Citibank Wins Legal Battle After Employee Lies About Expense Claim
Banking giant Citibank has emerged victorious in a legal battle in the United Kingdom after sacking an employee for dishonestly claiming expenses for his partner during a business trip. Former financial analyst Szabolcs Fekete sued the bank for unfair dismissal after being fired for gross misconduct over the expenses claim.
Fekete initially stated that he had consumed two sandwiches, two pasta dishes, and two coffees by himself during a business trip to Amsterdam. However, he later admitted that his partner had shared some of the food. According to the BBC, Fekete, who had worked at Citibank for seven years, travelled to Amsterdam between 3 and 5 July 2022 for work.
Upon returning to London, Fekete submitted an expense claim for food and drink, which he believed was covered by his company’s daily allowance. However, his supervisor questioned whether he had consumed all the items for which he sought reimbursement.
In an email exchange with his manager, Fekete defended his claim, stating that he had only consumed two coffees and saw nothing out of order on the receipt. The manager, however, pointed out that the receipt indicated two sandwiches, two coffees, and another unidentified drink. The manager asked if Fekete was claiming to have consumed all the items himself.
Fekete then explained that he had skipped breakfast and had only one coffee in the morning. For lunch, he had one sandwich with a drink and another coffee, which he took back to the office. He claimed that the second sandwich served as his dinner.
The bank argued that its query was not about the amount claimed but rather if the expenses breached its policy, which explicitly states that spousal travel and meals are not reimbursed. Citibank also questioned whether Fekete had shared two dinners with his partner. Fekete denied this initially but later admitted to sharing the food.
Fekete claimed that he was going through personal difficulties at the time, including the death of his grandmother, and that he was on strong medication when he responded to the emails. However, Citibank ultimately dismissed him, and Employment Judge Illing concluded that the dismissal was fair due to Fekete’s initial dishonesty about the misclaimed expense.
“This case is about the filing of the expense claim and the conduct of the claimant thereafter,” Judge Illing stated. “It is significant that the claimant did not make a full and frank disclosure at the first opportunity and that he did not answer questions directly.”
A spokesperson for Citibank expressed satisfaction with the decision. The ruling highlights the importance of honesty and transparency in expense claims and reinforces the bank’s commitment to upholding its policies.