Used Company Card for Groceries

[Anonymous]

I left my wallet at home by mistake. I had my company CC in my work badge so when I went to pay that was all I had. Instead of leaving it All on the belt and coming back later I used it. Total was $186.

The next day I copied the receipt and submitted it to accounting along with a check for $186 and the above explanation.

HR called my in two days later and gave me an official 'reprimand.'

This, in a company where I have seen the higher ups using the card for booze and tobacco.

I'm *this* close to emailing corporate about this.

I've been interviewing for the last month and have offers but was waiting for a better one before fully jumping ship.

How stupid do employers have to be to lose a good employee over something to tame?

[Anonymous]

This happened to me once. Had to put a whole hotel stay (vacation) on my corporate card after my wallet was stolen and I had my corp card stuck in my laptop back. I got a talking to and that was the end of it…

[Anonymous]

Please don’t ever do this as a Fed.

[Anonymous]

It’s not really worth a reprimand, but it’s very different to buy booze as part of a company entertainment expense vs buying groceries for personal use. You paid them back and that should have been good enough, but don’t contact corporate—it’s apples and oranges.

Tobacco is weird. I’ll give you that. But just let it go.

[Anonymous]

You can't use the company card for personal expenses. This is pretty black and white at most organizations.

So yeah, you'll get a reprimand for it. If you're a federal employee, it can get reported on your SF-50 and you'll have to disclose it as part of the security clearance process.

[Anonymous]

Once I accidentally bought v expensive lingerie on my corporate card. Paid it back at the next pay period and no one said a word about it. Mistakes happen and a one-off is no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Someone I worked with as a Fed filled gas and was fired, immediately.

[Anonymous]

The company can lose their agreement with the cc company of the cards are used for personal expenses.

[Anonymous]

This one is always a big what not to do "employee ethic training list"!

Top Fireable Offenses!

[Anonymous]

The issue is that you KNEW what you were doing. Your story should have been that you accidentally grabbed the wrong card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left my wallet at home by mistake. I had my company CC in my work badge so when I went to pay that was all I had. Instead of leaving it All on the belt and coming back later I used it. Total was $186.

The next day I copied the receipt and submitted it to accounting along with a check for $186 and the above explanation.

HR called my in two days later and gave me an official 'reprimand.'

This, in a company where I have seen the higher ups using the card for booze and tobacco.

I'm *this* close to emailing corporate about this.

I've been interviewing for the last month and have offers but was waiting for a better one before fully jumping ship.

How stupid do employers have to be to lose a good employee over something to tame?

[Anonymous]

OP, I can't believe you are really upset about this. Seems so basic not to do this.

[Anonymous]

I would have fired you.

You left your wallet at home and thought it was ok to use a corporate credit card?

The mistake is yours and honestly, the fact that you think this is even remotely ok makes me worry about your ethics.

What if you didn't have the company card, would it be ok to steal the food? To take someone else's credit card? See where this goes?

You committed theft. Period. You're lucky you weren't fired or worse and you want to complain? Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The company can lose their agreement with the cc company of the cards are used for personal expenses.

The credit card company doesn't know if a trip to the grocery store was for business or personal. They could be buying supplies for next week's office party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left my wallet at home by mistake. I had my company CC in my work badge so when I went to pay that was all I had. Instead of leaving it All on the belt and coming back later I used it. Total was $186.

The next day I copied the receipt and submitted it to accounting along with a check for $186 and the above explanation.

HR called my in two days later and gave me an official 'reprimand.'

This, in a company where I have seen the higher ups using the card for booze and tobacco.

I'm *this* close to emailing corporate about this.

I've been interviewing for the last month and have offers but was waiting for a better one before fully jumping ship.

How stupid do employers have to be to lose a good employee over something to tame?

Is that a joke? you are joking right? You're really not this clueless.