class=”sc-29f61514-0 fQbOYE”>
Where there is work, there are also costs: supplies, business trips, meals, further education. According to the law, the employer is obliged to reimburse its employees for all costs incurred during the work, which are compulsory. In case of assignment in a foreign place, compensation for travel expenses, accommodation and meals must be paid. But the devil is often in the details: How much can you claim and when are they due? Here are answers to frequently asked questions.
1. Meals
If I have to work away from home, I get 10 francs for lunch and 15 francs for dinner. My boss doesn’t want to pay more. His logic: I would have to eat at home too; it only pays for the additional costs of eating out. Is this true?
NO. Meal expenses will be reimbursed in full without deducting any costs incurred by the employee at home. Many companies have spending policies for dining out. These can be more or less generous depending on your professional position. However, reimbursement of expenses must at least cover the cost of the daily menu, including a drink in a simple restaurant.
2. Eating at work
One of my jobs as a social worker is to have dinner with our young residents. For educational reasons, I have to eat exactly like them. Is it true that I have to pay for these meals?
NO. If your contractual obligations include eating certain meals at work, these are mandatory workplace costs. The employer has to bear it in full. According to the Federal Council, free meals are considered fare in kind and are subject to AHV.
3. Deduction for food
I am a cook in a hotel. 300 francs a month are deducted from my salary for food. But I never eat at the hotel because I take care of my body and I always take fruit with me. My boss says he can’t make an exception for me. Can I resist?
Yes. Meal expenses can only be deducted from you if you actually use them. You may also not have to eat your meals at your employer’s premises at your own expense. This regulation in the law is as follows: “Contracts regarding the use of wages for the benefit of the employer are invalid.”
4. Travel expenses
I often travel by car for work. Most of the time I am allowed to drive a company car but sometimes I use my private car. What compensation can I claim for this?
In the case of business trips, the employer has to pay for operating and maintenance costs such as petrol, oil, tires or regular repairs. If you are driving your own vehicle for business trips, proportional taxes, liability insurance and depreciation costs are added. As a rule, this is compensated by a mileage allowance, which depends on the type of car and the mileage traveled. You can learn how to calculate the price per kilometer for your vehicle from automobile associations or at www.tcs.ch.
5. Fixed Rates
As my job requires me to travel a lot, I receive a flat flat rate allowance every month. This should cover all costs. Often this money is not enough. Can I resist?
Yes. While it is permissible to agree on flat rate expense allowances, the flat rate must fully cover the actual expenditure incurred. Collect receipts for your expenses and make a claim if the lump sum is not enough to cover these costs. Contracts in which an employee has to bear all or part of the necessary costs are void.
6. Payment Terms
My job regularly incurs high expenses. Even though my expenses are covered, I often have to wait weeks or even months for everything to be paid for. Do I have to accept this?
In principle, reimbursement of expenses should be paid each month along with fees – the prerequisite, of course, is that you submit your statement and receipts on time. As these are seemingly regular expenses in your case, you can legally claim an appropriate advance.
7. Continuing education
Our team has to attend a three-day course. In principle, the costs are borne by the employer. Because I only work 60 percent, they only want to reimburse me 60 percent of the costs. In addition, the course partially coincides with my free time. Do I have to accept this?
Compulsory expenses due to work must be covered by the employer – this also applies to compulsory further education. Since you must attend the entire course, you must pay for it in full. Lesson hours that fall into your free time count as working time – this means that this is overtime that must be compensated separately.
8. Illness
I’m on the staff and I’m entitled to 500 francs a month for entertainment expenses. I also get 400 francs a month for car expenses. I am now sick and the charges have been cancelled. Is this allowed?
In principle, in the event of illness, continuing expenses should continue to be paid. In the case of car expenses, these are fixed costs, i.e. for insurance and depreciation, but not gasoline costs. Regarding agency expenses, the question arises whether this is an effective expense reimbursement or rather represents a “hidden” fee component. These “expenses” should then continue to be paid in the event of illness.
9. Reducing expenses
At the beginning of the year, we received new expense regulations. For savings purposes, lower prices for external accommodation and meals apply with immediate effect. These amounts are not enough for me. What should we do?
On the one hand, it’s about a deal change that wasn’t allowed overnight. The employer will have to comply with the notice period before the new regulation enters into force. On the other hand, the actual expenditures must be fully covered by the flat-rate expense allowance. If new expense regulations do not comply with these legal provisions, additional claims may be made.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
