HR BESTIES - Work Travel

Episode Date: May 29, 2024

Today’s agenda:  Creamer thief 2.0 Cringe corporate speak: Bang it out Hot topic: All things work travel Travel policies Expenses and corporate cards Listening to feedback Questions/Comments  Your To-Do List: Grab merch, submit Questions & Comments, and make sure that you’re the first to know about our In-Person Meetings (events!) at https://www.hrbesties.com. Follow your Besties across the socials and check out our resumes here: https://www.hrbesties.com/about.  We look forward to seeing you in our next meeting - don’t worry, we’ll have a hard stop! Yours in Business + Bullsh*t,  Leigh, Jamie & Ashley Follow Bestie Leigh! https://www.tiktok.com/@hrmanifesto https://www.instagram.com/hrmanifesto https://www.hrmanifesto.com Follow Bestie Ashley! https://www.tiktok.com/@managermethod  https://www.instagram.com/managermethod https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/ https://managermethod.com Follow Bestie Jamie! https://www.millennialmisery.com/ Humorous Resources: Instagram • YouTube • Threads • Facebook • X Millennial Misery: Instagram • Threads • Facebook • X Horrendous HR: Instagram • Threads • Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So I had another creamer thief. Oh God. Yeah. So in my newest job, once again, they don't provide... You're sixth one this year. Again, just employers always provide creamer. Yep. Don't provide cream, creamer or coffee for that matter.

Oh, that's gotta be. And so of course... Tired workforce. I'm bringing my own K-cups and creamer. And I really don't have to go into the office a whole lot. I only have to go in about one to two days a week. So I brought a giant jug of my sweet cream creamer because it's five years later from the first creamer thief, but I'm still on my sweep cream.

And once again, I'm noticing it's very light. And considering I only go in one to two days a week, and I probably only drink one cup while there because I drink one on the way in, I'm like- What'd you whisper? I think that's a problem. Oh, I know. Well, shame you for coffee consumption.

We're your people. I don't feel like I need more than two. If you know what I mean, you'll know me. I'm hyper. So I noticed once again, it's very, very light. And I happen to be talking to a leader in the company and I'm telling him this because I also had a white noise machine on the handle of my door of my office so that when I was having private conversations, I could turn on the white noise machine.

Oh my God. And it went missing. Like a baby? I know, like you're putting a baby to sleep. I've never heard of that as a way to like break up the... All of us had a white noise machine. Oh my gosh, that's clever. There's like therapists and whatnot in the same hallway.

No, I get it. I never thought about using that for that. That's why we did it. I do get used to it. It would just put me to sleep because that's. I do get used to it. It would just put me to sleep. Because that's what I used to go to sleep. It's not that bad.

I can't use it to go to sleep. Really? No, no. I have two going. I'm in a wind tunnel. I've done girl's trips with other friends, not you, who have... That was not an aggressive sign. I'm not ignoring you.

She points at me. Not you, but I have friends and I'm all finding good. So we can never share a room. No, but at night and all of a sudden, all's fine and good. You know, and I brush my teeth and I hear the sound and I'm, thank you. And I'm like, what's that? Oh, I got to sleep with my white noise machine. Oh, bitch, no, you don't.

You're like, I can't. And I'm up and I don't know what to do with that point. Oh, damn. Sorry. She derails your cool looks. No, but it's yeah, it is. So not you. Clever. The company provided me with a white noise machine.

It was taken from my door. I purchased mine not not with my own money. Hold on. Okay. With my company card. Okay. I purchased another one. Like a hanging one? Yeah, it hangs off my door knob. Yeah, it's very cool

And they're just they're rechargeable so you just and I'm just trying to visualize yeah Yeah, yeah, it's really cute. Anyway, it also is showing you what a circle It also disappeared. He's showing you what a circle looks like. So finally. It's a circle. I put my hands together. It's a circle. Oh my God, these are so cute.

At this point, I was like, well, fuck it. I have now purchased two of these freaking things. So I'm gonna purchase my own. So I purchased my own white noise machine and it too got stolen. So I'm telling this leader in the company, look, this is now the third white noise machine that has disappeared off my fucking door.

And I'm pissed at this point because the last one I purchased my own money and on the very back in a hidden spot, I wrote my initials because I was like, I'm going to put an air tag on it. I still don't know who happened. Or you need a ring cam purchases. I know. Okay. I still know. And they still that

for real. I think people think, well, she's not here all the time. I'll just borrow it. But then they never put it back. That's probably sweet of you to think. I'm assuming good intentions. So I'm venting to him how frustrated I am. And I'm like, this is ridiculous. And then I said, and it's with my coffee creamer.

