Moral Dilemma - what would you do?

watna

ok - I'm looking for moral guidance from the wonderful boardsies that frequent After Hours.

Recently I had a lot of expenses come in (they were for medical tests and immigration visa fees) unexpectedly. Because I was so obviously stressed out about it work offered to pay my expenses if I signed a contract with a description of all the costs and saying I would stay with the company for another year - or pay it back, which was so good of them. I paid for all these expenses on my work credit card.

One of the visa fees has been refunded - but not on my work credit card, it's in a cheque made out to me.

What would you do? Be honest and pay the money back to work or say nothing on the basis that the contract you signed had all the costs on it anyway and you are sort of entitled to it?. I really can't decide. I saw a very nice pair of boots the other day that are the exact costs of the refunded visa fee. I feel like it's meant to be!

KeyLimePie

Give it back !
Things like this have karma and it can come back and bite you in the the ass,

ohanloj3

Karma my ass!!

Buy d boots, its faith, come on, der d exact same price as d cheque!-its meant to be!

fcleere

pay it back!who likes to be in debt when you can be in less debt

watna

fcleere wrote: »

pay it back!who likes to be in debt when you can be in less debt

True - but I'm not planning on leaving my job in the next year which means I'll never have to pay it back anyway.

I'm usually too honest for my own good which is why I can't decide this time. I'm sick of being honest!

ferrigan101

I hate to say it but, let the company know about it. Its always best to be honest in these situations 'cos if it comes to light that theres money unacounted for you end up looking like a tea-leaf with nice new boots. Not worth the headache.

ohanloj3

buy d boots!!

Kintarō Hattori

You should always try and do the right thing. Someone somewhere has to pay the costs.

Esel

Tell them about the refund. They may well tell you to keep it anyway. Think of the embarrassment if you keep it and they find out.

javaboy

ohanloj3 wrote: »

Karma my ass!!

Buy d boots, its faith, come on, der d exact same price as d cheque!-its meant to be!

Please note that text speak is not allowed.

watna

esel wrote: »

Tell them about the refund. They may well tell you to keep it anyway. Think of the embarrassment if you keep it and they find out.

Pretty sure I'm going to go with this one. There is a possibility that they will say this because of contract issues and the amount I received being less than what I signed for.

It's nice to see so many honest boardsies about. A little part of me was hoping everyone would say take it and then I wouldn't feel bad! They are an extremely generous company to work for anyway (my xmas present was an ipod touch!) so I think my conscience would get to me in the end anyway. Don't want to throw it back in their faces.

Boo-urns though, I really wanted those boots!

tech77

watna wrote: »

ok - I'm looking for moral guidance from the wonderful boardsies that frequent After Hours.

Bwahahahahahahaha.
Bwahahahahahahaha i say.

AlmightyCushion

Keep it and kill any and all witnesses.

javaboy

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Keep it and kill any and all witnesses.

That includes us. Thanks a bunch!

AlmightyCushion

javaboy wrote: »

That includes us. Thanks a bunch!

It would also include herself so at least your death will be avenged.

ohanloj3

I was beginning to think i was the only unhonest one, but i just know that where i work we get feck all thanks or reward for anything so I'd keep it as my own little reward to myself for the blood and sweat i shed for them!

Rabies

Give it back.

You've waited long enough for your visa stuff over the past while.
You now have a contract, no point putting that on the line if they ask you where the money is in a couple of weeks and you can do is look at your feet and point

Although, I'd be tempted to keep it too.

For me it wasn't as bad. I paid for visa/permit, work did the paper work and have paid for all my training so far. Got a recent promotion and pay rise. I know I'd be trying to stay on work's good side.

It could be a pain in the ass to find someone to take over your visa if you don't have NZ residence.

Jesus Wept

Monorail

watna

Rabies wrote: »

Give it back.

You've waited long enough for your visa stuff over the past while.
You now have a contract, no point putting that on the line if they ask you where the money is in a couple of weeks and you can do is look at your feet and point

Boo-urns to the sensible-ness! but you're right. If I didn't give it back I'm pretty sure they would never know. The original cost was signed off with a receipt 3 months ago and this is just a random surprise refund. It's just my own conscience getting in the way!

The-Rigger wrote: »

Monorail

Monorail!

Jesus Wept

Homer : Conscience? Lisa, don’t let that pushy little weenie tell you what to do.
Homer's Conscience : Homer, that’s a terrible thing to say.
Homer : Oh ! shut up!
Homer's Conscience : Yes, sir.

Nappy

Take a weeks holidays....


Party on!!!

Rabies

Lisa needs braces boots

Crumble Froo

you got a refund? can i has one too?!

haha, yeah, i'd say tell work, and hope they let you keep it, but man, an ipod touch from work?! niiiiiiiiiiiiice.

Kiith

Is it was a big multinational company who makes a **** load of money, i'd keep it. The fat cats are probably laughing at the pittance you guys are getting. If its a smaller company, which you actually like or care about, then give it back. They'll appreciate it.

watna

Rabies wrote: »

Lisa needs braces boots

Dental Plan!

Crumble Froo wrote: »

you got a refund? can i has one too?!

haha, yeah, i'd say tell work, and hope they let you keep it, but man, an ipod touch from work?! niiiiiiiiiiiiice.

