Overheard at Work

[Hedge_87]

I've been threatened with time off with no pay lol. I just said ok if you need me I'll be at the lake fishing.

[Hunny156]

So, our company has this silly policy where they will not pre-pay any airfare when charged to your personal credit card.  Some of us don't travel much, so we don't qualify for a corporate card.

I got "stung" by this policy last year - all the other pre-paid costs were reimbursed in advance, and my flight costs were rejected.  Once I took the flight and had a boarding pass to show for it, they did quickly reimburse me.  No big deal, just mildly annoying.

My new co-worker came by a few minutes ago, asking when was the appropriate time to purchase a flight.  I explained that the company allows you to plan/purchase the trip  early, but the flight portion will be reimbursed after the trip.  My co-worker went on a whole spiel about how buying a ticket one month before is when you'll get the best price, but he would have to wait to book the flight about 10 days prior to departure, b/c he can't float the charge on his credit card for very long.

I wonder how much the company pays in additional flight fares every year due to this policy and the potential insolvency of many employees.  (This is the same employee who chose to contribute 4% to his 401K instead of 6%.  The company matches dollar for dollar up to 6%, but said employee "can't afford that much".)

[AlanStache]

I work for a small company and I dont think that they would ever try to punish with unpaid time off in part because they must know that many of us spend a good bit less than we make and would have the savings to be able to shrug it off and enjoy the time.  Also there might be a bit of jealousy from those that still had to come to work.  Is an odd but cool place.

[dragoncar]

I work for a small company and I dont think that they would ever try to punish with unpaid time off in part because they must know that many of us spend a good bit less than we make and would have the savings to be able to shrug it off and enjoy the time.  Also there might be a bit of jealousy from those that still had to come to work.  Is an odd but cool place.

I don't think it's the unpaid time off so much that is supposed to be the punishment.  It's that it's very conspicuous that you are out, and everyone will know why.  You and I might not really care, but this is basically putting you on the company's public shit list - not good for a career.  Plus I'm sure it counts as a first warning or whatever step they need to see you out the door.  Don't try to collect unemployment anytime soon after getting written up in this manner.

[AlanStache]

If you did mess something up the hit to your personal reputation would be more of a punishment.  Guess this is why they dont need to punish with unpaid forced leave.

[huadpe]

As an employer, I don't get the idea of meting out formal punishments in a workplace.  If someone is not able to effectively do their job, you talk to them about it and make clear what the problem is and what needs to be done to fix it.  If the problem doesn't get fixed, either the employee is fired or I decide I can live with the problem and/or solve it by some other means.  But I don't see why it makes sense to purposely demotivate people by doing piddling stuff that doesn't actually save much money, pisses them off, and doesn't constructively address the problem.  It's not like I'm a high school dean who needs some way to keep kids under control.

I suppose in a union shop or something where termination was extremely difficult/impossible you might want some sort of formal punishments, but I don't know why any at will employer would do that.

[skunkfunk]

Someone bought a brand new car because the battery in their current car (2 years old, I think) needed replaced.

[phred]

Sounds like time to update the resume

[ketchup]

Someone bought a brand new car because the battery in their current car (2 years old, I think) needed replaced.

What is this I don't even

I just replaced the battery in my 18 year old car.  And that battery was four years old.

[jba302]

Someone bought a brand new car because the battery in their current car (2 years old, I think) needed replaced.

It's a tesla right? It's a battery swap out of a tesla that happens to be not covered by warranty or insurance? Please tell me something along these lines.

[skunkfunk]

Someone bought a brand new car because the battery in their current car (2 years old, I think) needed replaced.

It's a tesla right? It's a battery swap out of a tesla that happens to be not covered by warranty or insurance? Please tell me something along these lines.

No. Regular car battery. Just doesn't feel comfortable with a car that's having problems.

It was all I could do to keep a straight face.

[rocksinmyhead]

Someone bought a brand new car because the battery in their current car (2 years old, I think) needed replaced.

It's a tesla right? It's a battery swap out of a tesla that happens to be not covered by warranty or insurance? Please tell me something along these lines.

