DH not claiming work expenses

[Indiaplain]

DH is a teacher and has just returned from a school trip abroad. He spent around £200 on meals and travel for himself that weren't included (they were in Switzerland so v pricey!)

He says that as teachers they're expected to pay this and he won't ask about claiming back expenses. I think perhaps the lead trip organiser (his boss) should have included the teachers expenses in the pupils costs but didn't. He doesn't want to get her in trouble and won't try to get reimbursed.

This financially puts us in our overdraft this month and I'm annoyed as it's not usual or right - imo - that teachers should suck up this cost? AIBU to feel annoyed?

I’m not sure, plenty will happy spend 200 quid to get a cheap trip to an overseas destination. They get to experience it like the kids . Obviously getting to Switzerland and his accommodation was paid for.

No they do not get to experience it like the kids. School trips are not a holiday for teachers.

Sadly this is a teacher...you can't claim for expenses..there's no budget to pay it

Sadly this is a teacher...you can't claim for expenses..there's no budget to pay it

That's not how it works though. The (necessary) staff expenses on a trip need to be budgeted for in advance and are accounted for in the cost that the kids' parents pay for the trip.

I am a University lecturer and when we go on residential trips we get £20 for food a day. As we normally go to London or Edinburgh it does not stretch v far. Obviously you could manage on meal deals etc but we tend to want to have a decent meal somewhere we can chat so I normally end up spending about double that.

Certainly staff subsistence, travel and accommodation is included in the budget.

But over the weekend I chose to go into the city to go shopping and eat out. I didn't charge that meal to school. Nor did I charge the school when I chose to buy food rather than take a packed lunch provided by my hosts when we were out on excursions with the kids

That's your choice though, as there were options - you could have been provided with a packed lunch, but chose not to be. I agree it can be down to the arrangements, but 3 meals a day should be provided for (even if you choose not to take the provided option).

It's not "infinitely better" if you can't afford to spend £200 on lunches out, though.

He got a trip to Switzerland paid for and he had to buy a few lunches and you’re moaning? Good god.

Well, ideally yes, but I don't think its' outrageous to expect the employer to cover meals, especially when it's a voluntary trip for the benefit of students.

He was working, it wasn't a holiday!

And ? People have to buy their own lunch every day at work.

The students shouldn’t be covering his lunch if they are buying their own there. What a joke!

And most employers either provide meals or allow employees to expense meals when away for trips...

And sometimes you just have to pay for your own!

That's never been my experience.

oh well … you must speak for everyone in the world then

The students shouldn’t be covering his lunch if they are buying their own there. What a joke!

The parents should be covering his lunch, as part of the cost of the trip. Why is that a joke?! No volunteer should be out of pocket. Expenses should be covered when a teacher is away as part of their work. As any other business person should be. Why is that so hard to understand?

I'm actually quite astounded at the number of posters who begrudge a teacher a paid-for lunch while they are at work looking after the parents children. It's NOT a jolly, or a holiday, or even much of a perk! It's work. And a lot of it is unpaid work at that.

I am a cub leader. Honestly, if a parent begrudged me a meal while looking after their kids on a residential, I'd be really put out, and if enough felt like this, I probably wouldn't run any more trips.

Not out at restaurants/cafes they don't, and especially not in an expensive place like Switzerland. They also have the option of taking a packed lunch from home - you don't generally get that option when staying in a hotel/hostel with a school trip.

Are you really saying that you begrudge paying for a teacher's lunch while they are giving up many hours of their spare time to look after your kids unpaid?

And would you say the same about someone who has been sent on a business trip? Most times they are given an allowance to spend on food - why shouldn't this be the same for teachers?

I’m a teacher off to London with school next month for a couple of nights. I get the same meals included in my trip as the kids. Breakfast at the hotel, a fiver for a meal-deal style lunch from the supermarket/Greggs and then a 3 course evening meal at a chain restaurant (set menu so limited choice) . I’ll probably treat myself to a couple of takeaway coffees and an ice cream whilst I’m there which I’ll obviously fund out of my own pocket.

I’d definitely speak to my manager about £200 and I’m someone who does buy the odd box of glue sticks out of my own pocket.

20 years I’ve taught for my LA, no one I know has ever had food paid for on residential trips. We get paid until 9pm because “kids go to bed after that” 😤 Have you ever tried to sleep when you have 30 excitable kids in your care?! The only free meal I have ever had has been my yearly Christmas dinner. I think it’s insane; we’re not compensated enough for the responsibility and work we have to do. I don’t go on residential’s any more, it’s just not worth it.

These threads always go the same way, teachers are expected to pay to give up their free time to care for the little darlings...

We get paid until 9pm because...

WHAT? In 40 years of teaching (and with a late DH, a DD and her partner all teachers, I have never, ever heard of teachers on school trips being paid for a minute more then the normal school day. Despite having 24 hour responsibility for the kids.

Where is this unicorn of a school?

But what were the kids eating? When I've been on trips all meals are part of the organised trip. If kids are fed then so are teachers? We might choose to have something else but we wouldn't go hungry. If we're out for the day we take the same packed lunch as the kids.

I just can't see how he wouldn't have food available?!