I said, the shit's half gone. I just brought that fucker in. I was like, and I'm like getting fired up because I'm like, I can't even come into the office and enjoy a cup of coffee because my creamers gone. And he goes, Oh, well, that's been me. I said, what? He said, Oh, I've been that's been using your creamer. He's like, I figured you wouldn't mind. Well, I do mine and you owe me $7. And I was like, okay, I'm like, well it isn't a huge deal but like boundaries motherfucker So then did you feel like you needed to like like downplay it or were you kind of like I was like

I was like, well cool. You can bring it next time. That's what I said to him Jamie. Well No, I know I should have been a bigger bitch. But yes I was thinking I know it is have been a bigger bitch but yeah I was thinking no it is actually a big deal. I mean really you stole my property. Put out your Venmo. I'm like I know it's really good you jackass. Anyway, so then the very next day I'm working from home he sends me a fucking video of him

using my creamer. I shit you not. I will save it and post it on our Instagram stories. Do you want me to kill him? I'm not even kidding. I was like, is this guy kidding me? No. Was he laughing? No. I think he goes, nice. You were sweet as cream then. When he was like, oh, is that a problem? Well, no, bring the next one. And now look at this. Look at him because I wrote your shit in your face. Yeah, you just run all over me. Next one. Then you're going to get a video of him with your noise machines.

All three of them dangled around his neck like pearls. I was chugging your creamer. That's the next video you're going to get. Like this is what happens. Like slave of the two fucking. The clock. The clock. The noise machines. But the Jamie I know, I don't think I know you as well, because unless you're about to

tell us that you took a video of yourself slashing his tires, then I don't know you as well as I thought I did a few minutes ago. No, like I said, I ride or die for my friends. I don't ride or die gently for myself. We got evidence right here. Like no, if you told me he stole one of your creamers, I would show up to his house in the middle of the night. We'll go get him. See, this is, this like, I'm kind of having epiphany

and my mind is fucked at the same time because you two are so crazy online. Like you're very street justice online. That's what I mean. But your yes faces and the exact opposite in person, whereas me, I don't give a fuck online, you know, like I, but I am street as fuck in person. I mean, it is like, you see this like a piece of like, Oh man, maybe why we vibe so well. Oh, I guess it's all about balance. You know what I mean? Cause I'm like angry listening to this creamer story.

So I would never have happened. So you are in real life going to slash the tires. I will post a video online of it and then we will they will have to listen to this podcast in court as evidence. Oh, yeah. That's fine. But I don't slash tires. I would tell that motherfucker to his face. I do that.

That does piss me off. That is my creamer and I consider that theft. No one ever has to guess where they stand with me. Like, fuck you. I don't do the pleasantry bullshit like that very well. I'm nice, I'm kind, I'm respectful and shit. But if something pisses me off, I'm gonna be like, actually, you've really pissed me off.

I brought that creamer on purpose because I like it. It's mine. It has my name on the top, Jamie Jackson. Yeah, it's not community creamer. It's not community, that's what I say. Well, bitch, it ain't community creamer, is it? You know, like you can roll in a little sugar, you know, but come on. That's a good interest. Boundaries. Fucking sent.

Oh, I'm so mad. I can't wait to see. Audacious. That video that's going on. That's going on our Instagram. HR Besties pod on Instagram. I mean, this was like a month ago. This wasn't that long ago. What else? What else is he stealing?

Lord only knows. I guarantee you, he's got those white noise solutions. I mean, he's sending you evidence. That's crazy. That's crazy to me. Oh, my gosh. He's your friends. We're not.

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I'd like to do just a quick run through of the agenda. I'd like to do just a quick run through of the agenda. We are going to do some cringe corporate speak, and I am going to provide today's crazy cringe, eww, itch line there. And then we are going to transition into our hot topic, which is all about work travel, everything about the work travel, spending the time away, the T and L, like anything and everything, work travels, right?

And then per usual, we will have some questions and comments before we close with that hard stop. Sounds like a good agenda. It does, right? It's what we use every time, but I like it. It makes me feel again, comfortable. Yeah, it's like a little weighted blanket. You always know where you stand with us.

Yeah, well, me and you Elise, I don't know about Jamie at the office, Creamer, gee whiz. I'm so pissed. Okay, all right. Cringe corporate speak today. The phrase that I would like to bring forward is the phrase, let's bang it out. I know, right? Take me out to dinner first before we do that. You know what I'm saying?

