For those of you who travel for work...

[TheoPetro]

I have been asked to write up a compensation plan for people that need to travel and stay overnight to work. I have a few ideas but would like your input first. Basically how much do you get for meals, is gas covered, hotel, extra pay?

 

[Albis]

Gas - IRS rates
Meals and other expenses - Actuals with receipt for meals over $25 bucks or follow the government set per diems for the geographic area

 

[JS80]

gas + per diem

 

[GTaudiophile]

Reimbursed in full for hotel (room + tax only), flight, and car rental/taxi/metro/bus costs.
For meals we have an allowance.
If we have to use personal transport, we are reimbursed in Euro/Km...which we convert to Dollar/Mile...and make a killing 😛
Incidentals like FedEx kinkos, materials costs, etc. are also reimbursed in full.

 

[jhayx7]

I use my own car. I submit an expense report, get paid .485 cents a mile (I think that is the new rate) and all meals I get re-imbursed for. If I am staying out of state, I put everything on the corporate credit card.

 

[TheoPetro]

whats the typical allowance for meals? and how much is a normal meal?

A normal meal here can be had for ~$13 including a drink and tip but our guys are usualy dropping 25 a meal and its going to have to stop. Especially with all of the new long distance work we are getting.

 

[Albis]

At work for me, any meal being reimbursed for less than $25 bucks can be done so without a receipt. So ... I'm sure people spend 10 bucks and just book 20 and pocket the extra cash.

I would say $25 bucks for dinner is plenty for most people in most cities.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

per diem allowances will need to be calculated based on the cost for that city/geography. should be $50 or less. if the city is listed as top 15 most expensive in the world then expect your per diem at $60 or higher per day.

gas, car rental, hotel, flights, other ground transportation expenses including airport parking and toll-way fees should all be reimbursed in full.

 

[JS80]

i used to get $42/day in 2005 in Los Angeles with no receipts.

 

[Dunbar]

We get to spend up to $50 a day for food. Just don't skimp on food totals, after a day of traveling it's nice to have a good retaurant meal. I ain't eating McDonalds every meal while I'm already busting ass on the road.

Other option would be to give them a per diem of like $25 day. When people have cash in hand they'll start eating real cheap.

Hotel, airfare, rental car etc. are pretty much left up to our discretion. I check the travel websites to compare and choose something decent but never even remotely luxurious.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

per diem for food is based on where the location is. Maybe $30 or so. Then all travel expenses are reimbursed.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Originally posted by: Albis
Gas - IRS rates
Meals and other expenses - Actuals with receipt for meals over $25 bucks or follow the government set per diems for the geographic area

Pretty much the same here.

 

[vital]

Employees are entitled to the total amount per diem based on location. So if the per diem for meals is $50/day and you only spend $25, you still keep the $25. Lodging is based on location. If the lodging per diem for a location is $75/night and you can find a hotel for $70/night, you pocket the extra $5 per night. People at my company can pocket a lot of $$$ just from traveling. And the extra $$ won't be taxed because it is all categorized as job expense regardless whether you actually spent that much!

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: Dunbar
We get to spend up to $50 a day for food. Just don't skimp on food totals, after a day of traveling it's nice to have a good retaurant meal. I ain't eating McDonalds every meal while I'm already busting ass on the road.

Other option would be to give them a per diem of like $25 day. When people have cash in hand they'll start eating real cheap.

Hotel, airfare, rental car etc. are pretty much left up to our discretion. I check the travel websites to compare and choose something decent but never even remotely luxurious.

If you told me to travel, overnight, and only gave me $25 a day for per diem, id tell you to shove your Jackson and Lincoln up your tight arse.

Being on the road, out of town, away from your family sucks a big one. Having to budget and eat at cheap, bad-for-you places so you don't spend more than $25 is insulting.

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: TheoPetro
whats the typical allowance for meals? and how much is a normal meal?

A normal meal here can be had for ~$13 including a drink and tip but our guys are usualy dropping 25 a meal and its going to have to stop. Especially with all of the new long distance work we are getting.

It just depends on where I am staying. Savanah and the Tri-area of NC are a bit more expensive than some places I go.

I would say:
$5 breakfast
$10 lunch
$20 dinner

I try to eat at local places and avoid chains. Most of the time I have a beer or two with dinner to relax before I go back to the hotel.