Originally Posted by
braslvr
As an employer, I logically decide you are going to get $20-25 a day per diem. Maybe slightly higher in certain cities. It's not an exact science. If you negotiate a higher amount, I will negotiate it right out of your base pay. I don't expect you to be able to eat breakfast, lunch, and a $22 dinner every day without chipping in yourself. I never expected it for myself, and I am far from alone. My employees over the years have by and large considered traveling for work to be a privilege not a burden. Special perks are rarely if ever asked for.
Be that as it may, good for you that your employer is willing to spend more for your meals.
Most people I know don't think travel is a privilege. Maybe if you're only hiring people in their early 20's and sending them to business trips to HKG, BKK or SIN, I might agree, but the regular worker having to travel certainly doesn't enjoy it too much, especially if it's less than great places.
My former and my current employeer do pay me whatever I spend on any restaurant I choose, up to a certain limit. (Which is generous enough) I'm free to choose if I eat a good steak and have a nice wine, or if I prefer some unhealthy junk food and lots of beers.. employeers shouldn't act as nannys.
I think a fixed day expenses isn't such a great idea - my former work had some departments running on it, and some (like mine) where we got reimbursed up to a certain limit of on the road.. you can imagine the discussions we had, when we were on a trip and had people from several departments with different policies..
So, have a limit which allows the workers on travel duty to eat good, but not splurge, is what I find correct. That means maybe having 10-15€ limit for lunch, 20-30€ for dinner, if you like to eat more expensive, please, go ahead, but the company don't need to pay it all.