I took a job as a contractor and now the customer wants me to travel overseas for about a month to do work for them.

26 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 17,2022 at 7:01PM UTC

   You should be upfront and lead with the fact that you just simply cannot affford the trip.

   I’ve never heard of a job where they want you to pay for the trip and then reimburse you,. For ex the govt normally give employees govt travel cards. They use that credit card for expenses and then they reimburse the card to zero out the balance.

   are you saying you did not receive the policy document until after you started employment? If so, bring that up in your 1 on 1 discussion, I am not sure what kind of work is involved but can any of it be done remotely like thru virtual sessions while your boss is on travel….that is such an odd thing to leave out on an interview.

   i read your post again you may want to do some more digging about your job make sure they are not trying to turn you into a drug mule or human trafficking. There are many red flags in your post especially with the no specifics about where you are going, come up with your list of questions, trust your gut. If it don’t feel right, it aint

2. AnonymousJune 22,2022 at 1:19PM UTC

   I work in municipal government and we have to pay upfront, then get reimbursed after the conclusion of the trip or training.
   And it typically takes about a month to get reimbursed.

   I would be more concerned about the lack of information on where and how long you would be going for - big red flag!

3. AnonymousJune 17,2022 at 7:43PM UTC

   My fathers company does something similar. He is able to submit an expense report though as soon as he books the hotel, airfare, and car. Only nice part is he gets the airline miles and hotel points. However, he knew this when he started the job and my parents are in a place where they could afford to do this.

   I think that you need to be upfront with them. That is an expensive trip especially with the way that airfare is nowadays. There is no need to put yourself in credit card debt for it.

4. SamanthaJune 20,2022 at 4:49PM UTC

   I would bring this up and explain that you want to go, but can't afford it. They might be able to give you a company card, or do all the booking through the company instead. I've never heard of a company making you pay out of pocket for travel like that...

5. AnonymousJune 21,2022 at 1:39AM UTC

   No. If you don’t want to do it, say no. Like, when are you going to get reimbursed? Next week? Next month? They need to provide details before asking and assuming you’ll pay for all that.

6. AnonymousJune 22,2022 at 12:19PM UTC

   I'd tread carefully. As a contractor, you don't have the rights of employees. I suspect the company is doing this to avoid any appearance that they are violating IRS rules by treating you as an employee. The problem is, that shifts all the risk — and burden — to you.

   They can't fire you per se as you're not an employee, but you could be out of work all the same. Still, I agree with what one poster said about approaching them and telling them that you would love to go but can't afford the expense. If they insist you go as a condition of your contract but refuse to help, then that is a HUGE red flag about your continued tenure there, anyway. It shows they genuinely don't care about you as a person — they only want the job done in the cheapest way possible with the least burden to them. I'm sure if they value your services, they can find a way to fund your trip.

   As an aside, an overseas trip sounds like a dream to me. However, I'd be in the same boat. No way I could afford it without the company helping out, and that would be WAY too big a risk for me to take with my own money as a contractor. They could let you go tomorrow, you don't even have the benefit of unemployment, and you could find yourself stuck abroad with little money left and few options.

7. JC LindquistJune 22,2022 at 12:28PM UTC

   As others have recommended, have a conversation with your manager that you don’t have the ability to wait until after the trip to be reimbursed and that you would like to be reimbursed weekly.

   It is a red flag that they are not providing you any details on where you are headed and for how long. Unless you are working for a company that is doing top secret government work, this is crazy to me. Why the lack of transparency?

8. AnonymousJune 22,2022 at 12:42PM UTC

   Check your contract regarding travel. If there’s nothing in there, I would request they tell you where you are going and for how long before discussing expenses. This doesn’t sound right to me. I’ve noticed recently that companies are not being transparent about job duties. I recently had a job interview and then was sent a contract stating I had to be available every weekend because there might be work but they couldn’t promise there would be any. This was not mentioned during the interview. In my opinion, when a company is not transparent, trust goes out the window. I would think about looking for work elsewhere where a company treat you like a partner.

9. Stef FlorieJune 22,2022 at 12:57PM UTC

   As others have said, the lack of transparency about where you're going or for how long are HUGE red flags. The fact that they want to pay you when you get back is also problematic for me. I would start looking for new employment, I think. This contract feels one-sided at best, and exploitative at worst.

   As a contractor, my dad pays for all of his travel and then gets reimbursed for all of his expenses - even if the travel is canceled after he books his flight. His company reimburses him in 30 days or less from him submitting an invoice. This is the agreement that he and his company came up with at the start of their association, and he invoices them as his LLS, company, not as an individual.

   My company pays for all travel up front. When I have to travel for meetings, someone else books my room, and my transportation is arranged, also. If I'm flying, I'm responsible for getting myself to and from my local airport, and that's it.

10. Kimberly G. SmothersJune 22,2022 at 1:08PM UTC

    You are going to have to know WHERE and for HOW LONG before you can consider it. I would be leary of a company that is not at least willing to pay the airfare and hotel expense at time of booking. You could submit this expense report the day you book it and then pay expenses like meals and transportation later but to me it's a HUGE red flag to expect you to front the entire cost. It's also a risk that you will be left holding the bag if they balk at reimbursement. Why can't they give you a travel advance to pay for the trip?

11. AnonymousJune 22,2022 at 1:18PM UTC

    Will you be a female who is traveling alone? What provisions do they have for your safety?