You gotta wine and dye this stuff, okay? Buy a DS bottle of creamer with a bow on it, and then we'll do what we may with it. Turn those noise machines on. No, not with this leader. Oh! Well, let's bang it out. Well, that reminds me of the bang bus.

What's that? Ah! I knew she would know what the bang bus is. Oh, you said it! You said both of them. Google that reminds me of the bang bus. What's that? I knew she went. Google. I don't know. Oh, you don't either. The bang bus. Oh, dear. I don't know what the bang bus is. That's a sentence I didn't think I was saying. A corporate mean.

Oh, Ashley's live action. Action Googling just like flesh light. Is it just a porn channel? What? I see. One of the Google results is Bang Bros. A long time ago in a bang bus far, far away. And the away part of that...

I don't want to see them... They used to bang in a bus. Who? On here it gives... I'm assuming they're not their real names. What? Did you watch this? OK, I won't make you answer that. Glee and I clearly didn't.

Yeah, no, I don't feel this is mainstream. This one. I think the flashlight is I don't think I don't think that. Come on. Bang Bust is a thing. Please don't DM me. If I get enough stuff, but I'm real quiet when I was like, have you watched that? Like, I know. OK, yeah. Oh, I know. I did not know. I says I'm I'm I'm I can see leaders saying that, like,

let's put this on the bank bus. And I they say that. No, I'm just like, wait, who? I know, but I will. I have heard let's let's bang it out. And then I've had other females come that are like, is that appropriate? I'm like, it's not appropriate. It doesn't feel right.

Unless he's hot, but whatever. Bang it out. Yeah, but that one is one of those kind of ick. I mean, that is like the definition of cringe there. I don't want to think about banging anything out. Yeah, let's just bang it out. It's just a jarring like... Yeah, you know? Yeah. It's just a jarring, like...

Yeah, you know? Yeah. Let's just work on it. Yeah, yes. Let's knock it out, maybe? Well, recently, very recently, I went to my father's retirement party and he retired after he started work at PNC Bank 45 years ago. Shout out.

And he had a get up started literally for in the mail room working nights, basically check room working nights. But anyway, they said they were like, let's finish it off by saying, let's get to work. And I'm like, what do you mean? He's like, he's like, he always ended his meetings and he said, let's get to work. And I was very delighted that my dad's retirement party. Nobody said he finished things by. Oh, my God. So the point is, so from Papa manager method, you can then, let's get to work as a perfectly

accessible that will end you not in HR's office. Just say, let's get to work. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think I've had to counsel anybody on that though. I have. Yeah, I haven't, but I've definitely heard it and I'm like, mm-mm, hard stop. I feel like sometimes HR, they just have that visceral.

I mean, how many times in your career have you heard things in your career? Oh, yeah. Like piggybacking, where it's like you just visualize, you know, somebody on top of Steve. Just piggybacking Steve, you know, and it's not, I know, well, Steve is a dick. But yeah, yeah, I mean, you know,

and it just kind of gives you that visual there, you know? So, I don't know, you know, and it just kind of gives you that visual there. Yeah. You know, so I don't know. People love to like infuse just a little razzle dazzle sex in the workplace. Don't they? There's there are some people just kind of. Or in a podcast. That's different. But we're shining a light to it. That's that we're talking about.

We're talking about it. That's why.'re talking about. We're talking about it. Say this, not bad. Yes, yes, yes. Do as we say, not as we do. Yeah, yeah. And so to that point, our hot topic for the day is work travel. Doing the work travel, being on the work travel, being affected by the work travel, saving those receipts for the work travel, getting fights on work travel. I mean, whatever the case may be. All things work travel.

Yes. Have you had to travel a lot for work? You guys? I have. I've been somewhat fortunate that most of my jobs I've had to travel here and there, but it's not been very frequent per se. Yeah. No, I've had to travel a lot. Lee's had to travel. Yeah. Yeah.

In her roles. Which I enjoy, you know, because I'm just a slut for culture and points. You know, I like being out there. I just saw that today. What's it like? Hobophiliac. I think it's Hodophiliac, the love of travel. Oh, really?

Hodophiliac, let's say. I think it's Hodophiliac. And then watch, that's really something really bad. Yeah, I know. Now she's going to reach for her phone. I know people are going to go use it in the workplace. I'm a hodophiliac. I heard it on HR bestie. Yeah, hodophile.

