Is it an EE or ER expense?

kdspa · August 2006

Our company transports and processes hazardous waste. We require that employees who do this processing wear PPE to protect their eyes. For employees who wear prescription glasses, we will provide (pay for) prescription safety glasses. We have a new employee who needs Rx safety glasses, but hasn't been to an optometrist in years (no idea what his Rx is).

Does he pay for the eye exam to get his Rx, or do we pay for it?

HRCalico · August 2006

Our policy reads that the exam is at the employee's expense, unless a customer specification requires a copy of the exam to be kept on file. The ones that fall under those are our quality department and our two solderers. You may wish to update your policy :>). Let me know if you'd like to see ours.

Dutch2 · August 2006

If the er has not paid for eye exams up to this point, you will be starting a new trend. Is there some type of protective eye wear that the ee can worn over his glasses, such as full shield?
If you pay for his, be prepared to pay for others going forward.

mwild31 · August 2006

It doesn't sound as though your company has paid for it before, so I would say he should pay for it. Although the exams are fairly inexpensive ($65-$70), you could find yourself in a position where everyone that's had an exam and has had to pay for it themselves could start coming forward and asking for reimbursement & you might have to start paying for all new hires if you start. The company is doing great by paying for the entire cost of the glasses - this is the biggest chunk of the cost - the employee should check his own eyes.

Balloonman1 · August 2006

You are required to pay for the glasses.....
If they need a new prescription or exam that is on their dime.....

B'man

SMace · August 2006

B'man, you are NOT required to pay for prescription safety glasses. At least not by OSHA.

E Wart · August 2006

We pay a limit on what we pay for the glasses and have a program set up with Walmart & the other company that has Optical Depts in their stores. They can bill us for the entire thing. We pay for it and get an authorization to deduct from employee's check for what we don't cover. (ie. if employee wants transitional lens or other fancy frames that aren't in our "package".)
The eye exam is employee's expense (not covered by our group insurance either.) However, if employee does't want to pay for this, we provide approved safety glasses that can be worn over their glasses. No expense to employee for this. (You can't tell that most of the safety glasses now are safety glasses so it is like employee gets almost a free pair of glasses.)
E Wart

JM in ATL · August 2006

E Wart has a good policy on this. I agree with the others as well. The eye exam is the employee's expense.

HRCalico · August 2006

Forgot to mention that we also make available safety glasses that fit over prescription glasses. We do require that employees satisfactarily pass 60 days before we'll pay for safety glasses, too, so that is what they have to do unless they already had them.

Is it an EE or ER expense?

Comments