Recent changes to partially expensing office supplies are not location aware
With !39639 (merged) we are effectively introducing a maximum expensable amount for each item on the list:
The below averages are what GitLab will reimburse. If you prefer to spend more on a given item, that's OK. You may attach the receipt during expensing which shows the full purchase price and simply expense the
GitLab Average Price in USD
portion.
To me this means that if the average price of a chair on the spending company money page is $200
, but my chair costs $300
, I need to pay $100
out of my pocket.
To me there are multiple problems with that, in order from rational to emotional:
- The prices are US centric. e.g. in India certain items like keyboards or mouses are way more expensive. Same goes for Europe, etc.
- If the item costs the same at all locations, if someone from a low-location factor location decides to go over budget it will be more costly to them. e.g. in Germany 900 USD have different value than in India or San Francisco
- We had multiple discussions about this already, and we have reverted back to the suggested amounts.
- GitLab has no office costs. Please trust employees that we can rationally decide what we need in order to deliver results efficiently. Office supplies are a one-time expense and should be disproportionally small compared to wage costs.
- Often employees already have office supplies which they use (e.g. I had a chair and a proper keyboard when I joined). We are not getting re-imbursed for the use of those. And I am fine with that. Why can't I spend a bit more on a Monitor, if I am saving the company 110 USD by not buying a keyboard.
We have reverted the MR !39296 (merged) and I suggest that we improve in the language that we have there. I'd suggest:
-
We revert !39639 (merged) as well (for now)
-
My proposal would be: Rather controlling the price on every item, why not have a "Max Budget" for initial office setup if we want to control cost? e.g. everything in sum under 1500 USD doesn't need approval, up to 2500 USD with manager approval, above that partial expensing? (Numbers are pulled out of air)