“Per diem” meal expenses are EXPLOITATION. $50 is not enough for a single meal at a hotel restaurant, let alone an entire DAY for food. Shifting travel costs onto your employees = evil. Yes i mad :<

likefunnyhelpfulsmart
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at
Highlighted IconHIGHLIGHTED

Lol first world problems. I survive fine with $48 per day. You don't need to get drinks and apps with every meal...

likefunnysmart

D2 I think it keeps it simple. Different people have different eating habits - per diems average that out and give the decision making back to the individual.

If it was expenses based the incentive structure there is to max it out

This is a hilarious post

likefunnyupliftinghelpful
Recent IconRecent

I can't tell if this is satirical

likefunny

No i think it’s a serious issue that we deal with at ACN. Ive yet to hear a single person in this thread (besides other acn 🐡) admit to having a lower daily per diem or lower daily expensible limit in major cities than we are forced to deal with and pay out of pocket to make up for

ACN folks - time to scoop up your friend. OP is embarrassing y'all

likefunny

How are you a consultant

likefunny

Referral most likely

I wanna know where OP is travelling because I only get 32 a day

likefunny

hell no OP

like

PwC limits were $75/day in low dollar cities and $100/day in high dollar. That said we were billing actual not doing per diem

like

Thats totally reasonable imo

like

Rock some Natty lite bro

likefunny

OP thinks it should be ILLEGAL to have client contracts that prevent alcohol expenses 🤣🤣🤣

funnylike

lots of unfounded backlash against OP that is not grounded in reality - whether it’s $32, $36, or $50 per diem, those amounts are insufficient to cover what many business travelers would typically consume in a given day (regardless of per diem or actuals) - perhaps the OP did not lay out their case in the most eloquent manner, but their grievance is by no means meritless

like

M7 - I disagree that 50 per day is unreasonable on average. I manage fine in that (although I would not if I had 2 beers every night). I would find it harder in some cities but on average, no problem. 32, on the other hand, would be more challenging.

Per diem is not designed to pay for your entire trips meals. It is designed to help cover the difference in spend between what you are spending for food on the road and what you would otherwise spend eating at home, which would be covered by your salary. Considering they think you spend $50 MORE per day than you would cooking at home is pretty generous and is designed to help offset those meals out.

E.g. - make eggs at home for breakfast for ($4/ carton so 3 eggs = $1.33) vs buying a breakfast taco and cup of coffee for $7.

like

Government rates are a different story- they are congressionally set and are incredibly political. Young enlisted soldiers are given an actual meal allowance that they cannot use on TDY so their full expenses must be covered. I was in a unit that did a LOT of government travel and was the travel and government card manager (yay plus ones).

The government recommended rate is jus that, a recommendation. If you want to direct expense, go to a firm that does that. If you don’t want to travel, that’s out there too. I know lots of people who make money on the per diem system while eating healthy. My wife and I both swing through a Whole Foods and pick up some food (typically at least one dinner and 2 lunches).

Wow, just wow. Guess a lot of us need to join our homeless buddies rummaging through a garbage can and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find some leftover self respect there. Who’s coming with me? 😂

Post Photo
likefunny

Shiet now I know I spend less on food and have much lower self respect than homeless people ... I thought a master degree and a H/S/W MBA meant something

funny

There it is... my daily reminder of how much I dislike the people in the world like the OP. Even if there is a valid discussion about the $50 per diem, I can’t get past the dinkishness of the post. The rest of you all give me some hope. Here’s a toast from the beer I had with the dinner that is “beneath the dignity of my position.”

like

They were $50 ten years go, too! For some reason beyond me they are immune to inflation.

like

Lets see, maybe it’s because we’re being taken advantage of??

likefunny

It’s only exploitative if you don’t have the option to leave. You do. You are not forced to stay there. You are not being exploited.

like

OP do not think it was your intention but indeed the original message reads as an entitlement. Honestly not here to bash just saying that the whole “$50 is not for a enough for a hotel meal, let alone...” I understand the intent to exaggerate but comes off bad. Just feedback. To your point, i do not think $50 a day is great and definitely could use maybe 10 more. Here it is my reasoning: 1) some people point out “that you do not spend that at home” i find this logic a bit odd. It is obvious we do not spend this at home (or at least I dont). I cook at home. I do not eat out. When in industry i used to packed my lunch except Fridays therefore my costs if I were local or If I could go home every night are less than $15 per day bc i would make everything. 2) some other ACN folks have mentioned that they bank the per diem. In my experience i have only made between 10 to 20 bucks because I try to eat very healthy and therefore maybe skip breakfast in order to safe money for lunch and dinner and fruit that i store in the hotel room. That is just me. I know people that eat mcds everyday and indeed save the per diem but They way I see it, the eventual Dr. bill will be much higher. Now if I had my way I would say that 65 per day would be perfect.

like

This has been great, been a rough day but reading all this really helped me keep going.

like

OP - sticking to your guns in this case is nothing to be proud of.

like

Apparently OP thinks there’s no way to buy dinner under $50 without going to Applebee’s lol.

