Is My Husband Facing Unfair Travel Demands at Work? Seeking Advice on Handling Stressful Situations

Dear Seniors,

My husband is working for a bank as an AVP in Admin and Facility Management. He has to visit various sites and district courts for lease agreement signings and site visits to different properties to finalize the bank branches and new ATMs. Previously, he used his own personal vehicle for these trips and claimed fuel reimbursement for the kilometers traveled. However, his boss raised concerns about the high reimbursement amount and started deducting it.

Currently, my husband has stopped using his personal vehicle and now utilizes a company-paid cab, for which he obtains prior approval. According to the HR policy, he is entitled to use the cab facility for company/work purposes.

Unfortunately, his boss is dissatisfied with this arrangement as well and insists that my husband should travel by bus/auto to visit the shortlisted sites with property dealers and even for signing lease agreements.

Due to this ongoing situation, my husband is feeling extremely distressed and harassed, leading him to contemplate resigning.

We seek your guidance on how to address this issue effectively. I am concerned about my husband's well-being and do not want him to experience such high levels of stress.

Thank you for your assistance.

Best Regards,
Neha Sachdev
Senior HR Executive
AVL ITC

Since you are saying yourself that as per your husband's company HR Policy, he is entitled to use the Cab Facility for Company/Work purposes; he has nothing to fear. He can just have a word with the HR, get complete knowledge of the policy in this regard, and simply communicate the same to his Boss. If he still harasses him, instead of resigning or getting stressed, I would recommend that he sends a complaint to the HR first and demand resolution.

Regards,
Jyoti

My husband and I are also from a facility management company. It happens everywhere; in the facility management industry, you have to be polished and keep your immediate boss in your hand, and you will win the world. Do not quit; try to solve the matter and build a healthy relationship again. Tell your husband to talk to his boss and handle him diplomatically. Since we are in the service industry, especially in FM, we have to be very diplomatic. Have you heard the phrase 'Jee Huzuri'? You need to apply it. Do not surrender but be diplomatic; this is everywhere in FM or the service industry.

Jyoti and Yasmin have expressed their views. There are two things. One is that in India the "boss is always right" policy prevails wherever you work. The second is that to earn 'x' amount, you have to forego 'y' amount. Consider that 'y' amount has grown. However, this should not be the cause of stress per se. Your husband can look for another job, but it should be a normal action of career advancement and not a knee-jerk reaction to this instance.

You mentioned that your husband works in a facility management company. No client of a facility management company pays its dues on time. However, the owners of facility management companies never lose sleep due to the loss of interest or the funds that get blocked.

To gain something, you have to lose something; that is what life is about!

Ok...

Regards,
Dinesh V Divekar

If there is a company policy in place, the boss cannot raise objections. Get the HR department and the finance department to speak to the boss. Get the policy in writing.

Dear Neha,

This is Venky, a Management lecturer and Psychologist. No place is free from stress, including FM, due to healthy and aggressive competition. To overcome this, try communicating smoothly and intellectually with your boss and HR based on the situation. Quitting without another job lined up could disrupt your current and future commitments. Also, consider that the next boss could be even more difficult.

Remember, destruction is easier than construction. Among many fools, don't let their opinions define your brilliance. One who humbly acknowledges their limitations is truly wise.

Let me know how things unfold in your situation.

Dear Seniors,

My husband, an AVP Admin and Facility Management at a bank, faces challenges with travel reimbursements. His boss now insists he use public transport for site visits and lease agreements, causing distress. Seeking advice on handling this situation to reduce his stress.

Thanks and Regards,
Neha Sachdev
Sr. HR Executive
AVL ITC

Addressing Workplace Harassment and Travel Concerns

If there is a policy, the attitude of the boss is surely harassment. For the record, the matter can be sent to HR and higher-ups.

In case the boss is unwilling, let him take the auto and bus. He will not be able to complete the targeted work due to:

1. Non-availability of bus and auto.
2. Spending time waiting for bus and auto.
3. Safety of the documents he will be carrying, etc. (stolen, damaged due to rain, crowd, etc.)
4. Client/broker not willing to travel by bus/auto.

Your husband can have any number of such excuses. The boss will feel more pressure for not completing his target and will give his vehicle and driver to him. It is unfortunate that bosses want such things to learn a lesson.

Mrs. Neha,

Good morning.

Please keep in mind that "the boss is always right," even when he is wrong. You have two options: either accept the boss's decision or resign. There are no other legal remedies available, unless you choose to file a case at the police station.

M.M. Kulkarni

Dear Child, I have read your problem and the recommended solutions. Live by the motto "A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins." I suggest telling your husband to take his boss for some of the meetings. A couple of trips on public transport will convince the boss to change his mind. Also, make him explain to the boss that time is money. Wishing you all the best and lots of peace of mind.

Blessings,
Dr. Ram

Dear Neha,

I suggest that if your husband has another good opportunity, then it's always good to consider giving up rather than feeling insecure. On the other hand, if he does not have any opportunities, tell him to search for something better before giving up on this.

Regards,
Sonal

Dear Neha Sachdev,

I am sure that there will be many others working in the organization similar to your husband. First, your husband needs to discreetly find out how the others prefer to claim. Once he is convinced that the others are claiming their own vehicle reimbursement (based on a rate per kilometer if such an HR policy exists) or claiming cab/auto reimbursements, then he can diplomatically seek an explanation from his boss on the reasons for disallowing his claim.

Perhaps the top management is pressuring your husband's boss to cut down costs. However, your husband can convince his boss by comparing the work completed versus the expenses incurred when he travels by public transport and when he travels by his own vehicle. He can also compare his expenses when he uses his own vehicle versus a cab. It is a difficult task, but it is still worth it. Assuming your husband quits and the boss also quits subsequently for some other reason, your husband would have lost a good job. As someone mentioned, how certain is he to get a better boss?

Never Ever Ask Your Boss to Do Your Job
It will backfire, and you might lose your job instantly and end up on the streets.

Regards,
M.V. Kannan

Understanding the Boss's Perspective

This is absolutely right that "Boss is always right," but the boss must understand the actual problem. If there is a clear-cut policy regarding the TA, why does he have a problem? He must understand. If the boss does not approve the amount, then go to his immediate boss with the written TA policy.

Career Advancement in the Private Sector

Why does the person choose the private sector? In my opinion, for career advancement and growth. If the company's higher authority and other members do not understand this, then you must change jobs frequently until you find another job.

Regards,
Rakesh Kashyap

I tend to agree with sivaipm's advice. I notice that your husband works for a 'bank,' not a 'facilities management company.' In banks, generally, there is a strong culture of following policies and procedures due to banking being a heavily regulated/monitored industry. Thus, the culture prevails in all departments and functions. While he can diplomatically tell his boss the reasons why using his vehicle should be a preference, he can always go to HR and inform them of this undue pressure if negotiating with the boss doesn't work. 'The boss is always right,' yes, but systems do support employees, and no one can stop someone from availing entitlements that the system provides, especially when it has potential implications on work quality/secrecy.

As for quitting, NO! He should keep looking for better options for career advancement as we all do, and when the right opportunity strikes, he should 'move ahead.'

Good luck to you 