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Subject: Re: Travel and hotel charges

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Message Thread:

Travel and hotel charges

5/9/19       
Harold

Website: http://morantz Cabinets.com

We are quoting a large home in islmorada, which is a 2.5 hour drive from my shop. Large home with large kitchen, several bathroom vanities and master wet bar and possibly other work. Will need to deliver the cabinets and tools in our 14’truck and small van and possibly do two trips for cabinets unless we use a transport company for delivery. Probably a weeks work for two guys and there are lots of local motels to stay in for that week, how do I compensate my installers and charge client? Never did this before, but owner is a good builder we have worked with for several years and he wants us to do the job on this personal home. Thx in advance for advice, harold

5/9/19       #2: Travel and hotel charges ...
rich c.

First I would rent a truck that is big enough for one trip. Penske will rent up to 26'. All those costs are tax deductible, but should be passed on to the customer. All costs should be easy to calculate and are included in a delivery cost on the contract.

5/10/19       #3: Travel and hotel charges ...
ExPat Member

I was always paid for travel time on an out of town install. Overtime was also authorized, your guys will probably want to wrap it up and go home early (12hrs/day was my norm). You should also give them a per diem for meals, I have had them range from $10 to $25 dollars per meal. Ten is a little on the light side but is doable at the golden arches, 25 is for a steak and a beer.

5/10/19       #4: Travel and hotel charges ...
DOM

Is the house vacant until your work is complete? Weve had clients let us stay at the house while we were working. Just worry about food that way. Wake up and start working.

5/10/19       #5: Travel and hotel charges ...
harold morantz

Website: http://morantzcabinets.com

House will be vacant, but probably no a/c. not an option, besides bringing in beds, no where to shower,etc. in islmorada there are probably 50 motels and inns a mile away and lots of cheap restaurants. most interested in how employees are compensated. thx

5/10/19       #6: Travel and hotel charges ...
ExPat Member

About the only other thing I can think of is a mileage rate if your guys are driving their own vehicles. On a larger job I also once offered my installers a $5.00/hr "bonus" to compensate them for the fact that they were going to be away from their families for two weeks.

5/10/19       #7: Travel and hotel charges ...
Alan F. Member

We pay per Diem off of Federal or state rates, we pay for the hotel, they need to pay for room charges that aren't business related.

Our labor law and federal labor law is they load the truck and then leave they get paid hourly So you need make sure you don't go over 12 and pay 1.5 for the OT.

We typically front load it into the bid so it doesn't show to the customer.

Per Diem Rates

5/11/19       #8: Travel and hotel charges ...
MarkB Member

My SO travels multiple overnights regularly. In your daily work your commute is on your own dime. And while she works (and is commuting in a company vehicle) for these extended stays she is still only compensated for her standard work day. She is not eligible for overtime so she keeps her days at what she is compensated for. She is given a stipend for meals. An amount for breakfast (less) an amount for lunch (a little more), and an amount for dinner (a little more than lunch). For whatever reason its not a daily per diem for food and I can only assume thats because its a somewhat professional position and many in the organization dont eat breakfast and skip lunch, so without receipts, the organization gains those funds not spent on average as opposed to someone being able to cash their per diem check and buy a few days worth of groceries and put the remaining days in their pocket.

Being away from your family or even your daily household responsibilities is a burden. That said, most companies, even the good ones, dont arbitrarily compensate you for that any more. The work is where it is, if you want to get paid, you come along with some modest compensation.

I would thing it comes down to what can you get compensated for from your customer and what are you willing to give to your employees (if anything) in good conscience. I know for a fact there are a lot of companies out there who would run the install 16 hour days, pay no double over 12, and stretch the straight time out over the next few weeks. Guys would buy their own food and be piled into the smallest hotel room they could fit into.

Then you have the people like ExPat who would give an away from home bonus hopefully paid for in the job or paid out of your pocket because the job keeps your wheels greased.

I feel that staying away is somewhat like working 24-7 though many may feel its a get away, change of venue, chance to get away from their wife and kids, who knows.

In the end you can pretty much do the minimum (which is what most corporations and state and federal government do now). The rest is what you can get compensated for or what your willing to give your crew to satisfy the customer. If your not in the first column, I would think you'd take what you need out of the job and split the rest between the crew as a mini profit sharing incentive. Not saying thats the best tactic, but I tend to fall in the ExPat world which is why my guys drive better cars than I do.

 

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