Yeah, cause my residency came through quite quickly they refunded the cost of my work permit as I didn't need it in the end. Go immigration - didn't expect that at all.

Kiith wrote: »

Is it was a big multinational company who makes a **** load of money, i'd keep it. The fat cats are probably laughing at the pittance you guys are getting. If its a smaller company, which you actually like or care about, then give it back. They'll appreciate it.

It's a big multnational - they're doing pretty well. Still going to mention it to my boss tomorrow and see what they say. This thread has completed my conscience dithering to the side of being good!

stovelid

I'd probably say it to them. Not because of any moral aspect, but because of the embarrassment of them finding out. As said, they may well let you keep it, or reward you in another way.

Stench Blossoms

I'd say it to them. I'm a big believer in Karma these days.

Scawgeen

watna wrote: »

ok - I'm looking for moral guidance from the wonderful boardsies that frequent After Hours.

Recently I had a lot of expenses come in (they were for medical tests and immigration visa fees) unexpectedly. Because I was so obviously stressed out about it work offered to pay my expenses if I signed a contract with a description of all the costs and saying I would stay with the company for another year - or pay it back, which was so good of them. I paid for all these expenses on my work credit card.

One of the visa fees has been refunded - but not on my work credit card, it's in a cheque made out to me.

What would you do? Be honest and pay the money back to work or say nothing on the basis that the contract you signed had all the costs on it anyway and you are sort of entitled to it?. I really can't decide. I saw a very nice pair of boots the other day that are the exact costs of the refunded visa fee. I feel like it's meant to be!

Be honest it'll stand to you in the long run. Give it to your employer. You've got to decide which is more important your integrity or the pair of boots that caught your eye...and if there is a God your employer might tell you to keep the refund cheque.

dresden8

You signed a contract which stated you would stay for a year or give the money back.

You only have to give the money back if you don't stay for the year.

Contracts work both ways you know.

Captain-America

Rabies wrote: »

Lisa needs braces boots

If we give up the dental plan...I'll have to pay for Lisa's boots!

Redpunto

Keep it - do you think work would give a rats ass if you gave it back - i think not

stovelid

The consensus appears to be: adopt a pseudo-moralistic stance and return the money, hoping that the public display of obedience will end up accruing even greater benefits such as brownie points, or even better, keeping the dough and the brownie points.

MagicMarker

Let me get this straight.

You have some free money, and you're going to spent it ALL on BOOTS?

Pfft, you don't deserve the money!!! Give it back.

watna

MagicMarker wrote: »

Let me get this straight.

You have some free money, and you're going to spent it ALL on BOOTS?

Pfft, you don't deserve the money!!! Give it back.

It's not that much money (we're talking less than €100) and they're really nice boots!

As an aside, I've just done my tax return for the year and inland revenue owe me quite a bit of money. I'll get the boots either way, mwah hah hah!

Out of interest, what would you spend the money on? If someone just gave you €100, what would you do?

MagicMarker

watna wrote: »

It's not that much money (we're talking less than €100) and they're really nice boots!

As an aside, I've just done my tax return for the year and inland revenue owe me quite a bit of money. I'll get the boots either way, mwah hah hah!

Out of interest, what would you spend the money on? If someone just gave you €100, what would you do?

Hooker.

watna

MagicMarker wrote: »

Hooker.

A worthy choice!

Capt'n Midnight

Do you by any chance need work boots ?

And the best bit is that if you need them for work you could claim back the tax as well.

ShooterSF

They give you money in exchange to stay on for an extra year. They hardly care if you got it back, theyd rather you stay the year. Or they would never have made the offer. If you give it back they loose out on tying you down for a year (for less than a 100 quid? :eek:). Id say keep it. Both parties are happy, why upset yourself and them by giving it back and voiding the contract?

Lu Tze

Bet it all on black, if you win you can give back the money and get your boots.

Its a win-win situation... unless of course you lose

Wazdakka

Do a barrel roll..

watna

Talked to my boss - she told me to keep it because that amount was already in the contract so it was actually mine. She thanked me for being honest and telling her!

Esel

See! Brownie points. Is she hot, btw?

kittensoft1984

Give it back - karma is a b*itch

Esel

So is arriving after the party is over!

shezzie

honesty is the best policy as they say seriously if you dont and its found out you will truly be fecked with the company out on your ass literally....is it worth it....in this economic era.....cause its so easy to get a new job eh???

kittensoft1984

esel wrote: »

So is arriving after the party is over!

Im tired and not the only one

sceptre

ohanloj3 wrote: »

Karma my ass!!

Buy d boots, its faith, come on, der d exact same price as d cheque!-its meant to be!

So you don't believe in karma but you do believe something is "meant to be"?

Capt'n Midnight

watna wrote: »

Talked to my boss - she told me to keep it

Sexy boots for you too.

watna

esel wrote: »

See! Brownie points. Is she hot, btw?

I'd say you'd probably go there. She's a pretty awesome boss actually. Was at a party in her house on Saturday night and I'm still recovering!

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Sexy boots for you too.

mmm, boots!

bigeasyeah

Tell them and see what happens.They dont seem like a bad company to work for by what you say

Agent Smith

i'm quite frankly outraged that this thread has been in After Hours for over 24 hours and no one has suggested


1. having sex with the op's mother
2. having sex with the op's cheque
3. Asking the op for a lend of money.





for shame afterhours... for shame