Reply to: Contract with some international travel

[TheFaQQer]

Executive room at the Belfast Hilton used to have a couple of hours in the executive lounge where the drinks were free.

Most do - I used to claim a per diem from my employer and fill up on snacks and drinks in the executive lounge in Glasgow all the time.

Free snacks, drinks and afternoon tea at the Hilton Waikoloa was a nice bonus as well

[northernladyuk]

Executive room at the Belfast Hilton used to have a couple of hours in the executive lounge where the drinks were free.

You could claim for reasonable drinks with the meal too.

More dubious would have been the couple of bottles of Champagne I put through when celebrating one night.
However, this was never actually questioned.

Anyway, was a few years ago now

Miscellaneous sundries.

[eek]

Executive room at the Belfast Hilton used to have a couple of hours in the executive lounge where the drinks were free.

You could claim for reasonable drinks with the meal too.

More dubious would have been the couple of bottles of Champagne I put through when celebrating one night.
However, this was never actually questioned.

Anyway, was a few years ago now

Crowne Plaza / Intercontinental club lounges gives you free beer and other drinks from 6am to 1am with free breakfast and snacks at various times.


Used it on Monday..

[MrMarkyMark]

Tell us more about the free bar? I had a client once that would give you an allowance for a meal in the hotel that specified no more than two alcoholic drinks. The hotel had an offer where you could buy two 250ml glasses of wine and fit the rest of the bottle free. So you could get a bottle of wine and burger and chips at the bar. Which of course I did every night.

Executive room at the Belfast Hilton used to have a couple of hours in the executive lounge where the drinks were free.

You could claim for reasonable drinks with the meal too.

More dubious would have been the couple of bottles of Champagne I put through when celebrating one night.
However, this was never actually questioned.

Anyway, was a few years ago now

[northernladyuk]

Yeh, its the sort of thing you have to get clear from very early on, preferably prior to starting, or at least plant the seeds prior to starting.

i.e. what your lists of demands are to facilitate what they want.

In this case, I made it clear I was happy to attend an 8AM meeting Monday, but would have to fly over Sunday and they would have to pay extra for the Sunday night.
In addition to make this time back making everything fair and square I would leave at lunch time Friday, but invoice for a full day.

Business class flights from London City (10 minutes away from my flat at the time)
An executive room with free bar at certain hours.
Full compensation for all expenses (no stingy limits set)

in fact the couple of times I decided to stay the weekend there, they still paid for the hotel and my expenses, as they said they saved money compared to the flights


And yes in that particular instance it was a feckin' fine jolly

Tell us more about the free bar? I had a client once that would give you an allowance for a meal in the hotel that specified no more than two alcoholic drinks. The hotel had an offer where you could buy two 250ml glasses of wine and fit the rest of the bottle free. So you could get a bottle of wine and burger and chips at the bar. Which of course I did every night.

[MrMarkyMark]

If I have to leave home before 7pm on a Sunday for a flight, I’ll bill for the day.

Yeh, fair depends on how you organize it.

As I said I charged a full day for Friday, even though I left at 12:30 (lunch time).

However, I was a little younger and free and single then, I may drive a harder bargain now.

[WTFH]

Usually if I left at 12:30 or so travelling in my own time on a Sunday, I will usually be leaving 12:30 for the trip back on a Friday (which would be a full paid).

If I have to leave home before 7pm on a Sunday for a flight, I’ll bill for the day.

[MrMarkyMark]

My current client gets upset when I travel on a Sunday night. They seem to think I'm having a jolly at their expense rather than the reality, which is a miserable Sunday night slog so I'm in the office at 0900 (to then find out the people I'm there to meet, who only have 10 miles to travel, can't make it because of reasons).

Yeh, its the sort of thing you have to get clear from very early on, preferably prior to starting, or at least plant the seeds prior to starting.

i.e. what your lists of demands are to facilitate what they want.

In this case, I made it clear I was happy to attend an 8AM meeting Monday, but would have to fly over Sunday and they would have to pay extra for the Sunday night.
In addition to make this time back making everything fair and square I would leave at lunch time Friday, but invoice for a full day.

Business class flights from London City (10 minutes away from my flat at the time)
An executive room with free bar at certain hours.
Full compensation for all expenses (no stingy limits set)

in fact the couple of times I decided to stay the weekend there, they still paid for the hotel and my expenses, as they said they saved money compared to the flights


And yes in that particular instance it was a feckin' fine jolly

[Lance]

Usually if I left at 12:30 or so travelling in my own time on a Sunday, I will usually be leaving 12:30 for the trip back on a Friday (which would be a full paid).

My current client gets upset when I travel on a Sunday night. They seem to think I'm having a jolly at their expense rather than the reality, which is a miserable Sunday night slog so I'm in the office at 0900 (to then find out the people I'm there to meet, who only have 10 miles to travel, can't make it because of reasons).

[MrMarkyMark]

This... Anyone who wants overtime for every second of travel wont be in business for very long. A fine balance has to be struck. I charge when I need to travel before noon on a Sunday in order to be on time for Monday.

Usually if I left at 12:30 or so travelling in my own time on a Sunday, I will usually be leaving 12:30 for the trip back on a Friday (which would be a full paid).

[AnthonyQuinn]

Had a few meetings overseas this year for my current client. My company pays upfront for all costs (flights, hotel, taxis etc etc) and then I submit my expenses (plus VAT) to the agency as a standard invoice. Personally, I would not dream of charging overtime for inconvenience or travelling.

Now I know a few here will be adamant to bill for every second stating you don't work for free etc but good business for me is give and take. For example my client has advised I do not need to meet them this week so I can work from home.

My last trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet my clients customer in their HQ. Great experience and given the opportunity again I would pay for the trip myself.

This... Anyone who wants overtime for every second of travel wont be in business for very long. A fine balance has to be struck. I charge when I need to travel before noon on a Sunday in order to be on time for Monday.

[coolhandluke]

Had a few meetings overseas this year for my current client. My company pays upfront for all costs (flights, hotel, taxis etc etc) and then I submit my expenses (plus VAT) to the agency as a standard invoice. Personally, I would not dream of charging overtime for inconvenience or travelling.

Now I know a few here will be adamant to bill for every second stating you don't work for free etc but good business for me is give and take. For example my client has advised I do not need to meet them this week so I can work from home.

My last trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet my clients customer in their HQ. Great experience and given the opportunity again I would pay for the trip myself.

[AnthonyQuinn]

Yes, and accepting their policy will put you firmly in the IR35 caught category.

MyCo has a standard contract which quotes three separate prices for work inside the UK,
Boo

No it wont. Often Delloite and Accenture consultants get their travel booked through the client if they insist. It doesn't make you their employee.

[TheFaQQer]

This is like drawing teeth.

Or like talking to a brick wall - your ideas on IR35 are woefully ignorant.

[MrMarkyMark]

It *will* put you inside IR35 if you always do it. Because then you are acting like a serial temporary employee. If you always impose your own businesses' terms then you are acting like a business.

This is like drawing teeth.

Boo