Work expenses meal rates

slacker

I've just looked at our rules for the first time.

If breakfast is not included with the room rate or you start work before 6am £10
Lunch £8
Dinner £30
Beverages £5
 

fretmeister

Sporky said:

fretmeister said:

Before I worked for myself - nothing.

The view in the law is that you would eat anyway, and that comes out of your salary.

The problem with that is that when I'm out on the company's behalf I have limited time and choice, so in general food is more expensive than if I was at home or in the office.

I only claim lunch at trade shows (where it's much more expensive than a sammich in London), and I only claim dinner if I'm staying away or I've been out particularly late on company business (I think officially it's if you're still working at 6pm).

At my last job I could claim up to £25 for lunch and £75 for dinner, and the only restrictions were no spirits and no "fine wines". Oh, and the finance director sitting us down and saying "If you have a beer with dinner this is fine. If you have ten beers with dinner this is not so fine". Sadly he had a typical Dutch lack of sense of humour and was unamused when I asked if nine beers was OK.

A friend is at a large city practice and they have a healthy eating thing.

There's free fruit and veg available all day, chocolate machine is a rip off. Has a canteen with a selection of free meals that fall under the healthy banner, and the rest that costs money. Fried egg sarnie is about £10!

30 mins extra for lunch if you spend it in the gym too.

CabbageCat

Don't think my place has a set limit. You just give them the receipt. I very much doubt I've spent more than £25 though. Probably not more than £8.50 sometimes too.

Axe_meister

Back in the 90s we had £160 limit per night (included hotel room). Often stayed in a B&B and ate/drank at a lot of posh places.
My Dad in the 60s just had a company credit card. Was told he could use the limit after that he was on his own, So the choice was be sensible and eat drink normally. Blow it all at the beginning of the year or save up and end the year with a bang.

not_the_dj

£4.75 for breakfast if you've left before 6am

£4.75 for lunch. 

£8.25 for evening meal if you're out after 8pm. 

TheMarlin

£85 personal daily.  This has never been enforced.
With clients (I'm in sales), pretty much unlimited.
I love the games industry!
The most I have expensed for dinner/evening with a client is £880.
A close friend of mine has expenses £3.5k for 'client entertainment', but his client likes ladies for hire in luxurious surroundings.  Old school sales......  Not my thing at all....
M

ROOG

Wow, we get £3.50 for lunch.

cruxiform

Expenses? What's that?

grungebob

This is the only good point if my company. They have no limits. It's based on good faith so most people try their best as no one wants to be the one who ruined it for the rest. 

The most that I racked up was £197 for me and another manager 

Sporky

ROOG said:

Wow, we get £3.50 for lunch.

I don't get lunch at all any more.

Then again, when I did I managed to feel guilty about it.

Deadman

TheMarlin said: IP

£85 personal daily.  This has never been enforced.
With clients (I'm in sales), pretty much unlimited.
I love the games industry!
The most I have expensed for dinner/evening with a client is £880.
A close friend of mine has expenses £3.5k for 'client entertainment', but his client likes ladies for hire in luxurious surroundings.  Old school sales......  Not my thing at all....
M

Since the UK Bribery and Corruption Act kicked in this wouldn't be allowed in my Company. There are very strict rules on it now.