I work as a speech therapist at a hospital. Because I am the only speech-therapist not having children anymore (they presume---others are currently pregnant, trying, or newlyweds) my supervisors wanted me to train to do swallow studies. This is something I had experience with in adults 10 years ago, but NO pediatric experience, esp. with babies. It involves going into radiology and getting a moving video x-ray (videofluoroscopy) of the child as he eats and drinks to make sure there are no problems and is performed in conjunction with the radiologist. Keep in mind I have next to no experience doing these tests, the radiologists defer to us since this is "our" area of expertise, and it is life-or-death speech pathology (pt aspirates...can get aspiration pneumonia...can die)

I am fine for being trained and have been going weekly with the ST who currently does these so I can take over when she goes on maternity leave in Oct. I told my supervisors I wouldn't do them until I had been to a cont ed course and got to see LOTS of different types of swallowing videos and had a thorough anatomy review, etc. They found a course for me in Dallas on October 1. Problem is that the new fiscal year starts 10/1 and they can't pay for the course before then. They asked if I could charge it and be reimbursed. I tried, but the course is check or money order only and I didn't feel like paying $250 that I won't see for another month. Now they want me to fly to Dallas and register on-site. They will cut me a check to take in hand and pay on 10/1. Sheesh! BUT they want me to find a flight and hotel and book these and put these on my credit card. My DH says absolutely not and given the history of promises made and broken at my job, it makes sense. It's not that we *can't* put these on the CC it's just the principle of why should we? You would think a big hospital could shuffle some funds around or put it on THEIR CC? I am already willing to drive an hour to fly out of New Orleans to get a cheaper flight (and I'm sure I won't get mileage), plus parking, meals, the hassle of getting there and back for something I really have no great interest in and am doing to "be a team player" and help them out.

My co-workers say I should tell me boss to put it on her credit card Am I being unreasonable in thinking that they should find some way to cover my expenses without my help since they are the ones who want me to get trained to do these swallow studies? Any advice welcomed.

By Amy~moderator on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 11:38 pm:

Oh, I definitely think they should find some way to fund this without you ever having to spend a penny of your own money, even if they promise to reimburse you. This is a business, you are doing *them* a favor, and they want *you* to front the money? I think it is very unprofessional to ask you to do this. I most definitely would not give in, because I'm afraid that if you do, they will look to you in similar situations. It sounds to me that you are thinking the same thing. I would go with your gut feeling here, especially if there is a history of broken promises with this company. I would just be upfront and honest, explain it as you did in your post. Be polite, but firm. Don't let them think they can push this further, or walk all over you in the future. It is absurd that they cannot come up with this small amount of money, even if the fiscal year begins Oct 1.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 11:50 pm:

I think Amy said it well.

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 01:16 am:

OK, I am usually a sap and bend over backward to accomplish something for people. But...

You say your DH says absolutely not. I believe you need to go with him. My DH is a great guy, flexible, giving, etc. But if he put his foot down and said no to something, I'd have to stand with him.

Next, this is a large hospital, right? Most large facilities that I know of have a petty cash fund. They don't like folks to know it, but they do. My hospital recently gave me $800 at the last minute for drugs I needed for a mission trip. I agree with the above. Be polite but firm. They want you to be of more value to them. They ask you to take on a new responsibility, you have to leave your family for a period of time. They should pay for it upfront. And they can.

By Fraggle on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 07:25 am:

Pam, I agree with your DH. Plain and simple, if they want you to be trained to do the swallow studies, they need to pay for it. By the way, kudos on getting trained!

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 07:34 am:

I agree also, absolutely not. My X and I were working at a hospital when we met. He got burned on something very similar, thought he was the Chief Engineer of the physical plant. He had to go to a seminar for a large HVAC company regarding the hospital's heating/AC system. It was in CO and we had to pay for much of it, including flight, and *be reimbursed*. He's STILL waiting to see some of that money and that was 16 years ago, and the hospital has long since been closed.

By Kittycat_26 on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 08:24 am:

Pam, Do you have a purchasing dept at this hospital? They should be able to take care of your travel arrangements. Also you would want to check with your finance dept about what will and won't be reimbursed. It's a job related expense and your employer is obligated to pay you for mileage, meals, and transportation. I've never had any trouble with this at our hospital and I do these all the time for different people. They always get their money though it does take about a month.

By Audreyj on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 08:49 am:

Congratulations on the training and all....great opportunity...good for you.

