I *would* have impostor syndrome, if anyone expected me to be anything. I would have no problem reading something, but the invite is bossy and annoying.

My university has a policy that the person who PURCHASES gift cards for employees will be taxed on them if they are reimbursed. Does that seem weird?

Tom, I agree with the slide show idea.

My university has a policy that the person who PURCHASES gift cards for employees will be taxed on them if they are reimbursed. Does that seem weird?

Um, that's ridiculous. That's like getting taxed on my reimbursed travel expenses.

Your gift-card-purchaser is in no way better off after the transaction (purchase & reimbursement) than they were before. How is that taxable income?

This is our statement:

In lieu of cash received through Payroll, and employee may wish to give gift certificates to other employees. In this situation the employee who purchased the gift certificates and is requesting reimbursement will be responsible for the taxes associated with the reimbursement since the IRS considers gift certificates cash equivalent income.

I really don't even understand how it is logical. Also, I think the statement could use some hyphens and commas.

My university has a policy that the person who PURCHASES gift cards for employees will be taxed on them if they are reimbursed. Does that seem weird?

Um, that's ridiculous. That's like getting taxed on my reimbursed travel expenses.

If it were the recipient getting taxed, that would be in line with my experience.

But in fact I have seen certain travel expenses taxed, particularly lunches. The theory, as I understand it, is that it is an expense you would have incurred anyway in the course of a normal business day. Unlike dinner or breakfast, where it's assumed you would otherwise have eaten at home from already purchased groceries, or your personal farm, or something. (A lunch meeting is a different case again.)

At my current firm, we can't get lunch reibursed when travelling in the first place, neatly avoiding the taxation issue.

A lunch meeting is a different case again.

Weirdly, I found this tidbit because I was reading our policy because our accountant told me it was "university policy" that we could not buy food or coffee for "standing monthly or weekly meetings" only "retreats and on-time meetings". I still can't find that policy.

No way! If I could get away with never wearing a bra again, I totally would.

I dislike restrictive clothing, and yet I want to try a corset. Go figure me out.

If I could get away with never wearing a bra again, I totally would.

Only public decency laws and the need to keep flesh from touching flesh during high temperature events keeps me clothed.

Sophia - does the differentiation between other meetings and "on-time" meetings mean that people can be late for the other meetings?