kipper

Same here. I'd never pay it, nor would I expect anyone to pay it for me.

cyclogenesis

Yep, that's it! Work never stays at work...

stut

I almost always take time to explore a city that I visit on business - and I insist on staying in a city centre when I travel. If I finish early, and have no additional work I can usefully do, I have zero problem using the time as I see fit.

Any boss or customer who has a problem with the work I produce as a result can feel free to take it up with me and I will happily demonstrate their error.

If it's about the principle of time allocation, then they can remember all the evenings and weekends I've given up for them. Again, I'm more than happy to demonstrate how much this extends to.

brendog

How is that sad? My company or my client is paying for my travel, thus they have the right to expect that I will dedicate all of my time whilst travelling on their dime to value-added activities.

Penbank

If there is something interesting to do or place to visit, yes.

If not I call and SDC onto an earlier flight home.

UA_Eagle

Perhaps they do have the right to expect that of you, although I think some businesses wouldn't mind letting you relax for a few hours on their account, if you've done what they expected you to do and you finished early without any problems and the client is happy with the work, ESPECIALLY if you've had to work long hours or make other form of sacrifice. A good way to boost your morale, in other words.

But if you like to keep working anyway, go for it.

djk7

If you're referring to the business day, I can see your point. If are including evenings and weekends away from home during a biz trip, I agree that's sad. Neither my boss or customers expect all of my waking hours during a trip to be dedicated to business.

stonecrd

I think it just comes done to what you think is a fair/equitable situation for you and your company if you are out on business. I will routinely pay $50-$100 to get home 2-4 hours early from a business trip and my company has no problem with that. I would not pay $300+ to do the same, just does not seem to be a fair expense in my mind. Same would be true on longer duration I may pay $500 to get home a couple of days early but not $1000+

There is a value to my time and my company values my well being and we seem to have set the bar in the right place. I've have not had a single expense report issue in over 24 years of business travel.

~tc~

My view is they are paying you to travel to accomplish a certain function.

If you satisfactorily complete that function in less time, your reward is to get to do some sightseeing.

Look at it the other way, perhaps. What happens if your work takes longer than budgeted? Do you make the client pay for the extra nights or trip? I bet you do.

Also, if its about what the client is paying - do you fly the cheapest possible fare, or what works for your schedule and FFP preferences?

cyclogenesis

But if it is no cost and great benefit you should be doing it!

rmbl

I'd probably chose to stay and make the best of it. In the grand scheme of things, how often will you get to spend extra days in Japan? Savor the opportunity.

With that said, I have colleagues who would do otherwise. It's your call, based on your priorities.

warthog1984

Correction, your company has a right to expect that you will dedicate your normal working hours to value-added activities or supporting activities (travel time, prep, etc...) plus a reasonable amount of overtime as needed to maintain project scheduling, and that their money will not be used primarily for personal use.

If you efficiently conduct company business and use nights/weekends for your own enjoyment or your efficiency creates extra time that you are not reasonably able to use for productive purposes, its called being a professional.

A professional's clients aren't buying x number of work hours or y reams of output, they are buying a solution to their problem. If instead of spending time to take care of yourself & your needs, you dedicate yourself 24/7 to a project, but start making mistakes because of fatigue or get burned-out, the client is going to be much less happy than if you had delivered a quality solution that may have taken a bit more time.

rmiller774

Why not email up the line to see what your company wants you to do?

Santander

I pretty much don't work on weekends even if I'm on a business trip (although I answer calls and take some e-mails). Obviously you're under some time constraints so occasional light overtime may be necessary, but I would quit my job if my employer told me to work pretty much all day, everyday on business trips.

Ancien Maestro

My recommendation, if the trip has anything to do with company dime..