Work travel - accommodation
Discussion
Man, try being self employed!
Currently trying to find a room in Newcastle that is covered by the expenses I am getting - either I am in a cheap hotel in town with no facilities (and have to pay out for eating out) or a slightly cheaper AirBnB with kitchen etc. further out and spend my time/money getting there! The expenses rate just about covers the accommodation - if you're eating out 3 times a day you start to wonder why you took on the work as you don't go home with much of the fee!
Currently trying to find a room in Newcastle that is covered by the expenses I am getting - either I am in a cheap hotel in town with no facilities (and have to pay out for eating out) or a slightly cheaper AirBnB with kitchen etc. further out and spend my time/money getting there! The expenses rate just about covers the accommodation - if you're eating out 3 times a day you start to wonder why you took on the work as you don't go home with much of the fee!
I think you're getting a s
t deal.
I travel a lot for work, but I'm lucky that the travel policy is extremely generous. The only expectation is that you take into account convenience and cost when deciding your travel arrangements.
The company has a list of 'approved hotels' in almost every major city in the world - they're all 4 or 5 star. We can pick from any on the list. In places where there are no approved hotels, basically anything goes.
The only constraint is that, if questioned, you can show reasonable justification for your travel choices on grounds of convenience and cost.
t deal. I travel a lot for work, but I'm lucky that the travel policy is extremely generous. The only expectation is that you take into account convenience and cost when deciding your travel arrangements.
The company has a list of 'approved hotels' in almost every major city in the world - they're all 4 or 5 star. We can pick from any on the list. In places where there are no approved hotels, basically anything goes.
The only constraint is that, if questioned, you can show reasonable justification for your travel choices on grounds of convenience and cost.
Vandenberg said:
No baw bags, its been policy at a number of places I have worked at, along with stuff like, any longer than a 5 hr flight you get an upgrade.
Perhaps you have worked at crap companies who don't value their employees.
It seems an odd policy - do they audit the quality of your house/living arrangements as part of your expense claims? Is somebody who lives in a 5-bed detached entitled to a better hotel than somebody who lives with their parents/in a bedit? Perhaps you have worked at crap companies who don't value their employees.
Ours is fairly straightfoward. £150 for a hotel outside London, £200 in London/Europe. If you stay away/abroad in your own accommodation or with friends/family you get an allowance of £60.
ETA and whatever you like if you're the CEO
Greetings from Barcelona...
Thanks for the responses. So, it turns out I’ve been upgraded…. to the double room! I’ll take a photo of it for a laugh. To confirm my opinion that the office manager (also “managing” the keys to the flat) has no clue what she is doing, she had no idea earlier that one of the UK sales guys had stayed in the flat for a couple of nights last week upon his return from the UK. It really is a shambles!
Regarding having slept on the sofa back in May; rest assured I made that well known the next day and the whole office knows about it – and I’m able to see the funny side now. I had looked online at booking a room at the usual hotel (where the company has a corporate rate) but because it was just after midnight I couldn’t look at immediate availability. I should have called the hotel but didn’t.
I had it confirmed by my boss on Thursday that having spoken to the CEO, the company will not again be putting me up in the hotel and the same will also apply to my colleague (budget etc). This is a shame and I will consider asking my boss for a longer gap between my visits here – and hope that a television will be put in the flat in the meantime.
Thanks for the responses. So, it turns out I’ve been upgraded…. to the double room! I’ll take a photo of it for a laugh. To confirm my opinion that the office manager (also “managing” the keys to the flat) has no clue what she is doing, she had no idea earlier that one of the UK sales guys had stayed in the flat for a couple of nights last week upon his return from the UK. It really is a shambles!
Regarding having slept on the sofa back in May; rest assured I made that well known the next day and the whole office knows about it – and I’m able to see the funny side now. I had looked online at booking a room at the usual hotel (where the company has a corporate rate) but because it was just after midnight I couldn’t look at immediate availability. I should have called the hotel but didn’t.
