You won’t believe what federal employees used government credit cards for
May 15, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: Employees do the strangest things, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
Ever have trouble policing your company’s T&E policy? You ain’t seen nothin’ until you look at what federal workers used government-issued credit cards for.
The Government Accountability Office looked at credit-card abuse at several departments within the federal government.
Among some of the questionable purchases:
- An Agriculture Department employee wrote 180 convenience checks for more than $642,000 to a live-in boyfriend over a six-year period. They used the money for gambling, car and mortgage payments, dinners and retail purchases. (Yes, that was certainly convenient.)
- Postal Workers spent $14,000 for Internet dating services. (Through rain, snow or sleet, the dating must go through.)
- A State Department worker bought $360 worth of women’s lingerie at Seduction Boutique for use during jungle training for a drug-enforcement program in Ecuador. (What, doesn’t everyone get an underwear allowance at work?)
What’s the most outrageous T&E request you’ve ever had to reject? HRB would like to hear from you. Post your comments below.
Tags: convenience checks, credit cards, T&E policy
May 16th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
What happens to these employees that are wasting all this money? How could someone have used over $600,000 before anything was found out.
Just goes to show how well our government is using our taxpayer dollars. Ha Ha
May 16th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
We turned down an expense request claiming dog-sitting expenses.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Why doesn’t this surprise me about the Government?
Someone needs to make these people accountable. Especially for what they are spending. They are spending my tax dollars!!
May 19th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
All 3 should pay the money back even thru government garnishments.
The AG Dept employee should be terminated with prejudice for Gross Misconduct and the supervisors responsible for oversight punished as well.
The Postal Dept employees have a Union, thus, thru the process there should have been several Work Rules violated and appropriate discipline administered. The supervisor admonished also.
As far as the underwear purchase, collect the money back, admonish and speak to the employee, not only about the incident but maybe referral to the EAP program for appropriate counseling.