Our BU has been slow to ramp back up to full speed on travel for business. We still see a lot of restrictions on where/when/how/who can travel, especially internationally. I enjoy traveling on the company dime and all the perks involved, from fancy hotels, dining and luxury car rentals. What is up in your BU?
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UberX is cool but I don’t like having to account for every single trip. Sometimes I do a lot of personal side trips with the rental. Besides, they are fully insured so the occasional mangled fender is not a big deal. Lately Avis has been giving me a choice of some larger SUVs.
I just take UberX everywhere. No need to myself, especially after two many single malt scotches. UberX is normally a black Escalade.
@2nui then maybe you should go work elsewhere where they don't power vehicles with gasoline and diesel and you can drive to work everyday in your little pink EV?
I feel like we should keep up appearances as a major corporation. Mid size doesn’t cut it. Rice burners don’t cut it.
I think the SUV option is great also, which is why I want to be in a Toyota Land Cruiser, but that's just me. On the other hand, I follow policy, and am not a spendthrift, braggart, nor blow-hard, and the mid-size Avis car suits me just fine and I'm always as happy as a clam with that while travelling for work. Getting more than I need or want simply because it's "on the company dime" doesn't give me a perverted thrill like it does for some. I sure wish that was all it took.
I think the SUV option is great, I work for Chevron.. I don't want to be in a Toyota..
If I work for Chevron, I should be moving around like the president in a all black armored SUV.
There is no corp guidance written in the travel policy but supply chain advises employees to follow their preference. I am a terrible driver, so I prefer a larger vehicle, that's all. Saftey first!
Corp guidance is “mid size” for rental cars, unless there is a business / safety reason. Typical mid size car for Avis is Toyota Corolla or similar. If you always rent Cadillacs for fun and pay extra and your boss does not care, shame on him/her. Good for you.
Good to have project people on hand for installs. We have all seen them go horribly awry - e.g. Petronius, Sadewa, etc. But offshore is not the same as onshore travel, in my experience. Put me in a great hotel with five star restaurant, decent wine, a humidor, etc. I'm in heaven. There are numerous well-known tricks for "hiding" things on your expense account. Room service is one example. The hotel bar/pool/restaurant is another.
Between the project manager and the Covid scared employees no one is allowed to travel in our project. Wish that said I bet they ship the people offshore for the install of it.
If your boss doesn’t question your expenses at least once a year, you are not really testing the limits. They are pretty high in my experience!
Unwritten Chevron travel policy has always been, travel frugally. Unless, of course, you're management or a high p-t, then there's no limits.
I like how there is no corp guidance on rental cars, so nobody can really complain if you "prefer" to rent a Cadillac. I always get them when I visit Houston.