New company, no benefits yet, asked to travel on own $$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll try to simplify the backstory: Husband is a DoD contractor; his company just lost the recompete for long-running government contract. His company has washed their hands of the employees on the contract, but the company that won the new contract has extended offers to the existing employees to stay on board (we realize the new company doesn't HAVE to do this, and are grateful). New company is offering the positions at 50% paycuts (minimum...most people are losing more) and although they offer insurance we'll be paying more than quadruple what we're currently paying. Husband was already way underpaid so it's killllling us financially but we're rolling with the punches and he's applying for new jobs like crazy.

Here's the thing: the new company takes over on Friday. Pay cuts are immediate (ouch). New benefits (health, life insurance, etc.) won't kick in until the May 1. We're crossing our fingers everyone stays healthy so we don't have to pay the almost $2K for Cobra for those couple of weeks. The company is requiring that DH travel next week - cross country, with no health or life insurance coverage, ON HIS OWN DIME. It will cost several thousand dollars, and there's a "promise" (not yet secured in writing) of reimbursement. I'm completely opposed to the idea of putting that much money on our personal credit cards without any reimbursement plan (especially since DH is actively looking for a new job and could possibly be putting in notice soon. Will they pay him back if he's bailing on them?). Given the severity of pay cuts and the virtually nonexistent benefits, I'm just skeptical about their ability to pay employees back for such an expensive trip. And it makes me nervous that he's traveling without life or health insurance. We haven't taken out a life insurance policy beyond what our workplaces have offered, and it'll be the first thing we do once he's in a new job and we have the funds. We're hanging on by a thread right now.

WWYD?

USAMRIID? Is DH in IT Division?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god no. Never.

Forget reimbursement: it's just not how it's done in any company anymore. They cover the costs or he doesn't go. It's non negotiable.

LOL that just isn't true. DH is a defense contractor- publicly traded company- all travel goes into our credit card and is reimbursed. We love it- we rack up points and miles like there is no tomorrow. Was exact same with last publicly traded defense contractor and the private defense integrator before that. 17 year history of this sort- weekly or bi weekly travel.

OP in your situation id worry less about this travel business and focus on him finding a new job stat.

[Anonymous]

I have won several of these service contract act (SCA) contracts recently. Sadly, they're usually done this way to adjust the contract down from what the govt thinks is an overinflated cost. Your DH did nothing wrong, and the company that won the contract did nothing wrong, they won based on the positions and requirements the government procured. This is why there's a pay cut involved. However, never would we ask an employee to pay for travel out of his own pocket without getting reimbursed. Employees use their own credit cards and are reimbursed rather quickly. This is very common at a lot of small companies, and some large ones. In a lot of cases, we front employees money (especially Jr ones) for travel, or we have corporate book and pay for travel. Travel is reimbursed by the contract, so it makes no sense that the company wouldn't pay for employee travel. He may need to speak to someone in HR, or go up the food chain until someone answers his questions.

[Anonymous]

I would not do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god no. Never.

Forget reimbursement: it's just not how it's done in any company anymore. They cover the costs or he doesn't go. It's non negotiable.

LOL that just isn't true. DH is a defense contractor- publicly traded company- all travel goes into our credit card and is reimbursed. We love it- we rack up points and miles like there is no tomorrow. Was exact same with last publicly traded defense contractor and the private defense integrator before that. 17 year history of this sort- weekly or bi weekly travel.

OP in your situation id worry less about this travel business and focus on him finding a new job stat.

There is a difference between "use your own cards but the company is going to make you whole" and "use your cards and you're SOL when it comes to being reimbursed".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god no. Never.

Forget reimbursement: it's just not how it's done in any company anymore. They cover the costs or he doesn't go. It's non negotiable.

LOL that just isn't true. DH is a defense contractor- publicly traded company- all travel goes into our credit card and is reimbursed. We love it- we rack up points and miles like there is no tomorrow. Was exact same with last publicly traded defense contractor and the private defense integrator before that. 17 year history of this sort- weekly or bi weekly travel.

OP in your situation id worry less about this travel business and focus on him finding a new job stat.

There is a difference between "use your own cards but the company is going to make you whole" and "use your cards and you're SOL when it comes to being reimbursed".

OP says there is a promise of reimbursement. What are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

I would take the job and refuse the out of pocket travel. That is insanity given the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god no. Never.

Forget reimbursement: it's just not how it's done in any company anymore. They cover the costs or he doesn't go. It's non negotiable.

LOL that just isn't true. DH is a defense contractor- publicly traded company- all travel goes into our credit card and is reimbursed. We love it- we rack up points and miles like there is no tomorrow. Was exact same with last publicly traded defense contractor and the private defense integrator before that. 17 year history of this sort- weekly or bi weekly travel.

OP in your situation id worry less about this travel business and focus on him finding a new job stat.

There is a difference between "use your own cards but the company is going to make you whole" and "use your cards and you're SOL when it comes to being reimbursed".

OP says there is a promise of reimbursement. What are you talking about?

I have worked for companies like this, they will not reimburse you. OP the only way your husband goes on this trip is if the companies buys the ticket and advances expense money. Have your husband say he can't afford it...so if they say they will reimburse, no I don't have the money to buy a ticket.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. Let your husband see this thread.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify -- why would this trip cost "thousands of dollars"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god no. Never.

Forget reimbursement: it's just not how it's done in any company anymore. They cover the costs or he doesn't go. It's non negotiable.

LOL that just isn't true. DH is a defense contractor- publicly traded company- all travel goes into our credit card and is reimbursed. We love it- we rack up points and miles like there is no tomorrow. Was exact same with last publicly traded defense contractor and the private defense integrator before that. 17 year history of this sort- weekly or bi weekly travel.

OP in your situation id worry less about this travel business and focus on him finding a new job stat.

There is a difference between "use your own cards but the company is going to make you whole" and "use your cards and you're SOL when it comes to being reimbursed".

OP says there is a promise of reimbursement. What are you talking about?

If it's not in writing, they aren't going to do it. Honestly, I doubt they'd reimburse even if it is in writing. These places are not easy to take to court. I'm with the others. Your DH should tell them that he's broke so they are going to have to pay for everything up front.

[Anonymous]

No way
You are correct. You will never get reimbursed. Maybe you would be better if he quit and drew unemployment so he could devote all his time to job hunting. Good luck but go with your gut.

[Anonymous]

He won't get reimbursed and no one at the client will remember that he traveled on his own dime. Tell him to screw loyalty to the client. They will pay no attention to his good deeds. Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

He shouldn't go. He will never get repayed, and as a frequent business traveler, YES, trips can cost thousands of dollars. A plane ticket plus a week in a hotel can easily cost $1500.

[Anonymous]

My husband was in a similar position OP, also a defense contracting company. It came down to "OK, we'll get all the paperwork for your final offer together, you should receive it in about an hour." That hour came and went, he went into work the next day at the government site, said, "I never received the paperwork," they said, "yup, sorry, hiring freeze because there's cash flow issues with the new contract." Cash flow was never resolved, he was never hired. I would never trust that in a million years after what I witnessed.