Ridiculous things your company has done to reduce travel expenses
Dec 5, 2016, 2:49 pm
#1261
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 135
I worked at the British Rail York Regional Headquarters for several years... Staff could claim breakfast allowance if they departed their home station, in this case York, before 0800, and for years this train was deliberately timed to depart York at 0801 in order to prevent them from claiming breakfast allowance.
Dec 5, 2016, 4:23 pm
#1262
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 349
The Chief Operating Manager was in overall charge of the timing section, and it was in his interest that this train departed York after 0800 as most of those who used it to travel to meetings were train planing/timing staff who came under his jurisdiction. This was back in the days when the Newcastle-Bristol services were locomotive hauled. All changed when the timetable was re-cast to coincide with the introduction of High Speed Trains onto the route.
Shortly before I left the railway, during the run up to privatisation of the industry, scale expenses were abolished and replaced by a system which required claimants to submit receipts.
Last edited by Nuff Said; Dec 5, 2016 at 6:03 pm Reason: Additional paragraph
Dec 5, 2016, 4:24 pm
#1263
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PDX
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, AS, SPG, MR, IHG, PC
Posts: 862
Dec 5, 2016, 6:02 pm
#1264
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Most of our other policies are pretty sane, so I'm fine with the occasional inconvenience.
Mike
Dec 5, 2016, 10:50 pm
#1265
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Second week battle with T/E team which has been outsourced to Phillipines. They required receipts for $5 charge at SFO for luggage card and receipts at Starbucks for $8, $9, and $12. Also my receipt for dinner for $29 was denied because the total showed $90. My explanation that the receipt was splitted by three was not taken either.
Dec 5, 2016, 10:57 pm
#1266
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
I knew that Brits have peculiar sense of humor but this beats all of these....
Dec 6, 2016, 12:39 am
#1267
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 349
It may look like a joke, but those who were prevented from claiming breakfast allowance for the sake of a minute may beg to differ. I only wish I still had the timetables from the period concerned. My job was in current operations control and never involved attending meetings.
Dec 6, 2016, 2:15 am
#1268
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
I must say that I don't even find it that unreasonable. If you can control the schedule why not look at it from a company view. Lots of people travel before 8:00 and pay for their own breakfast (something different than those staying overnight for work....).
Dec 6, 2016, 3:20 am
#1269
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 349
It was an agreement between the then nationalised British Rail and the unions, and finished in about 1996. Specific times were laid down as to what could be claimed and how much. Away from home station on or before 0800 meant breakfast allowance could be claimed, 0801 or later, no, and that meant just that! The allowances were increased by the rate of inflation every year, and it was a nice little earner for those who attended lots of meetings away from their home station, as it was paid as a right without scrutiny or question from the industries bean counters.
Dec 6, 2016, 6:26 am
#1270
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Staffordshire UK
Programs: FB LT Plat, BA LTG, LH HON
Posts: 273
Thanks, nice of you to say that.
The Chief Operating Manager was in overall charge of the timing section, and it was in his interest that this train departed York after 0800 as most of those who used it to travel to meetings were train planing/timing staff who came under his jurisdiction. This was back in the days when the Newcastle-Bristol services were locomotive hauled. All changed when the timetable was re-cast to coincide with the introduction of High Speed Trains onto the route.
Shortly before I left the railway, during the run up to privatisation of the industry, scale expenses were abolished and replaced by a system which required claimants to submit receipts.
The Chief Operating Manager was in overall charge of the timing section, and it was in his interest that this train departed York after 0800 as most of those who used it to travel to meetings were train planing/timing staff who came under his jurisdiction. This was back in the days when the Newcastle-Bristol services were locomotive hauled. All changed when the timetable was re-cast to coincide with the introduction of High Speed Trains onto the route.
Shortly before I left the railway, during the run up to privatisation of the industry, scale expenses were abolished and replaced by a system which required claimants to submit receipts.
Dec 7, 2016, 10:13 pm
#1271
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: XXX and sometimes YYY
Programs: DL DM, Hilton DM
Posts: 440
I worked at the BR Research Division in Derby and we had the bizarre situation of being able to choose either scheme on a case-by-case basis. They were also late to the game in paying expenses into bank accounts, and you used to have to queue at the cash office to get your expenses in cash. As I worked on international schemes, I spent many nervous moments walking along London Road with many hundreds of pounds in my pocket en route to the bank.
Dec 8, 2016, 8:47 am
#1272
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Second week battle with T/E team which has been outsourced to Phillipines. They required receipts for $5 charge at SFO for luggage card and receipts at Starbucks for $8, $9, and $12. Also my receipt for dinner for $29 was denied because the total showed $90. My explanation that the receipt was splitted by three was not taken either.
We now have incorporated the existing consulting per-diem policy into the Travel Policy. Consultants travelling for 5 days or more can claim a daily per diem without providing receipts. The daily per diem is aligned with local tax laws and is USD 45 for all trips to SEA countries and USD 60 for all trips outside of SEA.
Honestly, I am happier with new policy. My current ER took four weeks to be approved after being denied with above mentioned Starbucks expenses.
Dec 8, 2016, 2:29 pm
#1273
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Today got following Travel Policy update:
Before than it was USD 70 for SEA countries and USD 110 for US/CA/EU/AU/NZ. But, every receipt has to be provided.
Honestly, I am happier with new policy. My current ER took four weeks to be approved after being denied with above mentioned Starbucks expenses.
Before than it was USD 70 for SEA countries and USD 110 for US/CA/EU/AU/NZ. But, every receipt has to be provided.
Honestly, I am happier with new policy. My current ER took four weeks to be approved after being denied with above mentioned Starbucks expenses.
Dec 8, 2016, 7:31 pm
#1274
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Dec 8, 2016, 7:32 pm
#1275
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900