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What Is Per Diem and How Does It Work for Business Travel?

SAP Concur published an article explaining what per diem is and how it works, covering three common expense categories: lodging, meals, and incidentals. The article describes fixed allowances and reimbursable allowances, as well as a mixed model, and notes that many organizations base rates on federal per diem rates published by the GSA or IRS, with the U.S. Department of State providing benchmarks for international travel. It also discusses pre-approvals, advances, international compliance configurations, and the benefits and limitations of per diem.

U.S. State Department: Eritrea at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" advisory for Eritrea, citing travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea, and U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside Asmara. U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges, and the Department has determined that a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Eritrean government exists. Eritrean law enforcement officials routinely block U.S. government officials' access t…

Impact and considerations

Limited consular assistance, the risk of wrongful detention, and landmines in remote areas may affect safety assessments and emergency-evacuation planning for staff in or travelling to Eritrea.

Zambia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory for Zambia at Level 1, recommending normal precautions. The advisory was reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Recommendations include enrolling in STEP, following the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Zambia on social media, reviewing the Country Security Report, preparing a contingency plan, and checking CDC travel health information.

Impact and considerations

This advisory provides official safety guidance for business travelers to Zambia, emphasizing STEP enrollment and contingency planning, which helps companies fulfill duty of care.

Eritrea - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory for Eritrea at Level 2, recommending increased caution due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions. The advisory notes the U.S. government's limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea and warns of the risk of wrongful detention. Recommended measures include exercising caution in remote areas, carrying copies of passport and visa, enrolling in STEP, following social media, reviewing the Country Security Report, preparing a contingency plan, and checking CDC travel health information.

Impact and considerations

This advisory is critical for business travelers planning to visit Eritrea, highlighting safety risks and limitations of U.S. government assistance; companies should assess travel risks and duty of care accordingly.

Zimbabwe: U.S. State Department Updates Level 2 Travel Advisory

The U.S. Department of State reissued its Level 2 travel advisory for Zimbabwe after a periodic review, with updates to crime and civil unrest information. The advisory urges increased caution due to crime and official harassment of U.S. citizens. Common crimes include pickpocketing, theft, and smashing of car windows; violent crime such as assault, carjacking, and home invasion also occurs. Criminals often target foreigners and residents suspected of carrying large sums of cash. Demonstrations may increase around political events, and large gatherings are often restricted by the government and can quickly escalate to violence. Foreigners, journalists, and NGOs may be subject to heightened…

Impact and considerations

The updated advisory reminds companies with operations or employees in Zimbabwe to reassess safety risks and monitor the impact of crime and civil unrest on travel management.

Zimbabwe: U.S. State Department Issues Level 2 Travel Advisory

The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Zimbabwe, urging increased caution due to crime and official harassment of U.S. citizens. Common crimes include pickpocketing, theft, and smashing of car windows; violent crime such as assault, carjacking, and home invasion also occurs. Criminals often target foreigners and residents suspected of carrying large sums of cash. Demonstrations may increase around political events such as elections, and large gatherings are often restricted by the government and can quickly escalate to violence. Foreigners, journalists, and NGOs may be subject to heightened scrutiny.

Impact and considerations

The advisory directly affects companies operating in or sending employees to Zimbabwe, requiring assessment of crime risks and official harassment on employee safety and travel management.

SAP Concur Explains 'Duty of Care' in Travel Management: Legal Obligations and Best Practices

A SAP Concur blog post provides an in-depth look at the concept of 'Duty of Care' in travel management. It defines it as an organization's legal obligation to protect employees from harm and details its application in travel scenarios, including risk assessment, risk avoidance, communication, and emergency preparedness. The article also discusses current challenges in travel risk management (like pandemics and extreme weather) and the role of technology (such as real-time data and cloud connectivity) in helping companies fulfill their duty of care.

Impact and considerations

For all employers who send employees on business trips, understanding and fulfilling 'duty of care' is not only a legal requirement but also key to ensuring business continuity and maintaining employee trust. The article provides practical guidance for travel managers to build an effective risk management framework.

CDC Expert: Free Resources to Empower Your Travelers

A SAP Concur blog post summarizes insights from a CDC expert at the Concur Fusion session, emphasizing doing homework before travel, especially overseas. The CDC's Traveler's Health site provides latest testing requirements, COVID-19 risk levels and recommendations, disease directory, and the CDC Yellowbook. The expert advises checking the U.S. Department of State or consular affairs website for destination entry requirements. The CDC recommends vaccinated travelers get tested 3-5 days after returning to the U.S.; unvaccinated travelers should test 1-3 days before departure and after return. All international travelers returning to the U.S. must provide a negative test within 72 hours befor…

Impact and considerations

For business travel managers and travelers, understanding CDC testing recommendations and resources helps plan compliant travel and reduce health risks. The development of digital passports may affect future travel documentation requirements.