# Upfront and Honest with the Boss--How far? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498 "2004-12-01T15:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/21 "2004-12-01T21:12:01Z")
When I get invited to these, it’s understood that I’ll be filing an expenses voucher when I’m finished. Sometimes I’ll even talk to my boss ahead of time and say, “Hey look: $1500 for plane tickets, $300 for two nights in the hotel, a $100 conference fee, and $30 in airport parking - not to mention the office doing without me for three days - is a lot to shell out for me to sit through this guy’s PowerPoint slides. If you think there’s value in it, just say the word, but I think we can spend $2000 in a better place.” For a $50 function the office should definitely reimburse you, and most offices have a means to front the money to you if you can’t float on $50 or $100. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/22 "2004-12-01T21:28:41Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > I have a meeting scheduled on Tuesday, so I’ll bring it up then. Too late for the dinner on Thursday (tomorrow), but still. > > Oh, here’s how things have a tendency to go…I recieved a “company credit card”, however, I have no clue how to use it, or what to use it for, or when to use it. I have no clue what expenses are okay (lunch for me? lunch for the business companion with whom I’m lunching?–mileage is reimbursed through another method), so I sent an email to the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) who takes care of these things. I asked him for a set of guidelines for the usage of the credit card. No response. (It’s only been one day, but surely he could point me in the right direction…) Ok I’m going to be really blunt. It’s nothing personal, but you really need to \*\*grow a pair \*\* and get it sorted out. You CANNOT be expected to pay for this crap on your own, not even tomorrow night. Get a planner, with an envelope in it with hole punches. Write down every single freakin’ expense you take for this company. Put the receipts in the envelope. Find out how to submit expense accounts and DO IT. As for the credit card, if they have no guidelines, what’s to stop a) you from using it for whatever you want, and b) them suing you for every penny if you do, or even if you lose it and someone else charges up the expenses. There is no way I would ever accept a credit card without guidelines. I hope you didn’t activate it yet. Meals for yourself are usually OK if you’re being sent somewhere where it might be difficult for you to get your own food (another city) or they deliberately force you to skip your lunch hour. If you are lunching with a business companion and you are discussing business, lunch for both of you is covered. They’re taking advantage of you! And all because you’re too scared to ask. All you have to say is “How to I submit my expenses for this? For this?” If you find they’re not covered, say something for Og’s sake. “You mean we’re supposed to pay for this out of pocket?” She will explain it to you. And honestly, if they expected me to pay out of my pocket I would not do it. $5, maybe. $50, NEVER. I may come across as harsh here. It’s making me genuinely mad that they’re not helping you out. I am concerned for you…please keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/23 "2004-12-03T13:33:09Z")
It’s Friday. How did it go? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/24 "2004-12-09T12:30:38Z")
**NOW** it’s Thursday. How did your meeting with your boss go? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/25 "2004-12-09T14:19:46Z")
Are you OK??? ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/26 "2004-12-09T14:46:50Z")
Sorry for the delay–it’s been busy around here. The meeting was postponed, however, I did reread the Employee Handbook. It does mention that “fundraising events” may be reinbursable with prior approval. In the mean time, I got another invitation for an event, which I forwarded to my boss. I attached a note, asking if she wanted me to attend this on behalf of the company and asking for clarification on the reimbursement procedure for it. That was yesterday, and I haven’t heard back from her yet. Another meeting is scheduled for the 15th, and it’s on my list of things to bring up. I have decided, since there isn’t any specification yet on the use of the credit card, the next opportunity I have to charge the event, I will do so using the company credit card. If they want me to be there, then they can damn well pay for it. I’ve also recorded my time as “worked” for all the holiday events that I’m attending (even though they’re on “off” hours). Thank you to all those who offered their opinions. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/27 "2004-12-09T14:50:16Z")
I’m curious too… C’mon, give us an update! ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498/28 "2004-12-09T14:51:41Z")
Oops, nevermind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upfront-and-honest-with-the-boss-how-far/277498.md?page=1)