Hopefully it's not pronounced hodophile. Hodophile or hodophile. I don't know which one that is. A travel habit. Yeah, someone who likes to travel. I literally just saw that for the first time too. Yeah. I say it's easy for me to travel in the sense that, you know,

I'm a introverted only child. So like, I don't mind being on a, I think my longest was an 18 hour flight. You know what I mean? So to me that's, that's cool. Yeah. You know, time for myself. More time for myself. Oh my gosh, this is great. Like let me just be in my crazy mind about it. But what does piss me off about the travel is, is sometimes the lack of recognition from managers or people above that perhaps they're traveling less now

in their careers, or they just, they can flat out choose not to travel, you know what I mean? You know, those types. But they forget about the exhaustion from travel, the length of time of travel, and they don't, I'm pointing at my minor, they don't count that as work time. That really pisses me off, especially when you could have two full days more plus in the week

of just the travel time. Especially if you're flying internationally, my god. Like in just adjusting to the time changes, Oh yeah. Oh my God. Yeah. I mean, it's so much more than, oh, you were in so, you were so and so in Bangkok for five days. Like, yeah, I might've been there for five days, but. Oh my God. I go like, I'm awful with like time changes.

And so, I mean, when we lived in Sydney, I used to have to come back and forth to the US and I was like, coach, because I was there for like a lot of organizations at that point would have an upgrade to premium economy or business class that was not happening. So I would coach back and forth to come and I would be so wrecked as so wrecked. Or like I remember like flying other times internationally and like I didn't bring like a you know, any type of of sleep aid or things like that. And I'd be up all night on the flight. Also, I get excited about watching movies,

and so I'd be like, I'm going to be time. Yeah, I'd say, oh my God, I've got bright space. I'm going to get a set of Nethers product, my go-to. But part of it with work travel, especially, is one, the expectation of it. And sometimes people, in the interview process, you've really got to talk about what the expectation of it. And sometimes people, it's like in the interview process, like you've really got to talk about like what the expectation is on that.

Because like Lee, recently I talked about, you know, people traveling your first week of work or like having those expectations and what that's like, because sometimes it can be really hard. It can be really hard, expensive, especially if people have things like from an exhaustion standpoint, or you have kids, pets, like all of the logistics of that, that a lot of people in leadership roles don't always have. And when you don't understand what that's like,

your employees frequently feel like they can't talk about that and they just have to, you know, flurry around, make it all work, Mary Poppins that shit up and then show up, you know, like, you know, happy as a clam to their work travel. And it's a real, it's a real stressor. It is a real stressor. Yeah. And I think, you know, I had a boss once say to me, because I really was against traveling

when my boys were younger. I just, I didn't want to be away from them when they were younger. Not that they're older, it's not so much an issue, but I had a boss say to me, I don't want to encourage you to go on these trips because I know you don't want to. And she's like, I'm always in my head, almost discounting you

because I know that you don't want to go on these trips. And I'm like, don't speak for me. At least ask. That's a great point. Because there's not necessarily, granted I'm lucky enough that I do have a support system close to me, but some people aren't as lucky if they have, they're an only parent or I have a shit ton of animals too,

who are going to watch my animals? There's just so much more to it than me just hopping on a flight and going to London or something for business. Yeah. Yeah. You know, what's really interesting is you were talking about the job description, right? You just kind of mentioned something about the job description. But I saw research or heard of research somewhere where it's like, hey, you really want to be as accurate as possible about

how much percentage of travel is actually required because it can discount and really bias so many different populations like females, for example. You put 50% travel when really it's 15. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like nowadays- Yeah, people are like 50, like have my pod, I'm not even gonna apply.

Yeah, they're not even gonna apply. You know what I mean? So, you know, it's a real, you know, it's a real important thing to get as accurate as possible there so you don't discount certain populations. Well, aside from all the aspects of work travel generally, but please can we talk about travel policies? Oh my God, yes. And the expectations. Like I talk really about my girl's tip

where I'm sharing a room with my girlfriend. It's like, okay, fair enough. I might do that if we're going somewhere and I'm trying to be mindful of my Airbnb, things like that. Let me tell you, people do not do sharing a room ever. If you can't afford to have people have their own room and their own bathroom, like their hotel room, just dedicated hotel room, please do not send them. Please do not send them on work travel. So many businesses do that. Like schools, like education does that. They, you know,

buddy up the teachers or whatever. I mean, it's to me that is rude. It blows my mind. Like from an HR standpoint, I'm like, oh my God, no! Well, that's weird. It's weird. I mean, it's kind of like the noise. Like one of my girlfriends went on a, like an incentive trip with work, like, you know,

like a reward having brought significant revenue to the company. They made them buddy up on this very nice trip in rooms. And she's like, literally, I was like, she's like, and she was like, I do, like I have my own, like everybody has their own habits. Everyone has their own, like, she's like, I was so, so stressed. It's like I almost like canceled at the last minute. Yeah. No, I remember being asked by that once on like a work travel thing, and I'm from a very large organization And they're like, we have rooms. And this assistant had emailed seven of us.

