Expense Claims And Disciplinary Proceedings

With dubious expense claims hitting the headlines recently, a brief review of how this type of situation is regarded by Employment Tribunals may help to provide some useful context for the current media furore.

In the case of Brick Services Limited v Thompson, an employee was accused of submitting a false expenses claim and was subsequently dismissed. According to the employee, he had a hotel receptionist add £27 to a receipt to cover drinks which he had bought personally, but which in his opinion were a legitimate business expense.

At the Employment Tribunal, it was established that for some time the company had been putting pressure on the employee to agree to less favourable terms and conditions of employment, which the employee had continually refused to do.