No. Regular car battery. Just doesn't feel comfortable with a car that's having problems.

It was all I could do to keep a straight face.

oh my god. just... oh my god.

what did you SAY?!?!?!? or was it really just "overheard"/you weren't in the conversation so you couldn't say anything?

how old are they? is this the first car they've owned? I'm so confused.

[skunkfunk]

oh my god. just... oh my god.

what did you SAY?!?!?!? or was it really just "overheard"/you weren't in the conversation so you couldn't say anything?

how old are they? is this the first car they've owned? I'm so confused.

No, this was said to me in conversation. I did call it out as ridiculous, but I think she finds, for instance, the way I replaced my own intake manifold gasket on a 23 year old vehicle equally ludicrous. She and her husband are in their mid-40's, and her husband is, if anything, even less car savvy. They have owned many vehicles, as they only drive cars that are under factory warranty.

[markstache]

My new co-worker came by a few minutes ago, asking when was the appropriate time to purchase a flight.  I explained that the company allows you to plan/purchase the trip  early, but the flight portion will be reimbursed after the trip.  My co-worker went on a whole spiel about how buying a ticket one month before is when you'll get the best price, but he would have to wait to book the flight about 10 days prior to departure, b/c he can't float the charge on his credit card for very long.

Offer to put the charge on your rewards card instead.

[AlanStache]

Offer to put the charge on your rewards card instead.

yep.  Have done this once or twice for a fresh out who did not have a credit card with sufficient credit limit for a plane ticket.  Was not a balance issue but a limit issue.

[Albert]

Very expensive plain tickets or very low credit card limit? I probably also couldn't put business class ticket to Australia on my credit card, not that we have such a policy. Two years ago 5 people from the department went for a business trip to Sydney, I've heard it was about 30,000$ in tickets alone…

[Guizmo]

I suppose in a union shop or something where termination was extremely difficult/impossible you might want some sort of formal punishments, but I don't know why any at will employer would do that.

At the union job I worked at, you got 3 write ups and you were gone. Obviously, you could contest the validity of the write ups, but if you fucked up 3 times, you were getting fired. Additionally, there were fireable offenses, such as coming to work drunk, etc.

To me it seems stupid to punish someone with unpaid time off. Why not give a write up, after a couple, you get fired.

[MamaStache]

We just found out our annual bonus amount from the Company today.  50% is automatically deposited into retirements account on your behalf, the other 50% may be opted to take home as a bonus.

This year is 9%

CW1:  I let them put 100% into retirement, but I don't save anything out of my paychecks.  I figure the amount they put in there is enough.
CW2:  Do I need to yell at you about this?   You need to start contributing...  I mean, I only save 1% but at least it's something.  (Directs attention to me): Do I need to yell at you about contributing as well?
Me:  I save a lot.  17%, and DH saves 20%
CW1 and CW2 look at me in amazement.
CW2:  Well, I am still paying off my loan I took out of my retirement.  It's not that bad though, was a one time charge of $75 and then a percentace penalty.  My husband saves $10 a paycheck, and he gets paid weekly.  His employer matches it too.
Me:  How much will his employer match?
CW2: I think up to $20 or something
Me:  You know you are throwing away free money, right?
CW2:  Well, my account went up $1,000 one quarter, so that kind of makes up for not contributing a lot

[Albert]

At the union job I worked at, you got 3 write ups and you were gone. Obviously, you could contest the validity of the write ups, but if you fucked up 3 times, you were getting fired. Additionally, there were fireable offenses, such as coming to work drunk, etc.

How badly did you have to fuck up to get a write up? There is a vaguely similar system here, not really a union type of job but by law it's difficult to fire individual people (as opposed to firing many when entire departments are closed or downsized) in this country. We do all have unlimited work contracts after all…
 
Since I've been here (5 years) three people with permanent contracts have been fired (site is ca 500 employees). One was claiming to work when actually at home and was fired on the spot when it was discovered, another one was grossly incompetent plus ill half the time and eventually a way was found to get rid of her and the third one from what I've heard got multiple warnings and apparently there was no improvement.

