Company wont let us expense cabs to go to work meetings or events

[Anonymous]

My company (large, international) is based in a different city. I recently found out we are not meant to expense a cab, for example if attending a client or partner meeting. When i asked how we are meant to get there, I was asked if we could just 'drive'. I lead a large team and expressed concern about telling them they have to take the subway if the event runs late and was met with silence. Am I crazy or is this a little odd? The company are not having financial issues.

[Anonymous]

Find a new job

[Anonymous]

Just pay for your own cab

…to your next job interview

[Anonymous]

They don't know you can't "just drive." They apparently care little how you and your team get home late nights.

That tells you something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My company (large, international) is based in a different city. I recently found out we are not meant to expense a cab, for example if attending a client or partner meeting. When i asked how we are meant to get there, I was asked if we could just 'drive'. I lead a large team and expressed concern about telling them they have to take the subway if the event runs late and was met with silence. Am I crazy or is this a little odd? The company are not having financial issues.

Well, it makes no sense since companies itemize all business expenses. Even driving incurs expensable gas and parking fees. Odd red flag.

[Anonymous]

You contact higher-ups, OP. It makes sense to carve out a transport exception for NYC. My father worked at a large corporation with offices all over the world, and they had specific accommodations for employees in certain cities. He lobbied for his own city (can't remember details of what he asked for, but it was approved).

[Anonymous]

Just expense it and see what happens. Thrilled to see something unrelated to schools.

[Anonymous]

op - i did and was told i needed to pay my amex back. I was floored. I have never ever worked for a company at any level (even small startup) where i could not take a cab to a work meeting.

[Anonymous]

Start declining/make them remote meetings due to lack of transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start declining/make them remote meetings due to lack of transportation.

This, OP! Malicious compliance. Decline those meetings bc you need to travel to get there, and send it to HR/your boss explaining the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op - i did and was told i needed to pay my amex back. I was floored. I have never ever worked for a company at any level (even small startup) where i could not take a cab to a work meeting.

I’m.a lawyer. Courts will not grant attorney fees for in-town cab/taxi nor will insurance reimburse for it.
Taking the metro doesn’t seem crazy to me. I take it all the time including a night. Are you client meetings running past 11 at night or so?
My other question is whether people are driving to the client meetings instead of driving into the office. If so, it doesn’t seem unusual to me. I don’t bill a client for that if I am essentially replacing my regular commute with a drive to their office instead.

[Anonymous]

They're cheap and the policy sucks. But they're allowed to have whatever policy they want.

You don't have to tell them "just take the subway." You just have to make it clear what is and is not reimbursable and they will decide whether it's worth paying out of pocket sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Have any of these responders worked in the last 5 years? Or ever? Somehow I doubt it. This does not make your company cheap and it is certainly no reason to find a new job, nor would I start retaliating bc of this rule.

Taking a subway to a client meeting is totally normal and my company (fairly large international co) would not reimburse cab fare in most cases (we have uber for business) for a daytime trip. But for a late night meeting transportation could be expensed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Start declining/make them remote meetings due to lack of transportation.

This, OP! Malicious compliance. Decline those meetings bc you need to travel to get there, and send it to HR/your boss explaining the issue.

Dear lord, why answer when you are this clueless?

[Anonymous]

I don't see why they should pay for a taxi at the end of an event to their house.

My work only reimburses for taxis from work to an event. If you're going from your home to an event, no reimbursement (it's the same as you commuting). If you're going from an event to home, no reimbursement.