You don’t have to go to a sit down restaurant for every meal and you are lucky that the clients dime is even paying for alcohol.

Literally try chipotle, sweetgreen, cava, or any of the other hundreds of fast casual places for dinner or lunch for $10 a meal. Would write more but based on your responses it seems like you’re just entitled and out of touch.

like

I don’t have per diem but have a $75 expense a day cap on low cost cities. I never cross $50 a day (free breakfast included). I eat super healthy and definitely pick options I wouldn’t pay for out of my own pocket.

like

Unpopular opinion, but a $50 limit is sometimes tough to meet. Some days I don’t have the option to pick meals that collectively cost under $50.

like

@OP Read the policy - per diem is for food and incidentals.

Also * herd mentality

Agreed, they should at least provide us with government recommended rates, especially since this is just billed back to the client.

Unsurprisingly though, this is also something we recommend our clients do as a cost cutting measure. 😂

like

Keep in mind, ACN pays $50 per diem only in the most expensive cities like DC/NYC. When I was in a southern Tier 2 city, I got $39/day. It was genuinely hard to eat well on that. The firm wants top talent but doesn’t compensate accordingly

like

Related Posts

What’s the hardest problem facing provider side healthcare?

like

What are the monetary benefits of going to client's location(another city) for 3 months. Is there any provision of additional salary?

I have an offer from NTT DATA and joining is in December. what is the appraisal cycle here? Also, what is the leave policy? Employee benefits?

like

Can anybody of you please share some details over their CTC structure , Non taxable components please over & above benefits in Amex ?

My query is specific to position of SE 1 @ SE2

Any book recommendations for philosophy, psychology, and business? Or any book you read last year changed your values? Going to fly international, gonna read it on flight. 😍

like

Has anyone done a commute to NYC (2-3x per week)? SO is considering it and I’d appreciate any insights. TIA.

like

If you bought a United Flight with miles can you change your flight and book with cash? I don’t have enough points for flight I want to change to and app is only give me miles option

like

Got food poisoning (right before a 5hr flight🤢) from a Sheraton breakfast buffet. How do I file the complaint? Do I just dial the SPG line? How many points would be acceptable to you?

like

Who is looking for a new sales opportunity?
I have openings on our sales team. High intensity environment, startup culture. Great for someone looking to build new skill sets or recent grad looking to move into sales. Holding brief 10 minute calls to go over more details. $60K base, full benefits, uncapped commission. Must be NY based. Comment if you’d like a DM to discuss more

like

Hi fishes,
I just got an offer from a startup in India putting my total comp to 40LPA(incl. vested stocks work 8kUSD and I also have an offer from a big 4 in the London for 65250GBP + benefits.

Any thoughts on comparing the two options?

like

I want to do a trip at some national parks this summer - has anyone bundled a trip to Grand Canyon, Zion, and visited Sedona too? Looking for some insight if anyone is willing to share!

Tired of stressful airport experiences?

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

Wish you had someone to help you with luggage, kids and just getting through the airport? Are you a senior who would like a helping hand but don’t want to be stuck in a wheelchair? Now you can find the assistance you need. Sign up online or call our phone number and we will connect you with a trained, pre-vetted airport assistant.
Bookings must be made 24 hours in advance of service.

Post Photo
like

30 yo gent here... I need to start going on dates with people who travel more ... this going on dates with people in the same city every week has been a big of a struggle. Anyone single!?

like

Kuch tareef kardo deloitte india ki .. I have heard so much negative that there is no wfb here .. planning to join this. Apart from salary what else benefits we get here like shift allowance and what about hikes ?

like

Some weeks ago in the Tail of the Dragon! Anyone here been there?

Post Photo
like

I have an opportunity to be a Food and Beverage manager for a hotel I have been for 6 years. Currently I am overseeing all operations but want to focus more on the F&B world. Would anyone know how much salary I should be asking for this role?

How is Google from a pregnancy/maternity support standpoint? Considering applying for a role, but likely will aim to have a child within the next year. Would they be accommodating? Do people usually come back from maternity leave into the same role or a different role?

like

What is the maternity leave policy of PWC and for how many children it is available?

like
funnylike

More Posts

Planning to leave my firm for another job? If i started that job while im on the bench here, would my current firm find out?

like

Was laid off in Sept. Unfortunately we will be seeing many more coming. It's what happens in a recession. Unfortunately I now also have my age against me. Not in a mentally good place at the moment.

I started my career as an org social coordinator. 2 years later I’m now a generalist (Work in progress) - but I manage Google ads, org social, blog, seo, PR & affiliate programs.

I learned all of the above within 6 months and now own all those channels as an associate… not a manager (and won’t be one until we hire someone for me to manage as per my boss).

In your opinion, what should my salary look like if I have a remote job living in NY? I know I am currently underpaid..

like

Hi fishes
One month back I verbally agreed offer from ey gds for kolkata location
Today I received a call saying the opening is for bangalore
Is it possible to take transfer after you join?
I feel deceived as I agreed the same salary of my existing offer (deloitte) because ey said they will provide me home location

like

Hi Fishes,
what can be expected in hand monthly salary if CTC says min(0%) 10,72,269 & max(18%) 12,52,269.
company- EY

like

When negotiating, how much above minimum salary would you ask for? I don’t want them to rule me out altogether, but also don’t want to sell myself short.

like

Currently working at CNA and have noticed that people that come into the company are making more than people that have been here for years. Is this common ? Also what is the average starting salary for an APD adjuster ?

like

Hi Fishes,

Request your support to like this post, please help me with 11 likes to enable DM.

