Meal allowance when working away

[Workingfornothing]

Can anyone please advise. I’ve looked but can’t make much sense. Is there a legal requirement for a company to provide you with meal expenses when working away? Currently my partner sometimes works away and sometimes works local. When he’s local he has breakfast at home, takes a packed lunch, and a hot drink in a flask and water/juice, then obviously has evening meal at home. When he works away his employer pays for his hotel, and £20 for an evening meal. That’s it. If the evening meal is under £20 he gets that amount back only. If it’s over £20 he only gets £20. Every time he works away he’s using his own money as he has to buy his meals and drinks (excluding £20) So it’s costing him, and other employees, to do their job. I just can’t see how this is fair. So, is there any legislation to say meals must be provided by the employer?

hed have to look at company policy, we have set amounts for lunch and tea and anything spent over this is out of pocket. If away for a longer time we have people who stay in an air bnb and buy a food shop where your money goes further. Policies can vary company to company there’s no set minimum.

I posted up thread, but to add. I used to stay in premier inns and travelodges for work and each had a restaurant on-site. Their prices were very reasonable and majority would pack up a meal to eat in my room with foil, give cutlery etc. I would certainly find an entree/side and main within budget.

I do think his company should be giving him breakfast/lunch. Its not ideal, but if he could get part of his evening meal packed up, he could have it for breakfast.

That's pretty disingenuous -unless he's in the same place for long enough, is in self-catering accommodation, it's not the same at all.

You know that massive desk/dressing table they have... He plonks a bowl on that opens a porridge pot/couple of mini packs of cereal/some packed pastries from somewhere like Aldi on there... He could even be elaborate and take a plate too

Open some milk pour it on cereal/boil the kettle pour it on porridge pot

It's really not that hard

Yes, an unexpected change from the usual. Though I’ve actually seen a “should’ve of” too. Unfortunately it’s already in the dictionary (despite being labelled ‘misspelled’, ‘uneducated’ or ’never correct in any context’). It’s only going to get worse.

I would suggest he raises it through his employee body or union.

Ours is c£30 for 24 hours away so that can be three meals plus hot drinks, which is quite hard if you’re in London. I have ended up getting a subway for dinner before when I ended up short.

But our line managers have discretion and I tend to use that if breakfast isn’t included at the hotel.

Most of the time it’s fine because breakfast is included, sometimes lunch too, and dinner max £20 inc a soft drink or water, if you’re somewhere like Birmingham or Nottingham.

But I agree he shouldn’t be out of pocket just to do his job.

He spends his own money on food at home too though

OP has clarified that this has to be used for one meal only.

I agree that it is possible for OP's DH to take non-perishable foods to eat for lunch/dinner in the hotel room but if he's away for more than one night, I'd like to see what this food would be? Not the same cost as home if buying ready-prepared food either. A bag of nuts for example is expansive compared to a breakfast sandwich when at home, where he has a fridge and utensils to make it with. He wouldn't have to pay £20 for dinner at home-if you are eating a single portion of dinner at home that costs £20 every week night, I want to know what that is for when I am rich enough to join you in that habit!

You say there's no fridge which isn't ideal, but a loaf of bread and some sliced cheese or sliced cold meat could last a day or two max and make a loaf of sandwiches no?

We are allowed £32 for the day if overnight. I tend to buy a sandwich for lunch then a meal. I could make £32 fit, but tend to use the opportunity to catch up with regional colleagues and have a nice meal so I claim £32 daily max and pay myself for remainder. It’s not a lot when factoring in a few cups of tea / cold drink etc. But better than £20

It absolutely is. If he has time to go out for 3 meals a day and is winging about paying for them then he has time to do a shop run and prep a few bloody sandwiches😂

No that’s not what the vast majority of people do. A large amount buy everything out, a large amount take lunches with them to save money. Have you read any of my posts? I’ve said when he’s working local he has breakfast at home and takes a large packed lunch plus a flask of coffee with him, to keep our family costs down. Nowhere have I said I expect work to pay for his lunch when he’s working local.

Lovely. Sandwiches are going to keep him going for a week I’m sure. 🤔

If he can't negotiate a higher rate, might the company be open to paying directly for a hotel breakfast at Travelodge or Premier Inn? That way he could really load up at the beginning of the day, and even with half the allowance, something like a Wetherspoons meal and drink would be possible at the end of the day.

I think Wetherspoons would feature in my plan either way: meal and drink for £10, two wraps to take away for breakfast - all on the one receipt. Something like that.

It's a low rate but if it's intended only as a subsidy, some way to get that £20 to cover some breakfast too would make a big difference.

The thing that leaps out to me is the receipts. The whole point of using the scale rate is not having to provide receipts. Our lads can use their £25 how they please.

@TheChinaBerryTreemy dd2, 12, has started to take lunch on the go options for her packed lunch as she likes to walk around the field with friends rather than sit down . She makes a big batch of banana bread, and another of healthy flap jacks with oats, seeds, honey and dates every Sunday. Then an Apple, a satsuma and a chocolate bar. She’s 12. My point it isn’t rocket science to make portable food. I don’t think it crossed her mind as an insurmountable problem.
it’s fine if it costs a bit extra for the breakfast/lunch ingredients as you’re getting your dinner for free.

I’m confused what you mean by this. When he’s at home he pays for breakfast and lunch (groceries). So he is already paying for those two meals? But then obviously he would normally be home for the evening meal and not at work, so his employer gives him £20 to spend on food for that time. Are you saying when he eats his evening meal at home he spends more than £20 for his portion of the meal each night?

‘Have you read any of my posts’

’have you read and understood any of the responses op?’

Dh is in a similar situation quite often, to keep the cost down he tends to have peanut butter and banana sandwiches for breakfast and protein drink, then the add water to pasta/rice/ noodles type packages and adds tuna, cheese etc and some veg to it and tries to get places like a subway or cheap sit in places like pubs for dinner as he can get a lot more for the money and use some for the next day. It hasn’t added to the bill really, as just less to buy at homeand keeps him full up, it’s not ideal and sometimes requires some out of the box thinking though

In a hotel room? With what - his key card? The feedback form?

My husband works away and there’s no food allowance…. Luckily 50% of time is from home.

I understand your annoyance! Luckily all his travel is covered from the front door.

Or…and this is stuff for geniuses only…he could take a butter knife.

its all very well making do with this kind of food on the odd occasion but if you are away 5 days per week on a 6 month contract it’s not sustainable.

That's weird