[AlanStache]

Very expensive plain tickets or very low credit card limit?

Combination, last minute East Coast to Asia will not be cheap.  But have seen a few young guys hired with 3-4k limits, this is really good in someways I guess - proves they are not stupid and have 20k in cc debt.  But sort of sucks logistically as they cant pay for there own plane ticket and hotel.  Near risk free arbitrage cc miles for me :-)

6k per ticket trans pacific is not nearly the highest I have seen.  If they needed to arrive rested and ready to work that day sometimes it is worth it for an employer.  It is also a nice perk that can be given to employees tax free and as a thank you for going to deal with a mess onsite. 

[Albert]

3-4k is a normal limit isn't it? At least here it is... My only proper credit card has a limit of 4,000 CHF. I could probably get more if I really needed, but the most I've spent with it is ca 2.5k a month so there is no point.

[Fireman]

The ex had a work CC for making travel purchases but she was responsible for the payments and would then file for reimbursement.  There were a couple times, in my pre-mustachian days, that I wondered if we'd be able to cover it pending reimbursement.

[FunkyStickman]

At the union job I worked at, you got 3 write ups and you were gone. Obviously, you could contest the validity of the write ups, but if you fucked up 3 times, you were getting fired. Additionally, there were fireable offenses, such as coming to work drunk, etc.

How badly did you have to fuck up to get a write up? There is a vaguely similar system here, not really a union type of job but by law it's difficult to fire individual people (as opposed to firing many when entire departments are closed or downsized) in this country. We do all have unlimited work contracts after all…
 
Since I've been here (5 years) three people with permanent contracts have been fired (site is ca 500 employees). One was claiming to work when actually at home and was fired on the spot when it was discovered, another one was grossly incompetent plus ill half the time and eventually a way was found to get rid of her and the third one from what I've heard got multiple warnings and apparently there was no improvement.

Around here, just depends on who you're in tight with. If you're teacher's pet, you can get away with anything. If not, they report you for anything.

Guess which group I'm in? Lol.

[the fixer]

3-4k is a normal limit isn't it? At least here it is... My only proper credit card has a limit of 4,000 CHF. I could probably get more if I really needed, but the most I've spent with it is ca 2.5k a month so there is no point.

Before the financial crisis I had credit cards with limits of 15-20k, maybe more. It was insane. Then in 2009 one or two of my cards dropped my limit down to about 2k. I think now my cards are back up to 7-8k, but I don't pay attention to it as long as it's not ridiculously low like it was in '09.

My first credit card came with a limit of $750 in 2004ish. I was in college with not much income.

[Albert]

I have two credit cards, one with a 20k limit and one with a 14k. It's pretty ridiculous but makes my credit score look good since my credit usage ratio is low :)
[/quote]

We here are not so good at giving such large limits for credit cards. I'd have to actually earn 20k a month or close to it to get a limit that high. I'm not exactly poor, but 20k a month I'm not likely to be making any time soon :)

[Hedge_87]

I agree the cc limit thing is a bit silly. I got the chase freedom card a while back. Took me five minutes to sign up for it and BAM $16k limit.

[fantabulous]

3-4k is a normal limit isn't it? At least here it is... My only proper credit card has a limit of 4,000 CHF. I could probably get more if I really needed, but the most I've spent with it is ca 2.5k a month so there is no point.

This seems to be the new normal limit for more limited incomes/credit histories. Real credit cards are a new thing in my life (~3 months) and my limits are $7,500 and $4,500. My student loans did give me a decent credit history, but the first credit card seems to have bumped my credit score up from ~730 to ~780. My pre-everything income is ~50k/year. I honestly don't know what I'd do with a higher credit limit, and the second card I signed up for purely for the free monthly FICO score.

[Hunny156]

My co-worker is headed to Vermont, from TX.  Business Class isn't allowed for non-international flights, so we are talking a pretty typical coach ticket.