Thanks

like

How is Google from a pregnancy/maternity support standpoint? Considering applying for a role, but likely will aim to have a child within the next year. Would they be accommodating? Do people usually come back from maternity leave into the same role or a different role?

like

What kind of comp package (Sign On, Base, Bonus, Equity) should I target for L4 Product Strategy Chicago?

like

Hi, I am done with 2 rounds of interview in CGI. Waiting for second round result from past 4 days . Daily I am dropping remainders to the team. But no response. Can I consider it as negative?
CGI

like

Hi fishes , I've joined Deloitte 2.5 months back as FullStack Java developer with 1 year of total IT experience , I'm still on bench and RM is not able to find a project for me yet , I keep mailing her weekly for updates but no luck she just replies with template reply , I'm really frustrated , can someone suggest me anything on this , should I start looking out for options outside

like

🤷‍♂️ But it was on time

Post Photo
likefunny

How do NYC big law real estate groups hold up during recessions? Are they one of the harder hit corporate groups or is there more stability?

like

If I have access to both to buy through Fidelity, any reason to choose IVV vs VOO? Why do you pick one over the other?

like

Which one is better in terms of work culture and growth ? Nokia or Ericsson : I am a Java dev with 4 years of experience

Can someone tell me more about citrin cooperman NJ office? What’s the culture and work life balance situation there?

like

If your goal is to be as high ranking of an in house counsel position as possible, how would you structure your career progression? Is it better to stay in big law as long as possible and then transition as a partner, or is it more valuable to get relevant experience by going in house as a mid level/senior associate? Practice area is IP: working in patent pros, litigation, and tech transactional to varying degrees if that affects the answer.

like

Any CLE recommendations for junior litigators to get familiar with court rules, cycle of a case, etc.? Anything helps!

like

Additional Posts in Consulting

Best business-oriented, but novel-style books with good writing, style, & interesting characters? Not really self-help/advise focused, more of actual literature with business themes/plots. Any recs?

like

Senior Manager is definitively the worst job at the firm. Not all the time, but most of the time. (And yes, I "speak up for my needs". Response is "cry me a river don't care") Do other SMs feel this?

like

Thoughts on the firm CapTech?

like

Best books to study for case-study interviews? Or methods people have used? Coming from the consulting industry already but not a pure strategy role so need to catch up to speed fast

like

This firm makes me live for the weekends.

like

Our project teams don’t get along, collaboration is poor. Tensions are high. And also my own project team disagrees a lot too and doesn’t communicate enough. What to do? My direct project team is working outside of the US.

like

So i have been fortunate that i have managed to go through my career without the need for a degree. I was lucky enough to have been hired by one of the worlds top consulting firms, worked with a whole lot of big clients and travelled a lot. It's gotten to the point where I am not even asked about the lack of a degree on my resume. Personally though, it bothers me. I have a whole bunch of certifications in my industry…but just no formal degree. (cont'd)

like

Hey anyone willing to swing a referral for roles in change management consulting or healthcare consulting

like

What are the best Sales books y’all read?

like

How do you deal with an SO also in consulting that works so much because she/he is a constant overachiever? My wife is the type to lead multiple ERGs, coordinate volunteering events, jump in and do extra BD work, says yes to everything basically.... I’m the complete opposite (and interestingly been promoted faster) and idk how to tell her to chill out and enjoy life outside of work.

like

Regarding the WSJ article.. Can anyone in PE explain why any pension fund would be interested in buying single family homes? Extremely illiquid, historically follows inflation.... Do they think Texas will go the way of CA? Ie/ zoning and artificial cost inflation due to supply constraints by the govt? It just seems to go against what is taught in economics as a sound investment... i guess CALPERS is desperate for yield given how upside down the state is

likehelpful

Good book recommendations? Male 🐟 here.

like

Love making elaborate brunch on Sundays - wish I had someone to share them with 😒

like

Hey 🐠, what are your recommendations of books, articles, or practice tips to improve communication, both verbal and written? Want to be stronger at running meetings, pitching ideas, writing (cont’d)

like

My Delta flight is overbooked and they're offering $800 (can increase to $1000) currently to move to a later flight tomorrow morning. Only if I could WFH tomorrow 😞

like

Industry imposter here…How do you show progression on your resume when your internal levels changed, but the title doesn’t indicate a promotion to the rest of the workforce. (e.g. a senior product manger to a technology strategist)…It seems like a lateral move unless you were internal and knew it was a level 7 to level 8.

like

Net worth and age - go!

like

Dat feeling when your eUpgrade clears on the new Dreamliner 👌🏽

like

What are the best consulting firms in Europe to do AI strategy work in public sector? I have Canadian experience and I’m looking to move geographies.

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal