expenses not being signed on time!

emg

We have similar problems in our NHS trust. There is a really early cut-off for getting expense claims to payroll in time for monthly pay. The managers who can authorise them are often out of the office for days on end and dont prioritise signing expenses when they are in the office anyway. I agree with the person who said you need to put pressure on your signatories, the other processes are outside of their control. Maybe see if other people are happy to raise it as a joint issue? If you are unionised you could always ask your workplace rep to have an informal word.

Prothet_of_Doom

I would go and see the manager concerned and ask to borrow £100 cash as you can't afford to go on the next off site visit. Just tell him/her that you don't have the spare cash, and you either need an advance or you can't go.

misterzim

Thanks for all the replies!

I have done all of the suggestions in the past except for asking the authorising officer for cash in hand!

I have one colleague who travels as often as I do but when I've asked them to 'strike' on travelling for work they won't do it and would take my jobs on just to earn some extra money - he's a proper cheeky git!

I raised the issue in the past with the previous authorising officer which ended with some heated discussions (as I'm band 3 and they were a 'high and mighty' band 8a they didn't like me questioning how they do their job!), this lead to an HR grievance being raised and she never missed one after that.

The new signing officer started well but is off site often and it is the trust's policy that NO ONE else can do it.

It's all a joke to these higher pay band folk (definitely a them and us mentality) but I may ask for cash the next time it happens!

Thanks again.

bap98189

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

If their failure to authorise the expenses claims starts to impact on work getting done they'll have to sort it out or will face questions from above about why the work isn't being done.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You've never worked for an NHS trust have you? The lack of accountability is frightening.

Xeorix

Had a similar option at our place. Could take the company card, but didn't want to as its a cash card, and i'd end up in a worse position.

Simply put, tell them that the card you use is a credit card for work expenses, and if the money isn't paid in a respectable time frame and you incur charges from your credit card company, you will be passing on those charges.

I know quite a few people who have put their credit card charges onto their next expense claim and had it approved. Obviously company specific, but it's worth asking.

Alternatively, you could refuse to travel.

At the end of the day, you're travelling on behalf of the company, using your credit for their expense. They should at least be returning expenses on time

stevemLS

If your NHS body is the same as mine, you have no chance of a cash advance or a corporate card.

If the electronic system is the same as the one we use, the difficulty is that the authorising manager gets an incredibly short timescale to actually do it, I get an email as soon as someone submits a claim and log in straight away to authorise it, the whole thing takes about two minutes. That said, I am often out of the office and it can't be done remotely.

Is putting your expenses on a credit card an option? Most offer an interest free period of up to 56 days which should allow you to get into sync so it works for you?

Good luck anyway.

prowla

It is not uncommon to claim expenses at the end of the month, to be included in the next pay run (ie. at the end of the following month).

Some companies are more sprightly.

Some will allow multiple expenses submissions in a period.