<p>I work at a job where it’s nearly 100% commission. I get very small allowances for cell and vehicle. I was also given a company van which I have to drive approximately 350 miles every week (RT) to pick up deliveries from our warehouse in another state. Every month I would submit my receipts for gas to fill up the company van and they would reimburse me for that separately. My driving in-town is done with my own car and that’s what the allowance is for. </p>
<p>So, yesterday I made my 350-mile trip and when I got to our warehouse I picked up my check and it had a note saying that I am no longer getting the allowance or the reimbursements :mad: ! On my drive back to town I had nearly 3 hours to stew about this and this is definitely not acceptable. This will basically cut my income by 25-30%, AT LEAST. Some months, maybe more. </p>
<p>Anyway, I haven’t called or emailed my boss yet. Any ideas on what to say, or not say??
I can’t believe they did this without any notice or warning at all.
BTW, I am a contract employee, if that makes any difference…meaning they don’t pay my taxes or offer any benefits either.</p>
<p>Call, write, or email – whatever’s appropriate for your relationship with your boss – and tell him that if this is the new arrangement, you feel it would have only been fair to have told you in advance. But say it nicely.</p>
<p>Then, tell him you assume that your commission struction will change in order to make up for this reduction in pay. If this isn’t the case, it’s time to move on.</p>
<p>BTW, if you’re not going to be reimbursed for your travel but you still want to stay where you are, you can take it off your taxes. But I don’t believe it’s worth the same if you do that. If you take it off your taxes, it’s a reduction from your income, but if you’re reimbursed, it’s an addition to your income, that isn’t taxed.</p>
<p>Can they replace you? Can you replace them? You need to decide if this change in situation makes the job “not worth it”. I have seen many situations when a business feels the employee will not leave and changes the employess compensation negatively- if the employee has options they take them. If the company guessed wrong then the company will need to change the compensation.</p>
<p>Because the OP is a contract employee, any expenses she incurs, including gas or mileage is deductible from her income without itemizing. Of course it’s not the same as being reimbursed, but it’s better than itemizing on schedule A. Especially since it would be a miscellaneous expense subject to the 2% rule.</p>
<p>Only the OP can determine whether she is better off finding a better job. But if those are the job conditions, and if the employer can find people to work under those rules, than I don’t see as how she has much choice.</p>