Flying on the job/reimbursement/water consumption question

BronzeMama

This is both a vent and a question.

Company is balking at reimbursing me for cost of purchasing water for my work trips. Since the water is not part of a "meal," it's a problem.  But I need water to fly cross country, and I need water at the hotel and if you send me to work 1200 miles away to a hot climate/outside in the summer, I'll DEF need water there too. Oh yeah, I'm six months pregnant to boot. Doesn't water consumption now fall under doctor's orders? and heck, I'm NOT buying liquor! so what gives?

How does your company deal with reimbursement for water while you're traveling? Are they tightening the purse strings to a "no water" type of situation?

And from an HR standpoint, can I gracefully bow out of the next trip since I will be expected to only drink water with my meals? (sidenote: I WISH my doc would write me a 'no fly' note. That would help tremendously.)

JulesDiane

I would do this... (Brita water bottle)

plus this... 

 

It's better for the environment too!

jennypasadena

Yeah, no way would I get reimbursed for bottled water when on work trips.  Ditto what everyone else has said.  Bring your own reusable bottle.  I don't go anywhere without one of mine!

MCookie816

When I travel I go to the nearest Walgreen's/Supermarket/convenience store and buy a case of water, it's so much more economical than buying water at a hotel. When I have traveled for work I have had a stipend for food per day, if bottled water is taking up that much of your budget maybe find cheaper food options or drink tap water. Unless you are traveling to a foreign country the water should be safe enough to drink. Or you could invest in a bottle with an attached filter and drink filtered water. 

mrs.kapow

I just add it to the cost of whatever meal it's around.

If I buy a bottle for the plane, I also buy breakfast/lunch/dinner to eat on the plane.

I submit my receipts with the water marked for a meal.

Remind them that you didn't purchase a soft drink or alcohol with your restaurant meals, therefore saving money.

Yes, my company is very strict when it comes to this stuff, but you just need to present it in a way that makes sense.  

gnomemom

That's weird. My work just gives me a per diem. If I want to buy a bottle of water or a bottle of wine, it's considered to be part of my meal. I guess now that you know, the Brita water bottle thing is the way to go. But I feel your pain...you have to drink with your meal, so why would it not be included?

DelBride2012

jennypasadena:

Yeah, no way would I get reimbursed for bottled water when on work trips.  Ditto what everyone else has said.  Bring your own reusable bottle.  I don't go anywhere without one of mine!

That's really interesting. My current employer reimburses for anything under budget, including alcohol. My previous employer had the same policy, except no alcohol.  

Aloe0l

My work wouldn't reimburse me for water unless it was part of a meal.  I don't get reimbursed for snacks, either.  Meals only. 

hmp1

I get a daily per diem for food and have a company card. I put snacks and drinks on there all the time outside of normal meals.  My normal routine at the airport is to go to Starbucks and get a bagel with cream cheese and a large bottle of water, I can fill up that bottle of water as needed. If my company only allowed for meals, I wouldn't think it would be a big deal to have to buy my own drinks/snacks though.

jennypasadena

DelBride2012:

jennypasadena:

Yeah, no way would I get reimbursed for bottled water when on work trips.  Ditto what everyone else has said.  Bring your own reusable bottle.  I don't go anywhere without one of mine!

That's really interesting. My current employer reimburses for anything under budget, including alcohol. My previous employer had the same policy, except no alcohol.  

We used to get a per diem for food (but I still wouldn't ask for snack reimbursement - it seemed petty), but they dramatically slashed our travel budget (I work at a university), so now we don't even get anything for food at ALL.  Just hotel and travel. 

tinyhumantoe

I'm all for a reusable water bottle, but it's impossible to refill on tight layovers and sometimes the airport tap tastes like feet. 

As for road travel, we drive a great deal and gas stations don't have drinking fountains.  I do not feel it's sanitary to fill er up in the bathroom sink.  Bleh.  I buy a huge jug of water for the car.

I think the best suggestion is to buy a bottled water with your meal and ask for tap to actually drink, saving the bottle for the plane.  If the restaurant doesn't have bottled water, order tap and buy a bottle right after the meal.  Staple the receipt to the meal and explain that you took to food to go and had to buy a drink.

BronzeMama

Good ideas, all. Thanks for the Brita suggestion. Never seen that small size before. Maybe I could do a five hour flight if I brought two bottles with me...  (and i've tried to bring empty bottles before, but TSA has made me throw them away - even when they're empty!)

Re paying for it myself: nope. With raises frozen for the last six years, vacation slashed to two weeks (no matter length of service) and no maternity leave, I'm not paying for a dangon thing out of my own pocket if I'm traveling for work (at least, not if I can help it...)

And good to know what various company policies are. I thought my company was going bonkers, but I see now that's it's in step with others. Though, I do find it odd that Coke/coffee can be used again per diem, but water can't.

slwbride

For what you described I would expense the water and they would reimburse me for it without question, but every company has different T&E policies.

My suggestion would be to purchase the water as part of your meal and take it with you. For example at a lot of the airport restaurants offer a bottle of water to go for the flight (a great upsell strategy) so as long as you are still within your meal allowance budget I would get the bottle even if you didn't need it at that particular time and save it for later in your trip. Otherwise I would just suck it up and pay for the water out of pocket rather than opting out of the travel all together.

LadyNikon

you don't have a daily per diem? Heck my company paid for the booze as long as it was with a meal.

BronzeMama

THAT's exactly my vent. My per diem should cover anything I eat/drink. If I bought a $5 can of Coke, there would be no problem. But a $5 bottle of water for some reason is an issue. That said, trying to find water fountains everywhere I go is a losing proposition... "out of order"  or "full of trash" is usually how they appear.

And I have a corporate card, so you would think it would be fine. But this is a new rule. Didn't exist two months ago...