[Closed] Job not offering travel expenses when away from base location

I had 20 days in my first job in the late 90s. Always 25 since then with BH on top.

😆 at 20 days "becoming normal for IT". Our minimum went up to 23 last year (plus BH - goes up with more service) because it was woefully uncompetitive.

So, no expenses, and 20 days holiday allowance.

Sounds like a dream job, can I have the recruiters number?

So, no expenses, and 20 days holiday allowance and Indian bosses

I'd run a mile...

Salary is pretty good though - and role interesting. Obviously wouldn't take without the expenses issue resolved to my liking.

For those who missed it first time...

[i]the minimum is now 28 days (including BH's)
[/i]

https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/entitlement

If you are having these sort of misunderstandings and poor communication with them now and they are in sales mode, then I would look elsewhere.

OP, so IMO this is a company focused on cost control, trying to get away with the absolute minimum, lowest possible expenses, low holidays etc. I am sure the management are reading about how Europe is not doing well (so trying to bargain you down) plus with all the Indian employees this is about cost savings. Reading between the lines it also seems they want you and you are quite interested in the job. My 2p would be to ask for

Travel expenses inc hotel with a daily food allowance (or a higher salary to compensate, eating out often is expensive and not that healthy generally)
25 days holiday (this will sound like huge amount to an American not familiar with Europe FYI)
Ability to work from home 4 days a month, eg every Friday (that saves them money on travel and saves wear and tear on you)

It can only be a regret if I take it in place of something that could have been better so keeping my options open for now.

Got this back:

I have spoken to the business and we will go ahead with the reimbursement of Travel/Accommodation on actuals with the receipts of bills .

We had a phone call and HR person is expecting train receipts - I explained that it'll be cheaper and quicker by car, they don't seem able to deal with that.

I'm also told that they have a number of people who are joining on the same grade as me joinin on lower salaries and accepted that there are no expenses. It will be interesting to see what these people are like if I do join - best keep quiet my better deal!

"I'm also told that they have a number of people who are joining on the same grade as me joinin on lower salaries and accepted that there are no expenses. It will be interesting to see what these people are like if I do join"

id expect - desperate for work.

"I'm also told that they have a number of people who are joining on the same grade as me joinin on lower salaries and accepted that there are no expenses.

I'm also told that they have a number of people who are joining on the same grade as me joinin on lower salaries and accepted that there are no expenses

"I'm also told that they have a number of people who are joining on the same grade as me joinin on lower salaries and accepted that there are no expenses. It will be interesting to see what these people are like if I do join"

Default response to that : "That's nice"

It will be interesting to see [s]what these people are like[/s] [i]if these people actually exist[/i] if I do join

It will be interesting to see [s]what these people are like[/s] where these people pitch their tents when away from home on client sites

I am in the fortunate position of knowing a contractor on the project, he was positive about the when I asked him about the company/project before, will try to have another chat. I'm hoping I get a good offer from the other job I've been looking at but even that isn't ideal as it's focusing on one functional area whereas I'd rather stay more general.

Default response to that : "That's nice"

Mind you, they are going to think something is up when you get to book yourself into the Premier Inn, while they are sleeping on their cousin's floor after travelling up on Megabus when you go out to a client site together.

You could go for a per diem/overnight subsistence rate

Then stay at the cheapest places possible and pocket the difference into your new bike fund 8)

Just out of interest, which Indian outsourcer is this? Its not Wipro is it?

It's an American company who bought a large Indian one - don't want to say but maybe you can work it out.

OK I didn't get the other job (as I wasn't focused enough on the area they wanted me for!) so looks like I'll be taking this. Wish me luck...! 🙂

[i] I'd ask to be employed as a contractor so you can claim the tax back off your expenses[/i]

For the record, you can do this as a permanent employee (i.e. claim tax relief on business/work expenses), you don't need to be a contractor. Fill out a form, send it to HMRC, they'll amend your PAYE code.

But, that aside, from all I've read on this thread I'd avoid the role like the plague. 20 days hols is far from the norm, not paying travel expenses is bobbins, and if I was ever told "we have people who would do this for less", I'd let them.

EDIT - and having worked for three outsourcers; you are a profit generating number. The profit is the amount they can charge for you (read, how hard they can make you work) minus the amount they have to pay you. Obviously the incentive is to maximise the former and minimise the latter...

you are a profit generating number.

Well it looks like I'm getting expenses so I'll join then leave if it all goes wrong, salary does make up for lack of holidays.

Maybe they'll get rid of me anyway when they decide I'm too expensive!

I would like to highlight the most pertinent post on this thread.

My experience is that if you're having to do this sort of negotiation before even accepting a job offer when they're trying to tempt you to work for them it's going to be a nightmare once you're actually employed and they don't have to be nice any more.

Well I'd just leave.

Today's excitement is around what travel they'll reimburse - trains not mileage as they want receipts. Trying to explain that the train cost would be a lot more expensive and take longer for the project - Surrey to Cheltenham. Computer says no.

Walk away now.

Don't look back.