12. AnonymousJune 28,2022 at 1:33AM UTC

    None

13. Shaimaa MakhloufJune 22,2022 at 1:23PM UTC

    I’d have an open discussion with the management that i need to know where i’m going & for how long. I’d also ask them for the airfare & accommodation expenses once i book,-before traveling- rest of expenses are ok to be reported afterwards but not a flight ticket & hotel accommodation for a month!

    just try to be clear that this is the only way you can do it otherwise it will not be possible for you to travel then.

14. Heather BinghamJune 22,2022 at 1:29PM UTC

    I'm a contractor and the organisations I support pay for all travel up front beyond the occasional train or car journey. I think the most I've ever expensed was the equivalent of $400, paid to me within a week of the invoice going in. When I go down to South Africa, usually once a year, all I have to expense is my petrol to and from the airport and the car park charge; the cover absolutely everything else.

    The beauty of being a contractor is the freedom we have. The contractor equation is that for lost benefits and diminished job security, we get increased cash earnings and can have the working pattern we desire. Having to travel reluctantly or store up massive expenses should not become part of that finely balanced equation. I know that if I were in your shoes, I'd find out all the details to show willing, and then just say no, negating the need to worry about the mechanism around travel expenses. Find out what they want first and then you can negotiate if you want to go.

15. AnonymousJune 28,2022 at 1:32AM UTC

    I am a contractor. And I've never been asked to pay for my own travel, hotel, air etc., on my own credit card.

    Frankly, I don't have a card limit that would support it.

16. AnonymousJune 22,2022 at 1:49PM UTC

    Please be very careful!!
    I know close relatives that have similar contracts/jobs that travel internationally but the flight and hotel are all paid for before they travel and yes part of the contract!!they also have company credit card for emergency expenses, they get reimbursed for taxis / Uber and Meals if that was not included in the hotel that has been booked !! This is a bit concerning!! You hear of folks that get **taken ** abroad too and I don’t want this sound scary but I actually know a relative that nearly Got * taken ** but thank God there was a USA Embassy in that city and she escaped and was safe . She was on a contract and all expenses were paid for and to this day its a legal issue as she felt it a set up !!There should be more transparency!! It should be in your contract !! Have a conversation with management and I do not think you will fired for this !!! And please if your intuition is telling you not to go then please Don’t!!

17. Alexis SchraderJune 22,2022 at 2:33PM UTC

    I also have two friends who had a near miss like that in their early 20s. Thankfully they were also able to contact the US Embassy, who sent law enforcement to rescue them. It happens, and “we are sending you to an undisclosed foreign country for an indeterminate amount of time” seems like a pretty effective way to get the ball rolling…

18. JYJJune 22,2022 at 2:01PM UTC

    Huge red flag! Not in your contract and no details even now? They want you to act as an employee, but not treat you like one by paying for everything upfront. Even if they were paying for everything upfront, as a woman traveling alone internationally, I'd be very wary about this sudden request. You're a contractor. You will find other work. I would refuse. I don't know how long you've been working for them, but check to see if you'd be eligible for unemployment while you find your next gig. Please keep us posted.

19. Alexis SchraderJune 22,2022 at 2:26PM UTC

    I’ve been reimbursed for travel, but always had a way to submit receipts immediately. Being told to wait until you get back is pretty shady, but not as shady as the fact that they won’t tell you where they want you to go or for how long. My first thought is they are trying to get you involved in something illegal. Who doesn’t need to know how long they’ll be out of the country?! Run. There will be other jobs.

20. MonicaJune 22,2022 at 4:33PM UTC

    I've had employees traveling internationally for anywhere from 2 weeks to a month. They would send me receipts and I'd expense them immediately. You shouldn't have to wait until you return.

21. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJune 22,2022 at 4:43PM UTC

    This could be a potential red flag - especially as the travel overseas will most likely increase expenses such as air fare. I've talked to contractors in the past who shelled out and then got stiffed. Proceed with caution.

22. Audrey KirschJune 22,2022 at 4:56PM UTC

    My company arranges the airfare and hotel when I travel. I submit an expense report for meals and local transportation. If your company doesn't want the hassle of making the arrangements, they should give you a company card so that you can do it. You don't have to refuse to go, just let them know you can't afford to pay those charges and wait for reimbursement. Asking an employee to pay up front doesn't sound like a real policy. It sounds like more of a maybe contract that they want you to work on. If they don't get they contract, they can blame you and refuse to reimburse you for the travel. Don't risk it.

23. Communication CoachJune 28,2022 at 3:26AM UTC

    She is a contractor - in reality, she is her own company. Employees may get company cards, not contractors

24. HannahJune 22,2022 at 10:02PM UTC

    Dear friend, I think you should talk to them, thus your boss or the hiring manager. Ask for clarity, get all the details and tell them about your financial position, that you can't afford it. Who knows, they may change their strategy. Don't just leave it to hung, talk to them about it and get a feedback

25. AnonymousJune 25,2022 at 3:18AM UTC

    I hope you have a written contract.
    These kind of details should be spelled out in the contract. What is the job description? If you don't have one, ask for it yesterday! Present this dilemma to your contact person at the contracting company! Many would give the customer preference of what airline you wish to use and have them purchase your airline tickets. Seems your communication with the customer is spotty and you should be talking with them about arrangements and expectations of duties. A written proposal should spell all that out - good business practices!

26. AnonymousJune 27,2022 at 3:56PM UTC

    We are reimbursed for travel in government, but you can ask for a travel advance. This is not typically done because it requires more paperwork, and many managers don’t think about it. Rather than discuss your finances, I would just ask your boss how you can apply for a travel advance. If your boss doesn’t know, you can also ask the person who processes the travel reimbursements, as they will know all the details.