Business trips - what's the norm?

aaf

I'll be working a few days in the West next week and I'll need to stay overnight. It's the first time since I started a year ago that I'll have to stay overnight for a job. Now, my boss is trying to organise a hotel for me. What is the situation re expenses? I take it all food will be put down as expenses. What about time worked etc? I'll probably have to work late on the first night but am I entitled to any time off or anything for the fact that I'll be staying away from home or is that just part of working on a business trip? Can't find any info on oasis.gov website. Thanks.

[Jackass]

As far as I know, all travel and accomidation cost should be subsidised by the employer by law, but after that, it's at their discretion for any expenses.

But I would imagine any employer would be fairly flexible on this, but I would suggest to negotiate all this before you leave.

If I was in your position I would request Full Accomidation, Full Travel expenses, Full food expenses, Overtime pay, and (depending on how regular these trips will be) a agreement to extended paid holiday leave.

I wouldn't imagine you're entiltled to extra time off, but don't be afraid to request everything, worst case scenario they'll just reject some of the requests, but morethan lkely they'll negotiate something.

[Edit]

Actually, if you want exact info. becasue now that I think about it I'm unsure, you should contact the department directly, and they'll give you all the relevant info:

Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, 23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Telephone: +353 1 631 2121

LoCall: 1890 220 222

Fax: +353 1 631 2827

E-Mail: info@entemp.ie

nesf

I think accomodation and travel have to be paid for. I've always been allowed to put food expenses on my expenses account when I'm on the road and in my experience employers do generally give you something towards food.

But I'd agree with DubGuy and I'd have a chat to your employer about it and give those numbers a ring to be sure.

Iago

normally accom and travel are paid for. If I'm travelling outside the country I fly over the night before and expense the hotel for that night as well. Generally main meals are expensed, but the mini-bar and drinks aren't included.

There's usually some flexability although I've never taken time in lieu, but that's not to say you shouldn't look for it!

Borzoi

aaf wrote:

expenses. What about time worked etc? I'll probably have to work late on the first night but am I entitled to any time off or anything for the fact that I'll be staying away from home or is that just part of working on a business trip? Can't find any info on oasis.gov website. Thanks.

Food and accom should be fully covered by your employer (check the revnue guide for rates etc) All companies have different patterns for business trip behaviour - in mine, I don't get overtime anyway, so working late is not an issue, but on the way back from a trip, I won't drive past my door at 4pm, if I've been on the road since 6am. I doubt you'll get any specail time in lieu just because you were away, but if you do normally get OT in your office, you should get thet if you do work late while away.

The revenue and civil service rates are here

Zaph0d

see if your employer will agree to a fixed per diem rate. That way you don't have to collect loads of bits of paper and your boss doesn't get a shock when you hand him the bill. Also you can be really scabby and make money by staying in nasty b&bs and subsisting on pot noodle.

deRanged

You should definitely check - some places will do a per diem, which you can basically spend as you will, no need to hand in receipts, others will want receipts for everything, and there may be limits on what you can claim.
My current employer has a huge spreadsheet of cities in the world which gives the amount you can claim for hotel + food in any 24 hour period.
You can stay in a cheaper hotel and eat more, or vice versa

Just ask - they'll have the info on hand - and I'd keep receipts for everything, even if they don't explicitly require them.

Gandhi

I think the concensus is pretty much to just ask what your employer's own policy is.

My own experience (in several companies) has been that I pay for everything myself up front, and then get reimbursed afterwards. In one (very large) company, they gave everyone a company credit card and you use that for all expenses etc. The bill goes straight to the company, which makes life easier for everyone.

If you are going to be travelling a lot for work, make sure you get credit cards that give you points, sign up for frequent flier programs, hotel chain reward programs etc. It's amazing how quickly you can build up rewards when you travel regularly.