WWYD - Job Reimbursement

[sam_gordon]

Back in March, I was contacted and hired for two "side jobs". One in April and the second this month. Day rate + travel/mileage + parking. I do the April job and get paid, day rate more than I was expecting/was told, but everything included.

I do the job for this month. Just got the pay stub, and it has the day rate and travel/mileage, but no parking. Again, the day rate was much more than I was expecting (and even higher than the April event - hey, got a raise and didn't know about it). BUT, parking wasn't included.

So, do I reach out to ask about parking reimbursement, or just let it go?

Parking was/would be a small percentage of the net pay.

My gut says "let it go", but I don't know if I'll get more opportunities with this employer in the future, and don't want to set a precedent (if anyone even pays attention to it). On the other hand, the day rate is much higher than what I had originally agreed to, so not getting parking reimbursed isn't a huge loss.

No "other" choice because it's kind of binary.

And not that it makes a difference, but yes, my full time employer knows about the side jobs (and I took PTO for them).

 

[disneychrista]

If it was part of the contract I would contact and ask. Just say "hey, I just got my check and noticed that the parking wasn't included."

 

[kdonnel]

I would just let it go, especially if there is the chance they may want to use your services in the future.

I did some side jobs and always charged way more than I would have received for the same amount of work from my main job.

Sadly I think all the old software systems where I was the SME are retired and there is no chance of being hired again. It was a great deal while it lasted.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I would send a "just checking for future reference" email to see whether parking is a reimbursable expense. It's worthwhile to know for the future.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would send a "just checking for future reference" email to see whether parking is a reimbursable expense. It's worthwhile to know for the future.

The agreement says they'd pay for parking. The first job it was reimbursed. The second job (like the first), I was emailed saying "send parking receipt to xxxx". I did so and it was acknowledged that they received it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

The agreement says they'd pay for parking. The first job it was reimbursed. The second job (like the first), I was emailed saying "send parking receipt to xxxx". I did so and it was acknowledged that they received it.

Since the agreement includes parking, and they acknowledged receipt, I would ask. It doesn't matter what rate they're paying you or whether you feel like the day rate is more than you expected. It was a term of the agreement, and you should be reimbursed. It's probably just an oversight.

 

[soccerdad72]

It's probably worth an ask (although you didn't say how much the parking was), but I wouldn't push too hard, especially as others have mentioned, if you think you might do more work for them in the future.

 

[Genie+]

How large is this company/business? If over 20 employees I’d go ahead and follow through the proper channels for reimbursement. If only a handful, then I’d consider letting it go.

 

[sam_gordon]

How large is this company/business? If over 20 employees I’d go ahead and follow through the proper channels for reimbursement. If only a handful, then I’d consider letting it go.

Extremely large. Pretty sure "international", but at least "national".

 

[Genie+]

Extremely large. Pretty sure "international", but at least "national".

In that case I’d just contact the dept that authorizes reimbursement. Likely not register as more than a little blip of paperwork in their day.

 

[disneychrista]

How large is this company/business? If over 20 employees I’d go ahead and follow through the proper channels for reimbursement. If only a handful, then I’d consider letting it go.

Curious, whey does the number of employees matter?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you do decide to ignore it, you can always bring it up if they don't reimburse parking agsin on the next job. "Oh I just noticed on this pay stub that the parking wasn't reimbursed, is that still covered?"

 

[gottalovepluto]

Nope. You're being processed by their accounts payable department in some easy fashion on their end that conveniently results in more than enough money to make up for your parking fee. If you draw their attention to your contract by making them dig it up, look at it and make changes in your vendor file very good odds you can kiss goodbye to getting a day rate higher than you expect next time.

 

[Genie+]

Curious, whey does the number of employees matter?

A large company usually has separate departments. The processing of bills is much less personal. A bill coming in for parking is going to be one of hundreds things authorized.

In a small office where everybody is overlapping and wearing multiple hats, there’s a higher chance this could stick out in their mind. Humans being human and all. Small businesses can feel more personal in their operations.

Accounts payable department isn’t going to care about whether a vendor works well with their team or not, but a small business might think about ability to work smoothly together and not get hung up on small things when everyone is being well compensated.

 

[_19disnA]

If the job agreement included parking, I would certainly let them know yours wasn't covered. In a larger company, the 'accounting dept' or whatever term they now use typically handles hundreds of questions from suppliers and to ask would be no big deal. Most likely some sort of accounting error on their part. Large companies have standard procedures on how payments are handled, so I would not be concerned about asking.

It isn't clear to me if these 2 jobs were with the same or different companies.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just to add some clarity...

Both jobs were with the same company.

My only contact is with the person who hired me. That's who I turned my parking receipt into. I don't have a contact for the accounting department. I don't have an invoice, I send in my parking receipt, then enter my time.