I have no idea. They were, I can't remember if we were all female, but it was like, we were short on rooms. We're gonna ask, please have volunteers to double up. Otherwise we may have to assign people. I called an old boss and I was like, the fuck is this shit? What do you say? And she was like my mentor.

Oh my gosh. And she was like. What did she say? She was like, no, I wanna write. She was like, the fuck is this shit? Like, what do you say? And she was like my mentor. Oh my gosh. And she was like, fuck that. She was like, no, I was like, I want to write. She was like, I'm not comfortable with that. And I did. I said, I'm not comfortable with that. Oh yeah, I'm not comfortable with that. Oh my God.

Double up. That's bizarre. Whoopsie daisy. No, thank you. Double up. Whoopsies. Otherwise you're going to get volunteers or else you're going to get like an airline. Yeah.

Thank you. Oh my God. Oh my gosh. It's my nightmare. Like now will I share a room with my work bestie when we planned our own trip together? I got all day. I got in bed with you this morning when we were talking. Yeah, like this whole different thing. But at night time I need to have my own room. Yeah, but like that's our fun time that we planned and we're, you know, but no, not for work. Absolutely not.

No, that's I couldn't do that. Yeah, obviously, that is not for me. Hey, besties, I was so excited. Age one partnered with us because I've been feeling really run down. It may be a combo of the end of the school year and all my children's events, but I wanted to support my immune health. I was able to do that with AG1. That's because AG1 is a foundational nutrition supplement

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for free when you go to Notion.com slash HR Besties. That's all lowercase letters. Notion.com slash HR Besties and start turning ideas into action. And when you use our link, you're supporting our show notion.com slash HR besties and expense like expenses, like corporate cards, making people advance payments. Yeah. Oh gosh. I think I'm personally, I'm curious. I'm curious about y'all. I'm a fan of having an option for corporate cards. Like I know people in particular only have a debit card for whatever reason. They only have a debit card. They do not have a credit card.

And then only having a debit card can make it more challenging to book things like the hotel or all that stuff. And so have a corporate card as an option or book it directly for someone. Sometimes people want though the points for themselves personally. And so I'm also a fan of like, okay, do like, again, like all the stress that travel can lead people some of some of those. A little perp. Yeah.

What do you think? That's really what it is. You know, that's what I think it is. You know, let people keep the points. You know, I mean, you're already forcing them to go to Iowa. I know. Right. Oh, gosh.

Shout out. I like Iowa. No, I'm just saying, I was in Iowa. I like Iowa though. No, I'm just saying a really benign place. Like not Paris. Right, right. I saw a TikTok of a girl entering her St. Louis, Missouri hotel room and she's like walking in and it's like, miracles happen once and then she opens the curtain and it's like miracles happen and that she opens the curtain

and it's all just like highway. That's exactly the room you get put into. Yeah, it's like you're in the Hampton Inn and St. Louis, Missouri with a view of the highway. It's like it's not as glamorous as I think I thought it was. Yeah. But I'll tell you, you know, the TNL and the travel policies have always been- What's TNL stand for? What's the L? Travel and leisure.

Oh, travel. What's the leisure? I don't know. Okay. I was about to say- What the fuck are we talking about? That sounds fun. It's just some old acronym that a lot of people use.

I don't know hell if I know. It's like that magazine. Is that Travel and Leisure magazine? Yeah. Yeah. I like't know. Hell if I know. I didn't invent it. It's like that magazine. I travel and these are my... Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like that magazine. But, you know, T&L policies or whatever.

But what I have experienced in my career is that paying attention to those things, taking feedback especially from your sales team, shout out sales team, making changes each year, like doing some love ins there, updating that mileage. I mean, all of those things make the biggest difference. It's like having an ice machine at work or free coffee. I mean, it's one of those things where people are like, oh, my gosh, thank you so much. Especially for those road warriors. The daily limit though, even like, especially now with, you know, the price of everything,

like, oh, it's $50 a day. Now it's $70 a day. Like that's a huge difference. And so making those adjustments matters. I've been lucky and fortunate enough that in the companies that I've worked with in the last, like, I don't know, maybe 10 years, I've been worked very closely with finance. And so I'm like, hey, here's the feedback that I've received. And they're like, you know what?