He could ask the office manager to use the company corporate card for a one-time event like this, but w/all the roadblocks our T&E department puts up, it's simply not worth the effort.  He'll just buy the ticket 10 days out, and file his expense report the second he returns to the office.  The miles would be cool, but not worth the effort required, IMHO.

My last T&E, I got flagged for $85 worth of meals over two days.  I filled in all the required information on the web-based program, but it didn't ask me to specify what meal of the day it was, so I didn't worry about it.  I had three meals each day, and our company limit is $75/day, so I was well under the limits.

The T&E police made a huge deal about it, and proceeded to send me an e-mail w/directions on how to add in this information.  I followed the instructions, and received a confirmation e-mail.  Two days later, they called to ask me when I was going to respond!  Finally, the woman decided to enter the details herself, and I was eventually paid.

Next time, I'm going to be ridiculously specific.  Breakfast on Monday, 7:14 AM!

[rocksinmyhead]

3 of my coworkers are going out of town for a 1-day class. their flight left about 10 minutes ago. coworker #4, who pushed for these 3 to be able to go to this class because it is really relevant and will help us all out a lot, was trying to get a hold of one of the 3 travelers because he accidentally locked her out of a computer before he left. she got no response on his phone, and when she talked to the other two they said he wasn't at the airport yet. (this is like... 30 minutes ago.)

finally heard from him (via the others) when he got to the gate with minutes to spare. turns out his phone is turned off until... you guessed it... payday. yikes! I mean, I know we underpay people in this position, but not THAT much. plus this guy tries to get other people to go out to lunch with him ALL the time.

[AccidentalMiser]

Quick 401k work anecdote that just happened today:

Here's a bit of background.  I am, at 45, the youngest member of my small work team and also the lowest paid (but still well-paid.)

We're all sitting around the conference table this morning.

CoWorker #1: Hey, did the pay raises come through?
CW#2: Yes, they also give us back pay to January 14.
Me: Dang, now I have to lower my 401k percentage.
CW1: Lower it??  I thought you liked to save money.
Me: Well, I do, but I had my percentage dialed in so that I met the contribution limit right at the end of the year.  Now I'll have to lower it so I don't exceed the allowed maximum.
CW#2: Allowed maximum?  There's a limit?  What a ripoff.  (A perfect admixture of clueless and complainy-pantsness)
Me: I think I left my computer unlocked, I'll see you guys later.  (exit stage left)

[the fixer]

We need a term like "first world problems" for Mustachian-specific issues like this. "Dang it, I got a raise and now my 401(k) contribution will go past the annual max!"

[Hedge_87]

Our accounting department will only let us make 401k contributions in $25 increments lol. I really don't understand why either.

[Reepekg]

The T&E police made a huge deal about it, and proceeded to send me an e-mail w/directions on how to add in this information.  I followed the instructions, and received a confirmation e-mail.  Two days later, they called to ask me when I was going to respond!  Finally, the woman decided to enter the details herself, and I was eventually paid.

Next time, I'm going to be ridiculously specific.  Breakfast on Monday, 7:14 AM!

A coworker of mine was meticulous about filling out expenses, but then last August our finance department sent a nastygram to him and his boss about a missing expense report while he was still traveling (to another site, but still). He simply stopped filing expense reports and autofowards emails from finance into the trash. A year later it continues to annoy the bejeezus out of them, but it turns out there are actually zero consequences for doing this if you are effective at ignoring people.

When you think about it, reporting expenses is also a huge waste of time when the date, location, and amount of each purchase are already listed on the company's credit card statement. 

[the fixer]

When you think about it, reporting expenses is also a huge waste of time when the date, location, and amount of each purchase are already listed on the company's credit card statement.

This is something I can only appreciate by being self-employed...

The IRS requires a business to keep records of every deducted expense that show what specifically was purchased, why, and who paid for it. A credit card statement by itself shows only the last of these three things. A receipt itemizes exactly what was purchased, so that satisfies the first requirement but not either of the other two; you could have found that receipt lying on the ground and used it to get a quick tax deduction. This is why your finance people want expense reports and receipts, otherwise they can't write off the expenses.