There's an expenses clerk at head office looking out the window and wondering how driving would be cheaper than rail travel.

[img] [/img]

Either hire you and pay your travel expenses or hire someone local to them who doesn't need to travel. That's how it works!

Sounds very much like Wipro to me. Thats one of the reasons why I refused to join them even though they kept on badgering me for over 18 months....

Glad that I did now though, joined another consultancy that has since been brought out by one of the big 4 but left them and am now working for an American company but entirely home based so no need to worry about expenses.

If I was the OP I would be walking away very very quickly.

Never heard of that in 8 years of perm and contract recruitment. Expenses are paid from door to door. Walk away.

Today's excitement is around what travel they'll reimburse - trains not mileage as they want receipts. Trying to explain that the train cost would be a lot more expensive and take longer for the project - Surrey to Cheltenham. Computer says no.

Then **** them.

If they're too ignorant to listen to you that's their lookout. At the risk of sounding like the apocryphal 'selfish arse' you don't owe them anything. They're paying you, screwing you on holidays, tried to screw you on expenses, presumably there are no other benefits attached so accept that you're just going to have to play them at their own game. I can think of worse things in the world than train travel.

Presumably they don't know anything about passenger charters either so travel time on delayed journeys can be claimed twice 😉

so looks like I'll be taking this. Wish me luck...!

Jesus H. Christ. I was wondering why this thread was still going, but to see that?! The mind boggles.

You ask for advice, get it, ignore it, get what you deserve.

I'd normally say whats the worst that could happen, a job is better than no job but in this case there is a good chance you could end up seriously out of pocket and basically losing money on a job you may quit in 2 months.

Well I started on Monday, currently all seems fine in theory around expenses and now told I can claim 45p/mile for my car. I can only claim £75 per night for a hotel outside London which isn't great but there's a decent per diem which could make up for that.

Much of the problems seem to be that I'm dealing with Indian people who don't know how things are done here - there are UK HR people so bit odd. Latest issues I'm trying to resolve are that I am unable to enter my bank details as they only have a subset of sort codes set up to validate against. Also trying to get my email name to be the name I'm known as rather than the one on my passport - computer says no so far.

Had to pay £25 for background check, wonder if they'll mind if I put that on expenses?!

Sweepstake how long OP lasts?

I'm going to say 17 weeks, when they ask him to work the third weekend for free in a row.

Seriously though, Good luck and well done with the new job, hope it all works out 🙂

I'm reminded of a planning meeting in Mumbai, to do with an oil platform. The client's top bloke arrived in his chauffeur-driven car, as he was entitled to. He waited a bit for the two senior engineers who arrived by taxi, as they were entitled to. They all then waited a lot longer for the more junior engineer, who arrived by public transport: all he was allowed. He brought the plans, and was the only one who knew anything about the job, nothing could be done without his input.

ONGC, Bombay High Field, yonks ago.

I wonder if it's changed.

slowoldgit - Member

I wonder if it's changed.

By the looks of it, nope.

mudshark - Member
Well I started on Monday, currently all seems fine in theory around expenses and now told I can claim 45p/mile for my car. I can only claim £75 per night for a hotel outside London which isn't great but there's a decent per diem which could make up for that.

Some people are in a different world!
Try 17p a mile and £65 hotel, with maximum £20 food allowance per day (receipts needed not a blanket £20)
And this is a British company not Indian, you service sector people don't know your born, try working in a management position in the construction industry 🙁

try working in a management position in the construction industry

maximum £20 food allowance per day

What's wrong with that? 10 x 2 quid is three Greggs items per meal, plus one for afternoon tea.

Exactly. Last week when I was away with work I forsook the £25 hotel full english breakfast which I could have claimed for and got a couple of pastries from tesco.

Ours is OK - just OK

They find the hotel + breakfast, usually Premier Inns, and we get £30 (receipted) for food and drink.
They will however pass larger amounts if it occasionally goes over or the hotel food is a bit steep.

Some people are in a different world!

He he I'm in a different world to some of my colleagues now - assuming all is honoured as agreed.

[i]He he I'm in a different world to some of my colleagues now - assuming all is honoured as agreed. [/i]

This also could be one of their recruitment methods; and you've all had to negotiate 🙂

Some people are in a different world!
Try 17p a mile

Well, you must be getting a company car or allowance then, as that's the IR rate for someone with those. 45p is the IR rate for those who provide and fund their own vehicle.

FWIW, I'm a 'mobile' consultant working for a global IT consultancy, so same as the OP I'm expected to work on client sites. We pay 17p a mile for those on a car allowance or with a co-car with a diesel engine larger than 2 litres. Hotels range from 75 to 175 depending on where in the country, and up to 30 a night for evening meal. Public transport is reimbursed at cost but can only claim for standard class travel. The only thing I have to do, is deduct the cost of travel from my home to my 'base office' which is 8 miles away. So 3 quid gets knocked off every fuel claim.

If I was the OP I wouldn't touch this company with a barge-pole, I've got a pretty good idea who it is.