Workers May Profit from Business Lunch App Discounts
AI-generated context summary requested by a Free News Reader user. Sourced via Gemini from publicly available information — no paywalled content was accessed.
You hit a paywall. Here’s the context on this topic based on publicly available information. We did not access any paywalled content. View original article.
Workers May Profit from Business Lunch App Discounts
- An Australian dining app, EatClub, allows users to receive dining credits for personal use when expensing business meals at full price, a system that could be exploited by employees.
- This "Business Profile" option within the EatClub app charges the user's card the full meal price, while the discount amount is converted into Dining Credit for future personal spending, as detailed in EatClub's terms as of September 2026.
Full Summary — powered by AI
A loophole within the EatClub app’s “Business Profile” feature may allow employees to personally benefit from company-expensed meals. The app, which offers real-time dining discounts of up to 50% at participating restaurants, includes a function designed for business dining.
When an employee uses the “Business Profile” for a work-related meal, their linked credit or debit card is charged the full, undiscounted price of the meal. However, instead of the discount being applied to the business expense, the equivalent value of the discount is converted into “Dining Credit” within the user’s EatClub account. This Dining Credit can then be used by the employee for personal meals in the future, effectively allowing them to profit from their company’s spending.
EatClub’s system, updated as of August and September 2026, states that when a Business Profile is used, the user is “not eligible for a discount or other Offer” and the full transaction amount is charged. However, “as an incentive to use the EatClub app, the amount of any applicable Offer will be added to your EatClub wallet as Dining Credit by EatClub.” This credit can accumulate and be used for future personal dining, though it generally expires six months after being issued and cannot be earned on bills where a discount already applies. EatClub charges a service fee on transactions, ranging from 1% to 6% of the bill, with a minimum of $0.20 as of August 2026.
The app aims to help restaurants fill empty tables by offering dynamic discounts, often higher during off-peak hours. While EatClub offers benefits to both diners and venues, the business profile feature raises questions about corporate expense policies and potential misuse.