At a time when the National Football League has grown to such prosperity that its in-house network is estimated to be worth five billion dollars, NFL Network is making sure that the folks who spend plenty of time away from home have even more crap to worry about when it’s time to sort out the paperwork.
The NFL has informed certain employees that, as of June 3, a “very drastic change” has been be implemented for the reimbursement of travel expenses. A source with knowledge of the situation has forwarded a portion of the memo to PFT.
The league will now require a receipt for every meal for which reimbursement is sought, with a hard limit (tip and taxes included) of $15 for breakfast, $20 for lunch, and $40 for dinner. Employees also are entitled to reimbursement of up to $5 per day in other gratuities.
Apparently, none of NFLN’s employees ever travel to Manhattan.
The memo suggests that there “might” be a revision, which would be a good thing. While we don’t advocate abuse of the ability to obtain reimbursement for expenses, the requirement of keeping a receipt for every meal instead of using a flat per diem creates administrative headaches that otherwise distract reporters from their work. Besides, when reporters are on the road for most of football season, there’s no good time to sort through weeks of receipts.
It’s our understanding that the rules apply to the network’s traveling band of reporters, at a minimum. It quite possibly applies to other traveling employees.
The memo also advises that expense reports submitted more than 60 days after the fact will require “written business justification for the lateness” and “approval from the V.P. of administration.” Expense reports submitted more than four months late will not be honored.
Yes, we know, folks should be glad they have jobs in TV covering the NFL. But when a company is enjoying unprecedented, 10-figure financial success, the people who are on the road grinding away shouldn’t be nickel-and-dimed, or made to feel that they can’t be trusted.