Should I claim expenses?

boyse7en

Hi,

I work for a small magazine publisher. We've been offered tickets to go to Goodwood Festival of Speed next week as guests of a company, and as no-one else wanted/could go they trickled down the editorial hierachy until I said "I'll go!"

That bit is great. I offered to get a photo and a quote from the manufacturer to put a little bit in next months magazine.

Now the magazine editor keeps giving me assignments to speak to various people, or get photos of relevnat companies/products that will be there. So it looks like I'll spend about half my day doing work-related stuff rather than having a look around and a day out.

To start with, I wasn't doing this as a part of my job. It's on a Saturday, so I won't get paid, and is about 200 miles drive each way which will be in my car, using my petrol. They wouldn't pay for someone to go up and do the (too expensive for the amount of work required) but seem quite happy to take my time and money to do it instead.

Am I being petty? I'm getting free entry, but it feels like I'll be there in a professional capacity, but in my own time and at my expense.

ceebeeby

Well, you can try submitting them with explanation as above. They can only say no!

spendaholic

If you're coming back with copy, then yes, you're working and should claim expenses. If you were just going on a jolly, then it's a jolly, the free entry is a bonus, and you pay for it yourself.

Are you driving? Is your car insured for company business? You can't claim mileage/petrol if your car's not insured. But it's ok to claim, say, train fare.

I've been a photo-journalist for 25 years, both freelance and staff, and I'd always claim expenses if I was coming back with copy, and even if I was just networking. They want me to go, they pay for me to go, comp ticket or not.

Premier_2

Don't know how your company works, but ex's usually have to be pre-approved (i.e. the journey pre-authorised) at most companies I've worked for; insurance requirement if nothing else.

May as well stick in your request for o/t too (although if you are pre-approved for a business trip, the o/t involved may be approved by default too by that very travel authorisation)

boyse7en

spendaholic wrote: »

If you're coming back with copy, then yes, you're working and should claim expenses. If you were just going on a jolly, then it's a jolly, the free entry is a bonus, and you pay for it yourself.

Are you driving? Is your car insured for company business? You can't claim mileage/petrol if your car's not insured. But it's ok to claim, say, train fare.

I've been a photo-journalist for 25 years, both freelance and staff, and I'd always claim expenses if I was coming back with copy, and even if I was just networking. They want me to go, they pay for me to go, comp ticket or not.

Well, I was going on it as a jolly, and as such was quite prepared to pay my own expenses and do it in my own time. But now it's becoming a "while you're there, can you get a pic/interview with ...".


Hadn't thought about the insurance implications. Car not covered for business use, but then you could argue that as the trip is on my time and I'm not getting paid, or paid expenses, then it is personal use anyway!

spendaholic

boyse7en wrote: »

Hadn't thought about the insurance implications. Car not covered for business use, but then you could argue that as the trip is on my time and I'm not getting paid, or paid expenses, then it is personal use anyway!

You'd only argue that if you were indeed going on a "jolly". If you go under your own steam, you can also sell additional material elsewhere on a freelance basis, and if your boss insists s/he gets first refusal, then they pay exes and they pay the excess on your insurance.

Whatever, hope you had/have a great time there.

Judas

It was you who started offering to do the stuff though. Not them.
I suggest you share your concerns. I wouldnt just go then claim expenses as they quite rightly will tell you where to go.