Company’s Ridiculous Reimbursement Rule Costs Them More Money After Employee Complies Maliciously

It’s strange how rigid some companies can be when it comes to certain policies that they impose on the employees. Well, when forced to adhere to such stupid policies, folks find a loophole to outsmart their employers.

That’s what Reddit user Agyaani_ did when his company refused to reimburse him for $20 since he didn’t have the receipts for the minor things for which you don’t really get receipts. The next time he was out on official business, he was sure to gather the bills for all the expensive services he needed!

More info: Reddit

When certain company policies are too rigid, employees often try to find a loophole in them

Woman in office reviewing documents near a printer, focusing on reimbursement receipts.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The poster’s company had a strict expense reimbursement policy where they demanded receipts for literally everything

Text describing strict expense reimbursement policy requiring receipts for all claims.

Text recounting a work travel expense report with $20 in small charges like bus fares and parking, lacking receipts.

Image credits: Agyaani_

Person at a desk reviewing receipts, with a laptop and smartphone, highlighting reimbursement issues.

Image credits: olgsera / Freepik (not the actual photo)

During a work trip, he had a few small expenses for which there are not really any receipts, and the amount totaled $20, but they refused to reimburse him

Text exchange about reimbursement policy and compliance with receipts.

Text about compliance with expensive receipts for reimbursement requirements by a boss.

Text exchange about reimbursement, showing expenses increased to $280 with receipts, following boss's requirement.

Image credits: Agyaani_

After that, the poster complied maliciously by getting all the pricey receipts that cost his company $280—instead of $20—and this infuriated his boss

In today’s story, the original poster (OP) tells us how he outsmarted his company after they initially refused to reimburse him $20. What happened was that his company had a strict expense reimbursement policy where they needed receipts for everything.

When the poster traveled for work once, he had some minor expenses like bus fares, parking, and tipping for which he couldn’t really get any receipts. When he submitted his expense report, he clarified these minor expenses which totaled $20, but it was rejected.

In fact, his manager told him, “No receipt, no reimbursement. Policy is policy. We need every receipt for audit purposes.” Well, our guy decided to comply with this strict policy, but maliciously, of course!

The next time he went on a business trip, he gathered all the receipts just like they had asked him to, but he went all the way and took the expensive route to get the receipts. He went to fancy cafes, hired a cab instead of using public transportation, and even added server tips to the bill. The result? He turned the $20 trip into $280.

Of course, his boss was furious, but he defended himself, and because of him, the company had to change its policy so that some expenses could be reimbursed without receipts! When he expressed how he had outsmarted them online, folks couldn’t help but laugh at how he wittily handled the situation.

Man in a suit in an office, appearing frustrated, with papers on the desk, related to reimbursement and receipts issue.

Image credits: hryshchyshen / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Bored Panda reached out to him, and he heartily told us that he simply wanted to share his experience with Redditors. When we asked him how he is dealing with the whole thing at the moment, he said that he just “follows the rules,” even if it costs him 20 times more than it normally should!

When we asked him to share some advice for people dealing with such stringent policies, he said, “Just go with the flow. It’s not entirely your part to think about the company as they often worry about the process than the impact it might have.”

“For instance, they have some tie-ups with some awful third-party app, which charges always anywhere between 1.5x to 3x for transport like a cab. I could get it cheaper if I book it myself but they don’t allow that. I even sent them screenshots of the difference in price but to no avail,” he added.

Well, seeing how blind the company is to this difference, it looks like what he says is true: employees shouldn’t always think about the company in such situations. Even Redditors shared how unfair corporations can be when it comes to such strict policies.

They shared similar instances where they got the better end of the deal by putting the policies to shame, and one person even commented how they forged the receipts! That definitely sounds like the exact reason why such ridiculous policies should not be so strict.

Don’t you think so? Also, have you had instances where you have beaten such company policies with your wit and got the better end of the deal? We would love to hear your stories, so feel free to share them in the comments below!

Folks online found his malicious compliance quite hilarious, and they even shared similar instances where they outsmarted their companies

Text exchange on reimbursement policy without receipts; boss refuses $20 reimbursement, leading to $280 receipt compliance.

Text exchange about $20 expenses, discussing lunch costs and receipts at work.

Discussion about reimbursement policy with receipt requirements and flat rate suggestions.

Text exchange about expense reimbursements without receipts, humorous detail on Uber and breakfast receipts.

Person holding a stack of money thoughtfully at a kitchen table, related to reimbursement and expense receipts.

Image credits: dikushin / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Reddit comment thread discussing a company's receipt policy and team tactics for reimbursements.

Online discussion about cash payments and meal reimbursements.

Reddit conversation on company policies and receipts; user comments on impractical policies and their consequences.

Reddit comments discussing per diem expenses and receipt policies.

Reddit comments discussing the hassle of submitting receipts for reimbursement policy compliance.

Reddit comments discussing reimbursement policy and the need for easier rules.

Reddit comments discussing reimbursement policy and importance of keeping receipts.

Text exchange about reimbursement policies, discussing the fairness of management's discretion and expenses.

Reddit conversation about reimbursement and receipt adjustments.

Discussion about creatively providing receipts for reimbursement without actual receipts on an online forum.

Comment about reimbursement practices, mentioning "bean counters" and the phrase "tale as old as time.

Comment discussing a story about expensive compliance with reimbursement policy.

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!