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t out of you with powerpoint on a 20 watt projector - don't go.TheGuru said:
(unless you have a no receipt policy for purchases under £15, then you say you take taxis but take the bus instead)
This is the comment that is most disgusting to me - it's one thing doing the convenient thing for you when travelling - it is something completely different committing expenses fraud and stealing from your employer. If you worked in my team and got found out doing this, you'd be fired and everyone would be told exactly why....
Bob
fat80b said:
This is the comment that is most disgusting to me - it's one thing doing the convenient thing for you when travelling - it is something completely different committing expenses fraud and stealing from your employer.
If you worked in my team and got found out doing this, you'd be fired and everyone would be told exactly why....
Bob
I wouldn't do or condone what he's suggesting BUT I wonder why the policy would offer this choice? Probably a tax agreement with HMRC that means the company is playing the game too. Maybe just my cynicism.If you worked in my team and got found out doing this, you'd be fired and everyone would be told exactly why....
Bob
OT but;
Approving expenses for my team it's very easy to spot people who are "reasonable" and people who "take it to the limit". Guess who gets the most scrutiny (and rejections) and who get's the most occasional leeway.........
OT;
When going long haul I don't even try to sleep, I arrange flights to my schedule and use the time flying to catch up on films I've not seen. Just like a cinema but with a drinks service
Approving expenses for my team it's very easy to spot people who are "reasonable" and people who "take it to the limit". Guess who gets the most scrutiny (and rejections) and who get's the most occasional leeway.........
OT;
When going long haul I don't even try to sleep, I arrange flights to my schedule and use the time flying to catch up on films I've not seen. Just like a cinema but with a drinks service
Edited by WestyCarl on Saturday 15th July 14:07
schmalex said:
I couldn't disagree with you more.
If you worked in my team, your expenses would be under scrutiny every month until either:
A: You got pissed off and left
Or
B: you were moved out of the business for taking the piss
It's entirely up to you
My expenses are within policy, it's about using that to your advantage. If you worked in my team, your expenses would be under scrutiny every month until either:
A: You got pissed off and left
Or
B: you were moved out of the business for taking the piss
It's entirely up to you
For example, I need to to fly to New York on Monday - I search for flights departing at 8am and the lowest logical fare, in policy, comes back as Iceland Air. I'd rather take Virgin so retime my search for 10am so that the Iceland Air fare is excluded and the Virgin on is in policy. Usually taking sod all difference in fares.
Same with hotels - in fact I've often saved the company money by staying at non-preferred hotels.
You're team is obviously at quite a low level if expenses are scrutinised to that level
And the thing is, most of these tips were from the US execs I work for.
TheGuru said:
My expenses are within policy, it's about using that to your advantage.
If things are within policy then nobody has a problem, unless of course you are lying to stay within policy.... However I have to add that you are TheGuru said:
obviously at quite a low level
if it makes sense to lie to your employer about unreceipted expenses below 15 quid!! ....as for the "execs" advising you to do it, well in most tech & IT companies I think everybody above the teaboy is a vice president of something or other...
GT03ROB said:
if it makes sense to lie to your employer about unreceipted expenses below 15 quid!!
....as for the "execs" advising you to do it, well in most tech & IT companies I think everybody above the teaboy is a vice president of something or other...
My previous tech firm employer had less than 10 VPs in Europe, for about $25bn in revenue and c15,000 employees. So not always true. ....as for the "execs" advising you to do it, well in most tech & IT companies I think everybody above the teaboy is a vice president of something or other...
They did however have a crappy expenses policy for quite a few years - 12hr economy flights and straight to the office as an example. Fun fun fun...
wsurfa said:
They did however have a crappy expenses policy for quite a few years - 12hr economy flights and straight to the office as an example. Fun fun fun...
Yep done that.... 13hrs to Singapore in economy, hotel for 10min shower & change, to the fab shop, dinner with vendor, hotel for shower & change, back to airport 13hrs back to London again in economy.......as you say great fun....
TheGuru said:
schmalex said:
I couldn't disagree with you more.
If you worked in my team, your expenses would be under scrutiny every month until either:
A: You got pissed off and left
Or
B: you were moved out of the business for taking the piss
It's entirely up to you
My expenses are within policy, it's about using that to your advantage. If you worked in my team, your expenses would be under scrutiny every month until either:
A: You got pissed off and left
Or
B: you were moved out of the business for taking the piss
It's entirely up to you
For example, I need to to fly to New York on Monday - I search for flights departing at 8am and the lowest logical fare, in policy, comes back as Iceland Air. I'd rather take Virgin so retime my search for 10am so that the Iceland Air fare is excluded and the Virgin on is in policy. Usually taking sod all difference in fares.