That's actually a really fair point. I'm gonna run it up the chain, we'll get approval, and we'll update the policy. And so, but it's truly listening to those that are traveling because I might not be as much as like, for instance, the sales team that are, are, are those road warriors. And so just truly listening to their feedback and what is working and what isn't working for your people's.

That's one of those like quick, easy wins from an HR. I posted a video on this recently that when I was, when I was 23 and I was, you know, I did a good job stalking CFOs and scheduling appointments, I got promoted to travel around and meet with heads of HR across US and Canada in my schedule. I'd literally be like, Jackson, Mississippi on Monday, Toronto on Tuesday, blah, blah, blah. But so I had my territory, which is near where my parents lived in Louisville, Kentucky. And this was a time my mom had leukemia.

And so she was in the hospital, but I would come and visit her. And my company had a policy that if you were traveling, and instead of staying at a hotel, you stayed with friends or family, then in addition to your daily limit, you could spend up to like $100 extra on a meal for that person that was hosting you and expense it. Oh, that's nice. And so I remember, yeah, my- I've never heard anything like that a meal for that person that was hosting you and expense it.

Oh, that's nice. And so I remember, yeah, my... I've never heard anything like that. I love it. It was amazing. It was great. And it literally saved money because I stayed at my parents' house. And so I had been with my mom, left and went to Rafferty's, Shoutout to Rafferty's from

Louisville, Kentucky. And I didn't eat out a ton growing up. And so eating out is like, I have very core memories of that. And so the pleasure of asking my dad, what do you want? Well, the cowboy sirloin, like, oh, I'm getting this. And later as my mom came out of the hospital and was home, the same policy, I would go to Ravarty's, pick it up, sign for it with my car and feel and come home and deliver it. And like, it brought me such a sense of like pride in my rental car with my big old Hertz

never lost like, like remote control thing on it. But like, you know, my parents, like, you know, it was so amazing. And my parents were so proud of me for having this, you know, Oh yeah, this big girl job. But it was like, but so policy like that's when I posted it, multiple people were like, I've never heard anything like that. I haven't either. That's amazing. Do you have the policy language?

I'm like, no, I don't have the handbook. No, not anymore. From 2004. Google it, people. But yeah, ChadGVT can provide that to you very readily, for sure. But things like that, especially that literally you'll end up saving money. And some people will, and the issue is there are leaders that would never conceptualize or they might even scoff

and make fun of that story. Oh yeah. Rafferty's, so you know, why aren't you, whatever. Rafferty's was really good. I love Rafferty's. Are they still around? I don't think so. The one I used to go to is not now, it's something else.

But there is a huge level of pride that the huge population at work has that senior leaders may not understand. And so I think just thinking about some of those policies. I think one of the frustrating things about the travel, of course, is after the travel, what happens. And all of these different policies on receipts, like any receipt over $5. Are you kidding? You can't trust your employees' judgment only to $5?

See, that's a reflection of trust and respect, my opinion. Right. I mean, you know, I mean, come on, right? It's volumes of the company culture. It sure does. You know, so all of these kind of, you know, the rules around the expenses and what you have to prove and whatever. And yeah, some things are tax and blah, blah, blah, you know, things you have to do. But there's other things also like... You don't have to get so command control on that. Like I know, I was talking to someone recently and they were talking about this and they

were going, I lost the receipts for $18. I had to get an affidavit signed. Affidavit, that means you have to get it notarized. And he's like, I have to go. And he's like, I had to find a notary. Oh my gosh. Are you serious? Totally.

And I was like, that is so ridiculous. And it's entirely possible some tax person can say, oh, there's for the company you have to have it. I don't know about that, but I completely agree. And the delay in paying expenses. I've been in that situation. Oh yeah. The problem is when people have expenses, they're not being reimbursed.

And then people are like gas lit when they ask about expenses and then they're like, oh, well you keep asking about this re asking about this because I'm floating the company. I think that is really inappropriate on those delays. You really should make it as easy as possible for your people to represent you with your customers. That's what you want. Right. And with your teams, wherever they are.

