Expenses

lazer-zxr

Please bear in mind we are trying to clear a lot of debt and are counting the pennies at the moment.
My question is regarding my wife's expenses.
I work in the private sector. I am away with work once a fortnight ish, and I also sign off others expenses in the office. Our attitude is that if you're away from home working for the company, all expenses are covered, as the process of being away from home isn't something that should cost the individual. So this covers everything. Unlimited drinks, unlimited food, even night club fees and taxis , toiletries if needed, etc.

Now my wife is rarely away with work. Once per year in the public sector. She was away this week. She is only allowed to claim back max £25 meal and one drink. So as she went out with colleagues for 4 drinks we are expected to fund 3 of those drinks. Does anyone else think this is unreasonable. And they pay peanuts.

I don't think whatever expenses you incur because you are away with work should be borne by you personally.

bouicca21

That's pretty well standard for the public sector - apart from the drink which was presumably alcoholic. Most public sector employers do not allow alcohol on expenses unless the employee is entertaining (for a business purpose, not colleagues). Certainly no nightclubs!

Manxman_in_exile

lazer-zxr wrote: »

I also sign off others expenses in the office. Our attitude is that if you're away from home working for the company, all expenses are covered, as the process of being away from home isn't something that should cost the individual. So this covers everything. Unlimited drinks, unlimited food, even night club fees and taxis , toiletries if needed, etc.

Now my wife is rarely away with work. Once per year in the public sector. She was away this week. She is only allowed to claim back max £25 meal and one drink. So as she went out with colleagues for 4 drinks we are expected to fund 3 of those drinks. Does anyone else think this is unreasonable. And they pay peanuts.

I don't think whatever expenses you incur because you are away with work should be borne by you personally.

Have you decided to authorise unlimited drinks, food and clubbing etc. on your own, or is this your private sector employer's policy? I did once work in the private sector and it was quite clear that you paid for your "drinks" yourself.


Your wife works in the public sector and should know that an allowance for reasonable subsistence may be permissible but "drinks" are not claimable expenses. Whenever I was in that situation with colleagues (eg courses or conferences or training etc.) we paid for "drinks" out of our own pockets.


Who do you work for that pays night club fees, taxis and unlimited food and drinks as expenses?


(Edit: Your wife's colleagues should reimburse her as presumably they abide by the same expense conditions. Why should the taxpayer?)

comeandgo

Public finances and expenses are heavily scrutinised, evening meal with soft drink is what we get, no alcohol.

Cheeseface

Toiletries seems odd. Surely you don't use extra toiletries when away and can use the same ones?

gettingtheresometime

Cheeseface wrote: »

Toiletries seems odd. Surely you don't use extra toiletries when away and can use the same ones?

Totally agree....beggars belief how MPs get away with what they do - if you need toothpaste at home then what's the difference if you buy it for work trips.

I suggest your company is very much the exception rather than the norm - I've never worked for the public sector and if I tried to submit a claim for toiletries let alone night club fees I'd have them thrown back with a big 'are you serious ?'written across it

pelirocco

HMRC has a limit on what can be paid tax free as an overnight allowance (just over £26 )anything else I assume is classed as a benefit in kind and taxed
Its laughable you consider drinks out with colleagues as a business expense

lazer-zxr

Sorry, I just had a bee in my bonnet last night about my wife having to pay for her drinks.

FYI:
Toiletries has been when myself of colleagues forgot items, and had to buy while away. I do take the view that drinks and entertainment are incurred because your away from home, and need to relax after working. My seniors and company don't have a problem with this, and encourage us to not worry about costs while away.

As a tax payer, I wouldn't have a problem with funding public sector employees relaxing how they see fit while away from the comfort of their home , providing they'd put in a days work for our benefit.

lazer-zxr

pelirocco wrote: »

HMRC has a limit on what can be paid tax free as an overnight allowance (just over £26 )anything else I assume is classed as a benefit in kind and taxed
Its laughable you consider drinks out with colleagues as a business expense

I didn't realise that about HMRC, that puts a different spin on things. I need to think about that. Can anyone point me to a link showing this £26? Seems extremely meagre.

I don't see why it's laughable. I am putting myself out for the good of my employer. Spending time away from my family, and my hobbies, and the comfort of my own home. I don't expect to have one drink, and sit in a hotel room alone. Having a few drinks, or going to cinema / comedy club for example , to me is a way of relaxing a bit, and compensating for being away from home.

[Deleted User]

lazer-zxr wrote: »

I didn't realise that about HMRC, that puts a different spin on things. I need to think about that. Can anyone point me to a link showing this £26? Seems extremely meagre.

I don't see why it's laughable. I am putting myself out for the good of my employer. Spending time away from my family, and my hobbies, and the comfort of my own home. I don't expect to have one drink, and sit in a hotel room alone. Having a few drinks, or going to cinema / comedy club for example , to me is a way of relaxing a bit, and compensating for being away from home.

But the compensating is your choice and something you might do in the evening if you were not working away. You are not being instructed to do it by your employer so why should they pay?

sangie595

lazer-zxr wrote: »

As a tax payer, I wouldn't have a problem with funding public sector employees relaxing how they see fit while away from the comfort of their home , providing they'd put in a days work for our benefit.

As a tax payer and someone who represents public sector workers, I think you will find that most public sector workers would disagree with you. Most of us pay for relaxing after a hard day at work anyway - what is so different because we do it somewhere else? It is right and fair that there should be some recognition of the fact that it will cost a bit more - eating out, for example, instead of a meal at home, is more costly.

And as a client / customer I actually do find it objectionable that my hard earned money is being spent by companies on "jollies" when they could control those expenses better and reduce my costs! If you think that an employer refusing to pay for a night out, the bar bill and entertainment means you must have one drink then sit in your hotel room all night, then you lack any imagination.

And I am shocked any public authority is actually paying for even one alcoholic drink. Alcohol is not a necessary expense (and yes, I do drink alcohol - but I don't see why someone else should pay for my drinks, unless it's a mate!).