Same with hotels - in fact I've often saved the company money by staying at non-preferred hotels.
You're team is obviously at quite a low level if expenses are scrutinised to that level
And the thing is, most of these tips were from the US execs I work for.
However, most people are trustworthy so it's just the few jokers who you have to watch.
It has nothing to do with what level the team members are at. In the defence industry, we have to be seen to be whiter than white. Particularly in my region - selling to emerging markets, where some of the client base have interesting ideas about ethics!
It does, however, say a lot about the employee if they want to continuously take too much of an advantage and go as far as to lie about their spend and commit fraud. IMO
Edited by schmalex on Sunday 16th July 11:10
TheGuru said:
You're team is obviously at quite a low level if expenses are scrutinised to that level
I had a boss for a while who would frequently query something, but never reject anything (I always acted like it was my money) - it was just like he had to make it known he was looking at them.My last big company boss never looked at our expenses - he'd just pass them on as authorised. I asked him about it once and he said our expenses were piddly compared to our guys on mainland Europe - job for job theirs were 3 to 5x the UK guys.
For the last fifteen years, I have travelled short haul regularly between UK and South-Eastern Europe.
Since March this year, LHR-MOS-LHR, every month.
Advice I have followed after reading an article in a KLM flight magazine over 10 years ago is:
Sit within five rows of an emergency exit.
Carry passport, wallet and phone, on your person while on the aircraft.
I also recommend joining frequent flyer clubs.
Even as a BA Executive Club bronze member
, I can reserve a seat for free seven days in advance of departure, enjoy priority boarding and have been upgraded twice in the past three months on MOS-LHR flights.
The same for car rental.
I don't spend much time in UK and rent a car when I visit.
Being a member of Europcar Privilege Club means I avoid the queues picking up my rental car, the annoyance of desk staff trying to upsell me additional insurance, etc, and I enjoy frequent free upgrades.
Since March this year, LHR-MOS-LHR, every month.
Advice I have followed after reading an article in a KLM flight magazine over 10 years ago is:
Sit within five rows of an emergency exit.
Carry passport, wallet and phone, on your person while on the aircraft.
I also recommend joining frequent flyer clubs.
Even as a BA Executive Club bronze member
, I can reserve a seat for free seven days in advance of departure, enjoy priority boarding and have been upgraded twice in the past three months on MOS-LHR flights.The same for car rental.
I don't spend much time in UK and rent a car when I visit.
Being a member of Europcar Privilege Club means I avoid the queues picking up my rental car, the annoyance of desk staff trying to upsell me additional insurance, etc, and I enjoy frequent free upgrades.
manwithbeard said:
I also recommend joining frequent flyer clubs.
Undoubtedly. I've paid for so many trips/upgrades over the years it crazy. I can't remember the last time I paid for an Australian domestic flight and I do about 4 a year on average. Trick is though, to try to always fly on the same alliance. Star Alliance and and Oneworld are the ones that work best in Asia/Pac, Skyteam not as much for my part of the world but this could differ where you live. Also, be careful of codeshare flights because they don't always earn points. For example, I'm with Oneworld through Cathay Pacific Marco Polo membership (where I'm Top Tier), but if I fly QANTAS (also Oneworld) to Europe and they use (non-Oneworld) Emirates as a codeshare partner, you only get points for the Emirates leg using a QANTAS membership, but my Cathay account doesn't earn any. It definitely pays to understand these quirks. If you are doing lots of flying it's worth signing up to www.flyertalk.com Lot's of useful information on there.
Edited by RBH58 on Monday 17th July 07:53
//j17 said:
You've got the Festival coming up next month (unless like your Edinburgh clients who say they need you on-site every other month suddenly see how much your hotel expenses are going to go up for August and suddenly decide it's NOT that important for you to be there...until Sept.). Certainly worth going in and catching a show.
Agreed that expenses should cover a few trips into town and they do. However, I'm going from Edinburgh to Heathrow, not the other way round. I occasionally jump on the Heathrow express into town but it does feel like a lot of effort.Get customers to give you firm dates before you book flights etc!
Spoke to one yesterday who gave me details for a visit to China, he confirmed the dates verbally with an itinerary for the visit. It's a short notice trip so I booked as much as could this morning for the dates given to me.
Email about 30 mins ago - all changed as their customer is away at a conference on the dates my customer said were rock solid....
So I've gotta move flights, cars etc
Spoke to one yesterday who gave me details for a visit to China, he confirmed the dates verbally with an itinerary for the visit. It's a short notice trip so I booked as much as could this morning for the dates given to me.
