Let's say, hypothetically that my company accidentally paid me twice for the same expenses. Should I return the money? It is a fairly substantial amount. Things to consider:
1. I like the company and plan to be here a while.
2. We're large enough (and disorganized enough) that no one is likely to ever catch this error. Also, we're large enough that I've seen this amount blown on frivoulos items.
3. I have been screwed out of cash by the company in the past. Others are recieving more than me for a similar expense.
4. The original amount does not fully cover my actual expenses on behalf of the company; doubling it actually comes close to an exact match of my out of pocket costs.
5. Feels like stealing...but I could really use some good luck like this.
Sport73 wrote:Let's say, hypothetically that my company accidentally paid me twice for the same expenses. Should I return the money? It is a fairly substantial amount. Things to consider:
1. I like the company and plan to be here a while.
2. We're large enough (and disorganized enough) that no one is likely to ever catch this error. Also, we're large enough that I've seen this amount blown on frivoulos items.
3. I have been screwed out of cash by the company in the past. Others are recieving more than me for a similar expense.
4. The original amount does not fully cover my actual expenses on behalf of the company; doubling it actually comes close to an exact match of my out of pocket costs.
5. Feels like stealing...but I could really use some good luck like this.
Thoughts? Thanks,
It feels like stealing because it is. There is really no way around it no matter how much you try to rationalize.
It may be unlikely that you would get caught, but I think there is a greater emphasis on internal controls and fraud detection this year due to Sarbanes-Oxley and SAS99 so it becomes more of a risk. Maybe this is the year that the company decides to hire an outside recovery firm to search for duplicate payments. In our company I am starting a continuous audit/monitoring group that will hopefully catch things that we were never did before. One of our routines is to search for duplicate payments in a variety of ways and also accumulate expenses by associate and compare to the prior year and to associates with the same job (in fact doing this excercise a few years ago helped me detect a fraud). There are probably more internal and external auditors and consultants snooping around your company than ever before. You probably wouldn't get caught, but nothing is certain and is it really worth it?
Is there a reason why others are receiving more for the same expense? Is there also a reason you are not getting reimbursed for all your expenses? Usually companies have written policies for expense reimbursement for travel expenses, education, relocation, training, etc. Are you being underpaid per these standards? Are the others overpaid by these standards?
[quote="Sport73"]Let's say, hypothetically that my company accidentally paid me twice for the same expenses. Should I return the money? It is a fairly substantial amount. <b> Things to consider:</b>
The only thing to consider is that it is not your money. Return it.
We have had this same issue on multiple occassions at our company. Some where it was a honest mistake by the Acct dept., some where the employee submitting the expense report made an honest mistake, and others where the employee was trying to take advantage. As our employee manual is written,all are considered stealing if the error is known, and all carry a potential penalty of termination. Depending on how well your Acct dept does audits, it is going to be found out anyway. Better to show your integrity and let them know of the error before they are later demanding a check from you to pay back the mistake or worse giving you a pink slip.
Sport73 wrote:
4. The original amount does not fully cover my actual expenses on behalf of the company; doubling it actually comes close to an exact match of my out of pocket costs.
Why is that? Can you tell them that they paid you twice, but also let them know that the first submission was an understatement of the wages and give them a new bill? (I doubt it...but I'm trying to think of best possible solutions.....)
Give it back, then sort out a meeting with someone in Accounts to go through your expenses - you may not be claiming for stuff you could, or using the wrong forms etc. Most organisations will reimburse legit out of pocket ex's (and no, the hotel minibar and lobster don't count).
Get hold of a copy of your company's expenses policy.
You'll feel better about it - I promise
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Definitely give it back. Robin "Parker" Hood's criticism of capitalism aside, it's not your money, you're aware of the mistake, and if by some chance it was found out, you could at least lose your job. Probably not worth it alone to take that chance.
Parker wrote:It's easier to say take the moral highroad when you are standing in the traffic lane.
What difference does that make, really? The moral, ethical and right thing to do is give the money back to the rightful owner, regardless of who that owner is.
Brando70 wrote:Definitely give it back. Robin "Parker" Hood's criticism of capitalism aside, it's not your money, you're aware of the mistake, and if by some chance it was found out, you could at least lose your job. Probably not worth it alone to take that chance.
davet010 wrote:Speaking as the controller of a Finance Dept..
Give it back, then sort out a meeting with someone in Accounts to go through your expenses - you may not be claiming for stuff you could, or using the wrong forms etc. Most organisations will reimburse legit out of pocket ex's (and no, the hotel minibar and lobster don't count).
Get hold of a copy of your company's expenses policy.
Interesting replies. I never expected such harsh criticism for even entertaining the possibilities.
If you have a family to support and someone drops a much-needed $10,000 surprise in your lap, it's hard not to at least consider the Monopoly "Bank Error in Your Favor" route.
In the end, I'm returning the money for all of the reasons already mentioned, but mostly because I know I'd never feel right about it...You can't beat the enemy by becoming one of them, so despite being short-changed on a number of occasions it's not worth it to take the moral low-ground (there are already enough people like that in my company).
Nice to see that the folks here are on the good team, though (as mentioned) I'd like to see those with harsh responses tested similarly to see if they'd stand up to the weight of their own righteousness.
Everyone sleep soundly, all is right in DigitalSportsland.
Sport73 wrote:Interesting replies. I never expected such harsh criticism for even entertaining the possibilities........
.....I'd like to see those with harsh responses tested similarly to see if they'd stand up to the weight of their own righteousness.
Who gave harsh responses? It seemed like pretty sound advice to me. I'll have to read the thread again because I just don't see any harsh responses at all. I think you are being way too sensitive.
Plus, you never did say why you are being shortchanged. Have you talked to anyone in the company about it? Does your company have any policies? I'd go about it the right way as recommended by some in this thread and inquire about the policies and/or discuss with accounting/HR/etc.
that my company accidentally paid me twice for the same expenses. Should I return the money? It is a fairly substantial amount. Things to consider:
