SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

If per diems are not used when a government employee travels then they should not be given those as a check after they return from a trip. They should either use it or lose it.

Why not have everyone specify actual costs of meals, incidentals, and lodging while on travel status. That way reimbursements can be tailored to match the amount spent, and reduce the overages that are reimbursed daily (I know that I do not need $80+/day for meals and incidentals)

The per diem rate in our area is HUGE compared to what we actually spend. To eliminate to problem of people not paying their travel card, and wasting time for auditors to review cards and such, the per diem should not only be lowered, but used to pay the travel card first, and then any left over should be paid to the worker.

We travelled less than 100 miles to a conference and had to spend the night due to the hours... more »

Encourage employees to choose the lowest hotel rate below the Per Diem by giving them 10% of the amount below the Per Diem. Example, if the Per Diem is $200 and the final hotel bill is $100, the traveler would receive 10% of the amount below the Per Diem - $10.

Currently most department policies say that receipts are not required for perdiem. Yet most contractors are asked to submit detailed receipts for meals. If this policy were changed so that no receipts for perdiem expenses were allowed, employees and contractors that travel weekly would save about an hour a week of admin time that could be used productively. In addition, significant amounts of paper would be saved.... more »