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

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone for your input and advice. Seems like a resounding "Hell no, don't go" across the board.

I wish I could say your resounding consensus swayed Lancelot the Loyal. I've shared the wisdom of the DCUMs with DH; alas, he's still going on the trip. The plan is to put the estimated expenses in writing and get them approved beforehand. No benefits until May 1. Sigh.

To answer a PP, it's a week-long trip with airfare, hotel, car rental, landing fees, meals, etc., so it adds up in the thousands pretty quick. I wish I could say I have faith the company will reimburse him, and I hope having the expenses approved in writing helps, but I can't shake the uneasiness. It's not like I haven't put work travel on my personal credit card before, too, but I just had more confidence that my employer was good for it.

DH refuses to shirk his responsibilities as long as he holds his position; while I'm worried we won't see that money again, I can only hope his commitment will have some sort of karmic influence and all will end well. I never thought I'd say this but I totally won't get any pleasure out of saying "I told you so"! Wish us luck, I guess.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Op. This sounds really illegal. And the liability it opens the government up to would not pass my OGC's review

[Anonymous]

I would ask for a copy of the travel reimbursement policy. There might be paperwork to fill out to get travel authorization.

When I started with my company 22 years ago. I did not know the policy. I did not know I needed to get my trip approved. I did not know how to do expense reimbursements. I did it like I did at the old company. Luckily, instead of stiffing me, they told me what I should have done and reimbursed me. It helped that I traveled for a fraction of what they expected: found a discount airline, and shared a room.

[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.

+1000

I would never consider this & can't believe a company is actually suggesting it. SKETCHY!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for your input and advice. Seems like a resounding "Hell no, don't go" across the board.

I wish I could say your resounding consensus swayed Lancelot the Loyal. I've shared the wisdom of the DCUMs with DH; alas, he's still going on the trip. The plan is to put the estimated expenses in writing and get them approved beforehand. No benefits until May 1. Sigh.

To answer a PP, it's a week-long trip with airfare, hotel, car rental, landing fees, meals, etc., so it adds up in the thousands pretty quick. I wish I could say I have faith the company will reimburse him, and I hope having the expenses approved in writing helps, but I can't shake the uneasiness. It's not like I haven't put work travel on my personal credit card before, too, but I just had more confidence that my employer was good for it.

DH refuses to shirk his responsibilities as long as he holds his position; while I'm worried we won't see that money again, I can only hope his commitment will have some sort of karmic influence and all will end well. I never thought I'd say this but I totally won't get any pleasure out of saying "I told you so"! Wish us luck, I guess.

Thanks again.

Oh, OP. DH needs to get an education about the real world. Looks like he's about to get it. Hopefully it won't cost you too muchmore than the few thousand you'll lose next week.

You need to look for a job, stat, so that he can feel like he can quit this job before it eats him alive. So sorry, although perhaps as I said a little less naive would probably not be the worst thign for your DH.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I thought the body shops I knew were bad. This is a new low.

[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.

+1000

I would never consider this & can't believe a company is actually suggesting it. SKETCHY!!!

You live in a different world than me. I am reimbursed. The company pays airfare, but I pay for hotel, rental car, food, etc. The advantage of this is sometime on travel, requirements change. Maybe I am working on a project and there are problems....So I need an extra couple of days. I can change the arrangements without a lot of bureaucracy.

[Anonymous]

OP, he should tell the new company that he doesn't have a credit card or the funds for this trip and it simply must be paid by them up front. If they fire him over that, you know they were never planning on reimbursing anyway.

Why is your DH so chill about getting dicked over? Because that is what this new company is doing.

[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.

+1000

I would never consider this & can't believe a company is actually suggesting it. SKETCHY!!!

You live in a different world than me. I am reimbursed. The company pays airfare, but I pay for hotel, rental car, food, etc. The advantage of this is sometime on travel, requirements change. Maybe I am working on a project and there are problems....So I need an extra couple of days. I can change the arrangements without a lot of bureaucracy.

I have a corporate credit card. I change arrangements without bureaucracy all the time. You should NEVER pay out of poket for business travel.

[Anonymous]

Don't take the job. I know his clients rely on him but all the more reason not to take the job. if procurement was so short sighted as to take the lowest cost bid, that doesn't mean your DH should have to suck it up. Let the client suffer the pain, in a few weeks he might get a call asking him to come back on a different contract and one that will pay a lot more.

[Anonymous]

Wait, so your DH already accepted the new job with new contractor? If that's the case (and he signed all the employee paperwork, etc.) I don't think they'd not reimburse him, I thought he didn't decide yet to take the job with new contractor. If he's officially an employee, then he NEEDS to go as that's part of his job.

[Anonymous]

So did your husband get reimbursed? Did he get a new job?

Come back and update us OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again - sorry - one of the reasons he's compelled to travel is that the clients he's traveling to support depend on him so much. They're also aware of the situation and several people have been trying to help him find a job. He wants to follow through with his obligation to his client, and also put in face time with those clients who are trying to help him (which I totally understand and support).

If it were just a random trip for the new company and a new client, this would be a no-brainier.

Suggest he ask the client to cover his costs?

[Anonymous]

Your husband need to stand down and reevaluate who he is loyal to...is it you and the family or some penny pinching company who will cut him lose for someone cheaper at the first opportunity.

[Anonymous]

I want an update on this one as well!