Disciplinary Investigations
Discussion
Hey there! I'm seeking some advice or employment legal advice.
I recently received a sudden notification to attend a meeting due to allegations of fraudulent expenses claims and claims that are out of policy.
I work remotely and travel extensively for my role. During the meeting, the allegations were related to hotels for personal use and public transportation.
I clarified that I have remote status and approval to expense travel and hotels when I visit the office (which is 300 miles away). I also booked hotels for my direct team and provided bank statements and invoices to support these expenses. However, the investigators classified them as “personal,” and I had to obtain written statements from my team to confirm they were for business purposes.
I later found out that the policy was silently updated late last year with no communication to employees. My manager confirmed that there was no communication about the updated policies.
There were a couple of expenses where I lost the invoice and had to use a bank statement. Additionally, I only needed to claim 25% of the value of one invoice, but it kept getting rejected because it didn’t match the value. I edited the invoice to say the total payment was £x, claiming £x. Due to this, they are pursuing fraudulent invoices for personal gain.
I have provided all bank statements and original statements, but it's been 4 weeks, and I still haven’t heard anything back about what happens next. The anxiety is overwhelming, and my work performance has suffered as a result.
I recently received a sudden notification to attend a meeting due to allegations of fraudulent expenses claims and claims that are out of policy.
I work remotely and travel extensively for my role. During the meeting, the allegations were related to hotels for personal use and public transportation.
I clarified that I have remote status and approval to expense travel and hotels when I visit the office (which is 300 miles away). I also booked hotels for my direct team and provided bank statements and invoices to support these expenses. However, the investigators classified them as “personal,” and I had to obtain written statements from my team to confirm they were for business purposes.
I later found out that the policy was silently updated late last year with no communication to employees. My manager confirmed that there was no communication about the updated policies.
There were a couple of expenses where I lost the invoice and had to use a bank statement. Additionally, I only needed to claim 25% of the value of one invoice, but it kept getting rejected because it didn’t match the value. I edited the invoice to say the total payment was £x, claiming £x. Due to this, they are pursuing fraudulent invoices for personal gain.
I have provided all bank statements and original statements, but it's been 4 weeks, and I still haven’t heard anything back about what happens next. The anxiety is overwhelming, and my work performance has suffered as a result.
Manager signs off my expenses, then to auditing before paying.
The conversation started with “why are you using a personal card and not a company?”. There is no requirement for a company card and know many who use a personal card.
As my job involves meeting customers I’m rarely in an office where they can track my work badge. A chunk of hotels were rejected last year, as they believed it was duplicated. I sent back bank statements, invoices and flight details showing it was new and separate.
Previously policy for accommodation booking was “internal booking optional” when the policy was changed silently it now says “internal booking, no exceptions”.
There has been zero communication to managers and employees regarding this change.
The conversation started with “why are you using a personal card and not a company?”. There is no requirement for a company card and know many who use a personal card.
As my job involves meeting customers I’m rarely in an office where they can track my work badge. A chunk of hotels were rejected last year, as they believed it was duplicated. I sent back bank statements, invoices and flight details showing it was new and separate.
Previously policy for accommodation booking was “internal booking optional” when the policy was changed silently it now says “internal booking, no exceptions”.
There has been zero communication to managers and employees regarding this change.
I doubt they would go after line manager, but I don’t agree with being told speaking to my manager about the issue is a disciplinary offence.
I believe it’s a way of reducing cost cutting outside of the ongoing redundancies and performance management tools.
Spending time with my dad today has been wonderful, he put things into perspective. Almost saying, no job is worth your health (I do look like crap at the moment). Is it worth it working for this company? No, the last 2 years has been hell. Starting at 5:30 and finishing at 11pm to get the team through its tough times.
I know I would benefit from moving to a small company, taking a pay reduction but not having the axe dangling around my neck.
I believe it’s a way of reducing cost cutting outside of the ongoing redundancies and performance management tools.
Spending time with my dad today has been wonderful, he put things into perspective. Almost saying, no job is worth your health (I do look like crap at the moment). Is it worth it working for this company? No, the last 2 years has been hell. Starting at 5:30 and finishing at 11pm to get the team through its tough times.
I know I would benefit from moving to a small company, taking a pay reduction but not having the axe dangling around my neck.
Edited by BMRed on Saturday 13th April 21:55
Edited by BMRed on Saturday 13th April 21:56
Totally agree with everyone on getting out.
It’s left a bad taste in my mouth, which is a shame as I enjoy my work, proud of what I have achieved and happy with my immediate team. It’s the processes and wider beast of the company that has tarnished this now.
I’m taking a few weeks off from next week to decompress and plan next steps.
It’s left a bad taste in my mouth, which is a shame as I enjoy my work, proud of what I have achieved and happy with my immediate team. It’s the processes and wider beast of the company that has tarnished this now.
I’m taking a few weeks off from next week to decompress and plan next steps.
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