Originally Posted by samvedan

Hello,

Before you begin to think that the forum has no answer to your querry, I will make an attempt.

An employee may need to involve in outside activities in the following contingencies.

1. Visiting Vendors, Clients, Government Authorities: In such cases since it would be exclusively for the company's work, the company must reimburse concommittment expenses in line with Company policy (if none is established so far, it must be quickly done to avoid arbritariness, favouritism and even some possible malpractices).
2. Attending professional Seminars, Training Programmes, Conferences in the capacity of a participant: Since the organizers already claim fees for the event, reimbursing other expenses will be in line with company policy (for example, the event is residential the reimbursement will be of one particular level and if the event is non-residential the reimbursements will be of another level, but the question of company policy will have to be dealt with as in 1 above).
3. Contingency as in 2 above but the participation is in the apacity of Speaker or a Panel Member etc. In such cases first and foremost the company's prior approval must be obtained as he is being invited to play a particular role because he holds a position in the company. The question whether such participation is during working hours or outside of the working is irrelevant. Reimbursement of expenses will yet have to be governed by Company policy as in 1. and 2. above.

In short, whether it is for the purposes stated in your post or otherwise, reimbursement of expenses, necessitated by the company interests, to any level of an employee must be against a laid down policy.

If you have more questions, raise them but please confirm that I have understood your querry well.

Regards
samvedan
July 2, 2008
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