I had it confirmed by my boss on Thursday that having spoken to the CEO, the company will not again be putting me up in the hotel and the same will also apply to my colleague (budget etc). This is a shame and I will consider asking my boss for a longer gap between my visits here – and hope that a television will be put in the flat in the meantime.
Vandenberg said:
No baw bags, its been policy at a number of places I have worked at, along with stuff like, any longer than a 5 hr flight you get an upgrade.
Perhaps you have worked at crap companies who don't value their employees.
On the contrary, our current expenses policy is if anything on the generous side. Certainly the quality of hotel room is far nicer than my bedroom at home.Perhaps you have worked at crap companies who don't value their employees.
It's just that the thought of there being a documented policy of being 'as comfortable as your own home' seems rather wooly and far-fetched. As others have said, perhaps you could post a scan of your employee handbook with that wording?
Countdown said:
It seems an odd policy - do they audit the quality of your house/living arrangements as part of your expense claims? Is somebody who lives in a 5-bed detached entitled to a better hotel than somebody who lives with their parents/in a bedit?
Ours is fairly straightfoward. £150 for a hotel outside London, £200 in London/Europe. If you stay away/abroad in your own accommodation or with friends/family you get an allowance of £60.
ETA and whatever you like if you're the CEO
It wasn't literal in the sense they audit your house and find an equivalent I don't have a swimming pool and gym but often the hotels work choose do, in practice it seems to translate as a 4* Hotel reasonably close to client site/conference centre etc with a decent T&E allowance with some flexibility on booze allowance.Ours is fairly straightfoward. £150 for a hotel outside London, £200 in London/Europe. If you stay away/abroad in your own accommodation or with friends/family you get an allowance of £60.
ETA and whatever you like if you're the CEO
swerni said:
Back to my point.
Are they going to supply me with a 3000 square foot house?
I'd love to see the wording of any contract that says what you've claimed.
Seeing as you've had this at a number of places, I'm sure you'll be able to share.
Don't be silly, of course it won't be contractual nor so literal.Are they going to supply me with a 3000 square foot house?
I'd love to see the wording of any contract that says what you've claimed.
Seeing as you've had this at a number of places, I'm sure you'll be able to share.
It will mean the same as home in the sense you have easy access to decent meals, a bed to yourself, space to work, your own bathroom and complete privacy. You wouldn't get this in a shared flat.
Morning all,
As an update, I seem to have deleted the photo of the double room but having confirmed with the office manager when I was out there, the double room is made up for anyone staying, which is weird because if in one of the other rooms you have to make the bed.
Anyway, had the place to myself, apart from when one of the UK guys went back there for lunch one day and didn't wash up anything. I made clear my dismay to the office manager the next day saying if someone's not sleeping there, they shouldn't have the keys! She doesn't have a clue... .
Having checked with my boss this morning, I'm pleased to report he hasn't booked my flights for this month and November, so I've asked him to "give me a break" for October, so that'll be good. Now I've got to do my expenses for September's trip....
As an update, I seem to have deleted the photo of the double room but having confirmed with the office manager when I was out there, the double room is made up for anyone staying, which is weird because if in one of the other rooms you have to make the bed.
Anyway, had the place to myself, apart from when one of the UK guys went back there for lunch one day and didn't wash up anything. I made clear my dismay to the office manager the next day saying if someone's not sleeping there, they shouldn't have the keys! She doesn't have a clue... .
Having checked with my boss this morning, I'm pleased to report he hasn't booked my flights for this month and November, so I've asked him to "give me a break" for October, so that'll be good. Now I've got to do my expenses for September's trip....
I've done jobs where I've slept in big dorm full of bunk beds where you bring your own sleeping bag, and even spent a few nights in a tent on that one. On other jobs we've been in a 5 star hotel (partly because it was owned by a relative of the customer which sounds dodgy as hell to me).
If it's only a few nights or there's a good reason for it (there was in the first example) I don't really mind. Just spent several months in the Netherlands and rented a flat as it worked out a lot less hassle than a hotel and cheaper.