A concise policy that is open to flexibility too, though, and feedback from your people. Yeah. I mean, that's a big part of the employee experience for a lot of employees. Well, and I'm not a big person on like, we talk about like seniority or acting like anybody else is better than anybody at work. But I have seen policies that will say if you're on a big group dinner, have the senior most person expense that.

And I think that's appropriate. Yes. So for that, thinking about the weight staff and that's working, like make their life easier as well. And your internal expense team, they don't need six expense reports. Okay. So do that, make it super easy for that person. But also sometimes you see limits like don't tip over 15% or don't tip over, you know, tip that. And I know people that are like, I'm a 20% girl. Yeah. Like it's just like, I tip that and yeah, and I know people that are like, like, they're 20% girl. Yeah, it's just like I just break that rule. I have I have thinking about fire me.

Yeah, because I'm a nicer tipper. Whatever. Yeah, like, yeah, go fuck yourself. I'm saying for real though. Like also, I've seen the extreme opposite from leadership from like those execs. Like I worked at a place where if you're at that dinner. I wasn't talking about a dinner. I'm talking about this man.

No, no, no. This man took a PJ took a what PJ a private jet. I heard something. I did too. All righty. Places like. Yeah. And so he wasy. Um, places like. Yeah. And so he was, you know, he was the CEO. He could take the PJ and expense it, but God forbid,

you know, I have my 89 cents. Bucky's. You know what I'm like 32 ounces and the worst part is everyone's aware of the PJ, you know Have you been on a? No, no, no say one of my friends was really and she was like she was like texting us and she's like Is it so corny if I take a picture? She's like, oh my god, of course this guy like turned around right as I was like trying to do it. And I was laughing. She should have asked him to take it. That's part of his job as a private jet person. No, but it's also the standards too, right? Like that you're you have to hold every employee to the policy standards. You should, you know, Mr. CEO should not be getting the PJ. And then, you know, me sitting in a Spirit Airlines flight, you know, wherever. Yeah, lucky to

get on the plane. I know, right? Lucky they didn't make you just walk there. Cancel. Oh, damn, who doesn't love some work travel and all the drama? See, we often need an episode just the drama that happens on work travel, because I got a lot of those, you know what I'm saying? Oh, word, yes. I mean, yeah, there's a lot of different things people get into,

you know what I mean? Had a lot of those write-ups before, you know? Yeah. People being bad when the cat's away, you know, the mice start playing and all of that. But it still gets back to us. I know. And it is endlessly entertaining. So we appreciate you all being people.

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Any questions or comments before we close this meeting? What was like a memorable, like good memorable work trip that you had? You know, I typically really do enjoy my work trips. I pretty much always have, you know. So, but my favorite part of a work trip is when the, the hosts, right, wherever we're going or I'm going, they want to, they want to show off the town or they want to show off, you know, a certain delicacy or meal or whatever. I love just the downtime of a long dinner, I'll be honest with you. So I always enjoy that.

Like this, the, you know, getting to know people genuinely, like over wine and just, you know, just chatting, just talking. I love that, like very genuinely love that. That's my bag. I love kind of, if I can, you know, interweaving some sort of team event or, you know, something to where like we can go out or I can go out like if I'm visiting because I like to really, I love to see the neighborhood of where a facility is. I like to see how people are living. I like to get like all the context. I want to understand the politics or the education. I get all cerebral, of course, I I want to really get it, right?

So I can just make better decisions from where I sit, you know, to support that site and that team. So anytime I can get out and be able to do that, I freaking love that. Yeah. I think for me in my 30s and now 40, I just enjoy like any trip that I can end the night with Room Service watching my shows without interruptions with the children. Yeah. I like having that. A long time. Yeah. Yeah. Because I don't really, and I love my children.

Of course. But just like having, watching your shows and eating a fat, expensive burger, room service burger. But in my twenties, one of my most memorable trips is I was meeting with a Blue Cross Blue Shield in Chattanooga. That's where they're based out of. And we were hoping to, it was actually when I was with Tractor Supply. So I was on the, this was, I've been promoted. And so I was going down there to hope for a broker. On the break. A lot.