[AccidentalMiser]

We need a term like "first world problems" for Mustachian-specific issues like this. "Dang it, I got a raise and now my 401(k) contribution will go past the annual max!"

How true.

[notquitefrugal]

CW2:  Well, my account went up $1,000 one quarter, so that kind of makes up for not contributing a lot

*facepalm*

Do they know that if they did contribute "a lot," their account might have gone up $10,000 in one quarter instead of $1,000?

[galliver]

CW2:  Well, my account went up $1,000 one quarter, so that kind of makes up for not contributing a lot

*facepalm*

Do they know that if they did contribute "a lot," their account might have gone up $10,000 in one quarter instead of $1,000?

Don't be silly, "no one can save $10,000"!

[dragoncar]

We need a term like "first world problems" for Mustachian-specific issues like this. "Dang it, I got a raise and now my 401(k) contribution will go past the annual max!"

Large mustache problem?

[luigi49]

My co-worker just spent $180 outfit each for 1 year olds twins.  WOW

[AlanStache]

Wow I knew I had it good but traveling with other employers sounds like a real pain.  We can file airfare and hotel expense reports before traveling-with no limit I know of-and the cash is normally in my account in 3-4days.   Then most everyone normally does per-diem, so the only real expenses you have to track when you get back are cellphone usage, rental car and maybe some small stuff. 

The accountant knows that when we travel the company makes money so he puts up as few road blocks as he can.  Also I have the 401k set to max out as a percent of base pay, but OT will get me to the limit faster during the year and when I hit the limit he just stops taking that bit out of my pay and sends me a nice email.  Then I have the large mustache problem of having to put even more money into taxable accounts.

but it turns out there are actually zero consequences for doing this if you are effective at ignoring people

I assume he makes the company money, while the T&E people dont.

[Fireman]

We need a term like "first world problems" for Mustachian-specific issues like this. "Dang it, I got a raise and now my 401(k) contribution will go past the annual max!"

Large mustache problem?

+1!

[randymarsh]

Then I have the large mustache problem of having to put even more money into taxable accounts.

[rocksinmyhead]

hahaha these pictures are killing me!

[AccidentalMiser]

[/quote]

I love it!

[SwordGuy]

3-4k is a normal limit isn't it? At least here it is... My only proper credit card has a limit of 4,000 CHF. I could probably get more if I really needed, but the most I've spent with it is ca 2.5k a month so there is no point.

I have two credit cards, one with a 20k limit and one with a 14k. It's pretty ridiculous but makes my credit score look good since my credit usage ratio is low :)

I'm not actually sure what my total credit limit on my cards is.  I would have to use them all in order to get statements with that info on them, or call to find out. 

The amount is somewhere around 100,000 USD.   That's totally crazy!     I have zero need for that much credit.   We make damn good money but that's still crazy as hell.

[Gray Matter]

OK, this does not belong here at all, since it wasn't overheard and it's not shame-worthy.  But I'm too lazy to start my own thread, and this one has the word "work" in the title, so good enough.

A colleague of mine came up to me today and said, "Every time I go to spend money, I think of what you told me:  every bit of money I spend now is taking away freedom of choice from the future me.  Sometimes I still spend it, but sometimes that stops me."

How cool is that?

[horsepoor]

That's awesome, Gray Matter, it sounds like you've made an impact for at least one person!  I think it was MMM who framed it as "buying freedom" that really hit home for me, when I've been so lackadaisical about money management in the past.  I bet your co-worker will start seeing  a little accumulation and start getting excited to do more!

[Cassie]

Grey Matter-that is so awesome!  It is nice to make a positive impact on people.

[Daleth]

Every time I had a baby my feet grew 1/2 size even though I lost all the weight after pregnancy. I had big feet to begin with so 3 kids later I now wear a size 10 shoe-ugh!]

That happened to my grandma too, exactly half a size each time!

[Daleth]

What this tells me about corporate America... it's seen as a punishment to be given days off. I'm thinking I understand why suspending kids from schools doesn't work. They don't want to be there in the first place. You're not hurting them in any way, shape, or form.

That is crazy! Congratz on the two-day vacation!