Bailed-Out Firm's New Expense Rules: $4 In-Flight Movie? You're On Your Own

washingtonpost.com:

Chrysler Financial employees traveling on business can no longer be reimbursed for lunch on trips that don't require an overnight stay. If flying on business, they must travel coach if the flight is less than four hours. Tips to baggage handlers shouldn't exceed $2 per bag. The $4 paid for the in-flight movie? Not reimbursable.

Read the whole story: washingtonpost.com

Comments

[rf dude]

As long as my foot massages and midnight orgies are still expensed.

Besides, all the good movies are on my Chrysler-supplied laptop...

Chrysler Exec "Perky"
--

[Tperl]

Paying back $182bn in bailout money, $4 at a time!

[quindy]

I don't know why do they need to pay them for lunch if they travel? They would have to buy lunch if they didn't travel, so what is the difference? Don't we all buy our food ourselves? Entertaining business partners is business, but one's lunch should not be covered.

[Perry Clease]

If they usually do a "liquid lunch" then then can not carry enough of their own booze onto the plane to get their buzz.

[yesIcan]

Does this apply to the CEO and top decision makers?...You know, the ones that helped create the problems in the first place.

[OneTop]

Of course not.

[tb92]

How much is the CEO being paid this year? Does he have a private jet? Equalizing the compensation would be much more useful than these little details.

[dogsalmon]

No more middle class. Just the way the elites want it. I wonder if they really plan on putting us in concentration camps?

[sws3030]

If you work for some of these companies, a concentration camp might seem like an improvement.

[ibsteve2u]

"Tips to baggage handlers shouldn't exceed $2 per bag."

That's "trickle-down" at work; run your company incompetently, and let the menial workers you encounter suffer for it.

I mean, what do you care?

You STILL have somebody else carrying the luggage that holds your latest attempt to guarantee your golden parachute; heaven forbid that you should have to carry your own luggage through the airport.

[JimBozo]

I've never tipped a baggage handler more than $2 a bag. That job title is the guy who puts the little sticky label around the bag's handle, then places it on the conveyor belt behind him. A porter would be the guy who carries your luggage around in a train station. I doubt that airports have much need of such a service, anymore. If they do, I've never needed one.

[dwill123]

What took them so long. The company I'm with (if you get to travel) has been this way for years.

[GoDogGo]

This isn't deprivation, this is business. Flying coach is how most people travel and in-flight movies aren't a "right." If you want nice perks, get a job somewhere that didn't crater our economy.

But if you're at a firm that the government elected to bail out, on our nickel, you should be plenty happy just to have a job and health benefits.

[rf dude]

" In an unexpected addendum, Chrysler employees were notified that they will not be reimbursed for air travel expenses - only for automobile mileage. Chrysler management stated, " We are in the business of making autos, not airplanes. Let the Boeing people fly to meetings - our employees are expected to drive a CAR!"

Chrysler Corp had first thought to require employees to drive only Chrysler products as well. But after considering that no person with a brain would have bought a Chrysler in recent years, management eliminated that part of the new rules.

Instead, employees will be allowed to drive either Chrysler _or_ Mercedes-Benz products in order to qualify for reimbursement. "

-- from " The Picayune Messenger"

[SwingingFromCenter]

Nice. So their solution is to make life rougher for middle management.

[GoDogGo]

Whaa. Having to pay for your own in-flight movie is hardly "rough." If they got bailed out they should be happy they still have a job.

It's the sense of entitlement like yours that got these companies where they are. Middle management sees better gains when times are good. They should tighten their belts when times are tough.

[SwingingFromCenter]

I hate to breka it to you, but I'm a consultant. I demand everything I want--and I get it. "People like me" don't make decisions. We demand a certain amount of money, get it, do what we were paid to do, and then move on.

[tttony]

At least some one finally gets it. Sure it's difficult to implement fairly, but it's a start. I can't grasp how people will fight to defend the free marketeers who will gladly drain the swamp (flatten our economy) to get at whatever resources they choose to exploit for their gain at your (our) expense.
Pigs at the Trough.

US needs NHS now!

[Geovan]

why bail out a firm who didn't have such common sense policies in place before they went belly-up. Shareholders and managers should take it on the chin.

[tttony]

True. But trying to fix the past will eat you alive. Let's move on, change the rules so that the betterment of the company (shareholders) is required instead of expected, and get going again.

US needs NHS now!

[DavidATolucaLake]

Wow, thats the way to get tough.
Try looking at the salaries of top management, which are growing fast and in the seven and eight figures.
Thats where you need to make cuts.

But I am sure the reduction in $4 movies will show up improving the income statement at some point. Right. Let me guess, "its a start."

[tttony]

Progress is progress, but yes we need to do more. However anybody who makes an effort should be recognized for it or you will never be able to ask for any more improvement.

US needs NHS now!

[RJII]

bailed out companies should be mandated to follow GSA travel regulations that the gov't follows.
BYOB and food for the hall party should be good enough in these times.

[tttony]

I agree, but don't start throwing rocks at the first sign of cooperation.

US needs NHS now!

[mikebarden]

Wait till Congress hears about this!