Unfortunately, sometimes when we are thrown into new situations supervisors want to see "how far" we'll "take one for the team". I have worked as a daycare provider and I have no experience on a hospital staff. I would check with human resources and see what your "rights" are, specifically. I would also check with finance or payroll or someone about "expense accounts" and daily expenses, etc.

I know corporate day care usually has some type of "policy" or "procedure" already written down and implemented for these types of situations. It seems to me that it would be considered a job related expense and your employer (the hospital) not your supervisor would be obligated to pay for everything. I would think that if the hospital wants to provide swallowing test and wants someone trained to provide that service then they (the hospital) should be willing to pay the expenses, total, up front. AJ

By Mommmie on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 02:04 pm:

At the law firm where I work we do it both ways. Those with their own credit cards charge their travel expenses and they bring their receipts back and get a check within 7 days of turning in receipts. Those without credit cards use the Firm Administrators PERSONAL credit card and the firm pays her back.

If a seminar or CE can be paid for in advance the firm can cut a check in advance. At any time someone can charge anything to their own credit card and then get reimbursed. Most times employees are reimbursed and the firm feels it's part of being a professional to do it this way. But, there are folks here who don't have lines of credit and those are the ones who use the Administrator's card. These are usually the lower level people.

Since this training is not your idea and you don't seem particularly thrilled about it, I would get out of it altogether, if possible. Usually when I "fight" something at work, the real reason is I don't think too much of the project or whatever and I my resentfulness comes out sideways like getting mad over logistics or something. I mean, if this training really meant anything to you, you would do whatever you needed to do to attend. Can't someone else be trained? I think it's weird they picked someone to go based on the fact they are no longer procreating.

By Debbie on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 02:33 pm:

I think you have to follow your instincts on this one. Do you think you will get your money back??? My dh has a company credit card, so we don't have this problem. Now, I know that my Dad puts all his travel on his credit card and then at the end of the month he turns in an expense report and is given the money to pay towards his card. He has worked for this company for years and has never had a problem.

By Feonad on Thursday, September 9, 2004 - 07:28 am:

Too much.... charging the hotel, flight and everything. No corporate credit card. Too much.... And they broke promises too.

How are you going to turn them down graciously?

By Mommyathome on Thursday, September 9, 2004 - 11:38 am:

Ditto Amy

Especially if there is a history of promises made, promised broken.

By Pamt on Thursday, September 9, 2004 - 01:13 pm:

Well, thanks for the advice. I am such a wimp when it comes to things like this. I talked to my supervisor this morning and told her that we just didn't feel comfortable with putting it on our card (and what if we didn't even HAVE a card???). She sighed and said that they've never had this *problem* with anyone else and this is the way that have *always done it.* She's going to talk to her boss and see what she can do and she sounded somewhat pouty, but...c'est la vie.

The further irony of the situation is that the woman who is speaking at the conf they want me to attend was scheduled to speak at my hospital, but she cancelled. So...we had thousands of dollars set aside to bring her in and that money was not used. I asked my boss, M, about that money being used since it was $$ allotted for cont ed and M said that this would be a new budget year. Ummm....yeah...but where did that money go??? I'm sure it probably we to adult therapy somehow. We pediatric therapists--and esp. speech therapists--are at the step-children of the dept since we don't "bring in as much revenue."

Anyway, thanks for advice and encouragement and I'll keep you posted.

By Melanie on Thursday, September 9, 2004 - 04:13 pm:

You did good. Stand your ground on this one. If it's important for them to have you trained in this area, they will properly fund it up front. It defintely should not come out of your pocket, even for a month. Please do keep us posted.

By Vicki on Thursday, September 9, 2004 - 05:11 pm:

I think you did the right thing. Once you start something like this, it is just expected to continue. She herself said as much with the "always done it". There is no reason that you (or anyone else) should have to front the money for a business trip.

By Feonad on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 06:40 am:

Gosh. She tried to make you feel bad. That wasn't very nice. Oh well. You could work for free too.

John has to lay out some money to go on stupid business trips. Sometimes they say afterwards that he spent too much on some thing and give him a hard time about an expense. That is with a big corporation too.

By Kaye on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 10:04 am:

My hubby has to prepay his business expenses, and then get reimbursed, BUT he is always paid and there is never an issue as long as he fills out the form. I don't think I would lay out cash on a wish and a prayer, if there isn't policy to be paid back then I would stand strong. However, you could make hotel arrangements and cancel within 24 hours with no cost occuring to you. Flights though that is a toughie!