Is My Travel Reimbursement Being Delayed on Purpose? Seeking Advice on Next Steps

Hello all, Recently, I traveled from Mumbai to New Delhi via Air-TO-FROM for an interview. The company has already sent an email agreement for travel reimbursement. I submitted my bills and left as they told me that they would transfer the amount to my bank account. Even after a week, they keep giving me reasons for the delay in the process.

The reimbursement amount is more than 9,000 INR, and I cannot afford to lose it. Please advise me, as I believe they are unwilling to pay, which is why they are making excuses, or it might take too long to process, which I cannot allow to happen.

Keep on following politely. Send them regular emails. In an organization, delays can happen. Ask them for a specific timeline on when they will release the money.

If you feel, after a period of time, that the company is 'taking you for a ride,' then send them a formal notice via registered mail.

Hope you get your money back soon!

Dear Designtrinity,

This is in addition to what Atul Sharma has said. The most noteworthy point in his post is about being polite.

Secondly, when the company approached you for the interview, why did you not tell them to make arrangements for the air travel? What was the holdup? Rather than arranging the air travel, if the company tells the job candidate to make arrangements for the air travel, then it sheds light on the company's culture. I sense a lack of authority in the HR department. HR has played it safe by passing the buck to the candidate.

Thirdly, about the delay in the settlement of the TA claim. This happens everywhere. Even American MNCs are notorious for delayed payments. Some MNCs are so process-centric that they do not understand that what they call "being process-centric" is nothing but plain bureaucracy. Therefore, show patience, at least for a month.

Lastly, you have written that you have received an email agreement for the reimbursement of the airfare. Who sent the email? What is the designation of that person?

Final Comments

The delay in the settlement of the TA claim, the tendency of HR to tell job candidates to make arrangements on their own speaks about the company's internal way of working. Even if a job candidate is told to make arrangements for the interview, what matters is the expeditious settlement of the claim. The incident raises questions about the company's image-consciousness.

Hope you have applied for the manager position. Is this the way a manager should be treated? Therefore, even if you are offered a job, you need to decide whether to join the company or not. An environment of trust is missing in this company, that is for sure.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

As you have mentioned, it's just a week. It's suggested to keep a regular follow-up (for a month, as also suggested in the last response), and hopefully, it will be resolved positively.

What compelled me to respond to this query is the last response with numerous questions about the professional approach of the organization. For example, in the organizations with which I have worked so far, I have developed a simple process: let the candidate make the travel arrangements and reimburse them in 7-14 working days. The reason for this approach is the multiple last-minute back-outs, even after having confirmed arrangements when the arrangements are made by the organization.

In the current scenario, no professional organization (whether MNC or Indian) risks their brand name for a trivial amount (at least for them).

Finally, it's suggested not to jump to conclusions about joining or not or any trust-related aspect based on just a delayed payment. Rather, you should reconsider joining if that organization discriminates between a manager and a lower employee in such processes.

Lack of Working Culture in Companies

It is a lack of a working culture in the company that promised reimbursements have not been done. I had attended an interview where reimbursement was given for travel expenses when I reported for the interview and submitted ticket details. There, at the reception, a few officials were sitting who verified documents, took travel documents, etc., and sent us forward to the interview room.

On completion of the interview, reimbursement was professionally done without delay. Tea and snacks were also provided. Overall, a well-conducted interview and good arrangements. I won't draw too much of a connection about whether such a company is worth working in.

Many companies are like this, and if we choose to be fussy, then jobs will slip out of our hands.

Dear Anonymous, you could have disclosed your identity. Why the need was felt to conceal the identity was not understood. Anyway, let me come to the point. In this thread, there are two incidents: one quoted by the poster of this thread and another quoted by Mr. Nathrao. Each incident is nothing but a reflection of the company's culture.

While I understand your argument that when the company makes arrangements for air travel, occasionally candidates do not bother to attend the interview, leaving the company in a lurch. That is why the company tells the job candidate to make their arrangements for air travel. Nevertheless, what stops the company from settling the claim expeditiously? Worse still, the poster says that the company did not commit as such when the claim will be settled. If HR knew that in their company it takes time to settle the TA claims, then why was this fact not disclosed well in advance? In this case, HR has taken undue advantage of the job candidate's gullibility.

In contrast, look at the post of Mr. Nathrao. The kind of treatment he was given clearly shows that they value their future employees as much as their current ones. The company is conscious of their image perfectly.

Gentleman, if you wish to know the real face of the company, then talk to the owners of housekeeping companies, security companies, etc. They will tell you 'n' number of stories wherein you will come to know that the brand image of the so-called MNC is nothing but a sandcastle. It crumbles day in and day out but is built by helpless Indians who are in need of their job badly. Many of their nonsensical acts are taken in stride by their employees or suppliers, and they just move on.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Most of the comments are general happening scenarios, but this one is very different. This one involves passing the buck and refraining from what was agreed upon in an official email from a managerial employee. They are not replying to my emails and on calls, giving me assurances that are surely not true. I am taking legal advice and will be slapping a legal notice now. Such a petty and foolish act by the so-called company. The decision I took to trust them was only because I did not receive reimbursement upfront!