Our parent company, Business & Legal Resources, recently conducted a survey to learn more about our customers’ business travel budgets, and to see whether they had been adjusted in light of current economic conditions.
Readers from across the country and well-distributed by size and industry, 135 strong, responded. Thanks to all who participated. Here are the detailed results (some totals come out to more than 100% due to multiple responses):
What is the percentage of employees who travel for business on a regular basis?
|
Executives |
Number |
Percent |
|
None |
3 |
2% |
|
0-10% |
23 |
16% |
|
11-25% |
37 |
26% |
|
More than 25% |
79 |
56% |
|
Managers/Supervisors |
Number |
Percent |
|
None |
8 |
6% |
|
0-10% |
48 |
36% |
|
11-25% |
48 |
36% |
|
More than 25% |
31 |
23% |
|
Staff |
Number |
Percent |
|
None |
22 |
17% |
|
0 to 10% |
71 |
54% |
|
11-25% |
23 |
18% |
|
More than 25% |
15 |
11% |
What is the company policy for reimbursement of meal expenses?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
A per diem rate is paid for meals |
22 |
15% |
|
A combined per diem rate is paid for meals and lodging |
8 |
5% |
|
Actual meal expenses reimbursed; no formal daily cap |
73 |
49% |
|
Actual meal expenses reimbursed; formal 3-meal cap |
41 |
28% |
|
No policy exists; practices vary |
5 |
3% |
The ins and outs of travel pay in California—webinar next Tuesday!
What is the company policy for reimbursement of lodging expenses?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
A per diem rate is paid for lodging |
4 |
3% |
|
A combined per diem rate is paid for meals and lodging |
5 |
3% |
|
Actual lodging expenses reimbursed; no formal daily cap |
106 |
71% |
|
Actual lodging expenses reimbursed; formal cap |
28 |
19% |
|
No policy exists; practices vary |
7 |
5% |
Do employees who travel frequently have company credit cards?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
Yes |
92 |
64% |
|
No |
51 |
36% |
What is the threshold at which a receipt is required for expense reimbursement?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
$0 (receipts required for all expenses) |
87 |
60% |
|
$1 – $20 |
11 |
8% |
|
$21 – $30 |
34 |
24% |
|
$31 – $50 |
6 |
4% |
|
$51 – $100 |
4 |
3% |
|
Over $100 |
2 |
1% |
How are frequent flier miles handled?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
Earned and redeemed by employer |
20 |
14% |
|
Earned and redeemed by employee |
120 |
86% |
What is the mileage allowance for employee automobile travel?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
0-39 cents per mile |
12 |
8% |
|
40-49 cents per mile |
22 |
15% |
|
50 cents per mile |
105 |
73% |
|
51-60 cents per mile |
4 |
3% |
|
More than 60 cents per mile |
1 |
1% |
What steps have you taken to control travel expenses during the recession?
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
Reduced the frequency of business travel |
91 |
67% |
|
Reduced the duration of business travel |
27 |
20% |
|
Spent less on restaurants (incl. entertainment expense) |
34 |
25% |
|
Booked less expensive lodging |
42 |
31% |
|
Revised travel policies to control expenses |
27 |
20% |
|
Stricter enforcement of existing policies |
44 |
32% |
|
Increased usage of online meeting tools |
69 |
51% |
Travel Pay in California: What You’re Required to Pay When Employees Are on the Move
It’s hard enough for you to be sure you’re paying employees accurately and fairly when they’re traveling for work. It’s even harder when you’re based in California.
Employees today are on the move. Whether it’s traveling to meetings and conferences, or even just adding an extra work-related stop before or after work, the California wage/hour laws are very strict on the activities, and hours, you need to pay for. Worrying about an extra hour here or there might seem like a minor concern—until the class action suit lands on your desk.
Join us on February 7—this coming Tuesday!—for an in-depth webinar that will examine the complexities of travel pay under both state and federal law.
You’ll learn:
- The employees you need to be particularly careful with under the travel time rules
- The 5 basic rules for determining what the law considers “work time” in California
- How the California travel time rules differ from the federal (hint: they’re almost universally more employee-friendly)
- Critical court cases that apply to travel pay, and the rulings that affect your obligations
- What counts as “nonproductive time”—and whether it’s compensable under California law
- How the state and federal rules on overnight travel differ—and why you’ll likely be on the hook for far more cash under California law
- Why “work time” and “commuting time” differ in significant ways
- Whether an employee’s driving a company-owned vehicle changes anything when it comes to determining work time
- The compensation you must provide when an employee is traveling on a special assignment
- How to properly understand and calculate California travel pay math—for example, if an employee normally finishes work at 5 p.m., but then has to go to another jobsite until 8 p.m., how much pay do you owe?
- The costly penalties you could face for miscalculating travel pay—even if your intentions are good
In just 90 minutes, you’ll get a firm grasp on both the state and federal travel pay rules, and essential tips to be sure you’re in compliance. Register now for this timely event risk-free.
Can’t make it on Tuesday? We’ll miss you … but you can still order the CD and learn at your leisure.
Download your free copy of Training Your New Supervisors: 11 Practical Lessons today!