If it's only a few nights or there's a good reason for it (there was in the first example) I don't really mind. Just spent several months in the Netherlands and rented a flat as it worked out a lot less hassle than a hotel and cheaper.
As a rule, always try and book and pay for the accommodation yourself and then expense it back to your company. Not only do you get to choose where you stay, you can also book everything via Quidco/Topcashback and then Hotels.com and you'll earn yourself 20%+ for each night. Also, if self-employed, try and negotiate a higher day rate rather than paid expenses. It's much more flexible. You can save money by staying at cheap places or stay someone nice occasionally if you fancy a change.
Any decent company will listen to the concerns of their employees with regards to travel. It's one of the biggest causes of losing staff - the amount of travel (time away from home) and conditions of travel (accommodation, expenses etc). If people aren't happy, they'll leave.
Any decent company will listen to the concerns of their employees with regards to travel. It's one of the biggest causes of losing staff - the amount of travel (time away from home) and conditions of travel (accommodation, expenses etc). If people aren't happy, they'll leave.
erm, im completely dismayed by this thread!
I just don't get it, you spent a night on a sofa due to a mix up?
When I worked away a lot I used to just keep a credit card for work stuff and if any mix up happened id just pay whatever to get myself sorted and have a comfortable night then claim it back.
I just don't get it, you spent a night on a sofa due to a mix up?
When I worked away a lot I used to just keep a credit card for work stuff and if any mix up happened id just pay whatever to get myself sorted and have a comfortable night then claim it back.
Evening all,
Further to starting this thread, I have declared myself out of more Barcelona trips until next year. I want to reconcile my expenses and ensure that I'm square with the employer (or rather, that they're square with me).
To have a little rant, my boss is doing his stint in Barcelona this week, back on Thursday. My other direct colleague is on holiday and two sales people based here (London) are at an event having meetings/drumming up new business and won't be in the office until Weds PM.
I've just called my boss to ask to work from home tomorrow as I've worked in the office on my own today, and he has said no on the basis that there always needs to be someone in the office!
I can divert my phone if necessary, and, being in a serviced office, the post gets dropped off regardless of if someone's here or not!
Further to starting this thread, I have declared myself out of more Barcelona trips until next year. I want to reconcile my expenses and ensure that I'm square with the employer (or rather, that they're square with me).
To have a little rant, my boss is doing his stint in Barcelona this week, back on Thursday. My other direct colleague is on holiday and two sales people based here (London) are at an event having meetings/drumming up new business and won't be in the office until Weds PM.
I've just called my boss to ask to work from home tomorrow as I've worked in the office on my own today, and he has said no on the basis that there always needs to be someone in the office!
I can divert my phone if necessary, and, being in a serviced office, the post gets dropped off regardless of if someone's here or not!
ComoEstas said:
Evening all,
Further to starting this thread, I have declared myself out of more Barcelona trips until next year. I want to reconcile my expenses and ensure that I'm square with the employer (or rather, that they're square with me).
To have a little rant, my boss is doing his stint in Barcelona this week, back on Thursday. My other direct colleague is on holiday and two sales people based here (London) are at an event having meetings/drumming up new business and won't be in the office until Weds PM.
I've just called my boss to ask to work from home tomorrow as I've worked in the office on my own today, and he has said no on the basis that there always needs to be someone in the office!
I can divert my phone if necessary, and, being in a serviced office, the post gets dropped off regardless of if someone's here or not!
Find a new job if it is such an imposition. Further to starting this thread, I have declared myself out of more Barcelona trips until next year. I want to reconcile my expenses and ensure that I'm square with the employer (or rather, that they're square with me).
To have a little rant, my boss is doing his stint in Barcelona this week, back on Thursday. My other direct colleague is on holiday and two sales people based here (London) are at an event having meetings/drumming up new business and won't be in the office until Weds PM.
I've just called my boss to ask to work from home tomorrow as I've worked in the office on my own today, and he has said no on the basis that there always needs to be someone in the office!
I can divert my phone if necessary, and, being in a serviced office, the post gets dropped off regardless of if someone's here or not!
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