Email about 30 mins ago - all changed as their customer is away at a conference on the dates my customer said were rock solid....
So I've gotta move flights, cars etc
I have two wash bags stocked and ready to go: one if I'm checking in hold luggage, one if I'm doing carry on only. Saves a lot of faffing around when packing.
Suit carrier rather suitcase - arrive at hotel, unclip the hangers and hang straight into hotel wardrobe.
If you're heading somewhere that requires to submit an entry card at passport control, make sure you have a pen on on you and the hotel details so you can complete the form on the plane. You can complete on arrival but mostly the pens they provide make the Argos ones look like MontBlancs.
Ignore the signs above the passport control booths that tell you what type of passport is accepted at each booth. If there's a bloke in the booth, just present yourself with your passport. I've never been asked to go to another booth.
Suit carrier rather suitcase - arrive at hotel, unclip the hangers and hang straight into hotel wardrobe.
If you're heading somewhere that requires to submit an entry card at passport control, make sure you have a pen on on you and the hotel details so you can complete the form on the plane. You can complete on arrival but mostly the pens they provide make the Argos ones look like MontBlancs.
Ignore the signs above the passport control booths that tell you what type of passport is accepted at each booth. If there's a bloke in the booth, just present yourself with your passport. I've never been asked to go to another booth.
TheGuru said:
Pay as much as possible on personal cards so you get the points (learn how to maximise reimbursements with the exchange rate on your expense system)
Don't do cheap things, like taking buses instead of taxis to save your company money. (unless you have a no receipt policy for purchases under £15, then you say you take taxis but take the bus instead)
Don't do cheap things, like taking buses instead of taxis to save your company money. (unless you have a no receipt policy for purchases under £15, then you say you take taxis but take the bus instead)
Are you serious ?You recommend lying about taking a taxi and claiming the limit whilst spending a lower amount on a bus. Does the extra few pounds make that much difference ?
If you maximise reimbursements on FX when it goes your way, what about when it is the opposite, do you take the charge ?
Why maximise, just claim the amount your card issuer charges you in GBP from your statement ?
The irony is you suggest people whose expenses need scrutinising are 'low level' !
Even the most junior person in my company wouldn't do what you're suggesting.
Back on topic, some very good tips here. Some I can relate to, some which are new to me that I'll need to try.
Its not always possible - depending on company booking systems but if you are able to use TopCashback (or similar, Quidco etc) then the cash back can add up for hotels / flights / travel.
Another slant on the hotel loyalty programs is that if you cannot guarantee that you will be in the same chain then I use Hotels.com, where after 10 nights you get a hotel voucher (free night - average value of the hotel you are booking)
Another slant on the hotel loyalty programs is that if you cannot guarantee that you will be in the same chain then I use Hotels.com, where after 10 nights you get a hotel voucher (free night - average value of the hotel you are booking)
This is a very simple one but I recently realised that travelling with a suit was a bit of a pain. Generally I wear it when travelling but sometimes it has to go into the case.
I asked myself, "do I really need to wear this?"
Looking round the office there is a mixture of suits, smart business-casual and even more relaxed dress. Having been on this assignment for a while I'm comfortable that the client doesn't need to see me in a suit to have confidence me. I've now ditched the suits and wear smart business-casual which tends to be discreetly coloured chinos (hate that word), a business shirt and smart shoes.
Packing just got a little easier.
I asked myself, "do I really need to wear this?"
Looking round the office there is a mixture of suits, smart business-casual and even more relaxed dress. Having been on this assignment for a while I'm comfortable that the client doesn't need to see me in a suit to have confidence me. I've now ditched the suits and wear smart business-casual which tends to be discreetly coloured chinos (hate that word), a business shirt and smart shoes.
Packing just got a little easier.
Vee said:
TheGuru said:
Pay as much as possible on personal cards so you get the points (learn how to maximise reimbursements with the exchange rate on your expense system)
Don't do cheap things, like taking buses instead of taxis to save your company money. (unless you have a no receipt policy for purchases under £15, then you say you take taxis but take the bus instead)
Don't do cheap things, like taking buses instead of taxis to save your company money. (unless you have a no receipt policy for purchases under £15, then you say you take taxis but take the bus instead)
Are you serious ?You recommend lying about taking a taxi and claiming the limit whilst spending a lower amount on a bus. Does the extra few pounds make that much difference ?
If you maximise reimbursements on FX when it goes your way, what about when it is the opposite, do you take the charge ?
Why maximise, just claim the amount your card issuer charges you in GBP from your statement ?
The irony is you suggest people whose expenses need scrutinising are 'low level' !
Even the most junior person in my company wouldn't do what you're suggesting.
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