I was promoted a lot. But I was able to go down there with our head of benefits to broker a deal to hopefully sign them as our premier healthcare provider. And my best friend lived there. So I, you know, just like being able to be in her city with her and like still do big girl job stuff. I mean, this is my twenties, you know? That was my most memorable because, you know, I don't know. It's just like having your best friend and then like being on a business trip. Yeah. What about you? I did a few trips to Vegas with a prior job, including when I was in Australia,

came and flew to Vegas, or we'd have these annual meetings there. And to that point, like my group of work best friends there still is my tech strip is squad. And so we got there early and did like the Vanderpump rules, you know, the season and all that. But we would have at night, we would do like, you know some fun activities number last

We got like a stretch limo and like I love a good playlist And so we're playing Lizzo on the plate like with a huge thing of like 20 25 of us and we're like all laughing I'm not in the arms doing a somersault from the from the things and like and we're like somehow I run a jumpsuit, like this black jumpsuit and some, I think I got a bathroom, my zipper broke in the bathroom and the night's got to keep going. And so I got, got like some pins, like we got pins, my CFO is helping me female, we're like, she's pinning me up. We're, we're keeping going. It was so much fun. You got to bang it out. No. Did not. But I did. The problem with that is I get very unrealistic about my level of to wake up early in the

morning for work trip. And so I twice on those trips missed my flights the next morning. Oh my gosh. The first time was bad enough, but I was literally going back to Australia and that was a bigger problem. The second time when it happened, it was like home alone, too. Like, how the fuck they lose Kevin twice. The guy that I miss my friend in Vegas.

So my husband was calling. They're like, your husband's on the phone. I'm like, oh, my God. He's like, I see you on on your find. My my find. My phone is not at the airport. You're still in town. So I just I'm not great when I stay out late and try to wake up an hour later. Slept right through my alarm. So you're not supposed to sleep in Vegas is a thing.

You should have stayed up and then just gone to the airport. I get tired, but I have but like I have those met like to this day. We will like and like dancing and all that. And it was a good time. It stays with you. Of course, it's still in those people. Yeah, I'm still friendly with so many of those people. Yeah, well, I think I probably have some more embarrassing stories from those. But I love staying up late with people I like and just talking like, Yeah. I probably have some more embarrassing stories from those, but it's all right.

Love staying up late with people I like and just talking like, having a good time. Love. What about you, Jamie? You want me to go? Yeah. I don't have anything. I'm trying to. Yeah.

No, that's all right. Not a comment, but quick question. What one piece of advice would you give a work traveler? Just like a short and sweet piece of advice, just from your own experience. I, as someone who has had to, I mean this was for CMEs, which is Continuing Medical Education. You know, I've obviously been in healthcare and nurse practitioners and above could expense trips where they were getting credit for certain conference and CEUs. And so that has to do with work travel, you know?

And the amount of people that tried to expense things, I mean, granted, this was their allotment for the year, but there was some wild shit I saw on receipts. Some wild ass shit that you're sending to HR to get your CME allotment. That's a fair... I think it's to get a flavor of where you're going to the extent that you're comfortable. I've been in situations as a female traveling alone. A lot A lot of safety considerations and a lot of people, a lot of people in different populations talk about safety, safety works. I think that's actually a really important one to be aware of, giving people the budget.

They can stay in safe hotels, as what they don't get the ride share, like all those types of things. But to the extent that you're comfortable, just getting a quick flavor of where you are. Yeah, no, that's a good one. I like that. For me, if you are traveling on business, I really do feel as though you should honor and respect the site that you are traveling to, and you should clear as much as you can. Some of you know you can do it 100%. You should clear your calendar from your recurrings and what you typically do. It is so fucking rude for you to go into someone else's office

probably or the huddle space and just continue with your fucking work day. That is so disrespectful. You just spent all of your time flying there or driving there or whatever. You should give that site, that team, those people your time. I hate that. Yeah.

And organizations need to support employees in doing that as well. Like managers need to make sure people know too, because oftentimes people don't know and they feel like they have to do their same workload. And so explaining why that's important to your team and at nighttime, that doesn't mean you have to then do all the rest of it. But I totally agree. Oh my God. It's so, these previous bosses I've had, that's all they do. They just hole up and colleagues too.

And it's to me, it's pathetic. Or you're on one-on-one, and then on the receiving end, let's say they're still having their one-on-one with you, but then they're like distracted and doing things. And so then like that one, like that recurring meeting doesn't really make that much sense either. So, yeah. Yeah. You know, oh gosh, it's a sense either. So, I agree. Yeah. Gosh, it's a new week.

So just enjoy it, right? Be a good visitor. Respect your hosts. Jamie, do you have anything to share? All right. Shared enough. She's opting out and I think we're good. Thank you so much.

I hope that maybe we learned a little, got to rant a little. Hopefully, some people were yelling at the podcast screen or whatever, like, I hate when my company does this or that as it pertains to T&L. But we appreciate you all. Thank you so much for joining our meeting. Hard stop.