Scope
Define who is covered (employees, contractors, temporary staff) and which trip types qualify as business travel, including domestic and international distinctions.
Clear Employee Travel Terms reduce disputes, speed reimbursement, ensure consistent approvals, and support tax and audit compliance. They also help managers control travel costs and document employer liabilities.
Keeping each group informed and aligned on the same Employee Travel Terms reduces processing time and compliance risk.
Define who is covered (employees, contractors, temporary staff) and which trip types qualify as business travel, including domestic and international distinctions.
Specify required approvers, delegated authority thresholds, pre-approval procedures, and escalation paths for exceptions or high-cost trips.
List allowed expense categories (airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation) and any excluded items such as personal entertainment or upgrades.
State per diem rates or caps, rules for partial days, and how currency conversion or foreign transaction fees are handled.
Require itemized receipts, proof of payment, travel itineraries, and completion of expense reports within specified timeframes for reimbursement.
Describe record retention, audit access, tax reporting treatment, and consequences for policy violations or fraudulent claims.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Request Approval Route | Manager → Finance → Travel Desk when over threshold. |
| Auto-Notifications | Email or SMS on submission and approval events. |
| Conditional Fields | Show cost-center or client fields when required. |
| Retention Tagging | Mark completed requests for archiving and audit. |
Ensure the chosen platform supports your retention rules, role-based access, and exports in PDF or DOCX for legal and audit needs.
Submit travel requests at least 7–14 days before departure when possible.
File expense reports within 30 days after trip completion to qualify for reimbursement.
Attach itemized receipts for expenses over the company threshold, typically $25 or greater.
Declare per diem within 60 days of travel to avoid extra review.
Managers should complete approvals within 5 business days of submission.
Employee provides trip details and estimated cost for approval.
Manager or delegate signs off and any exceptions are documented.
Employee completes travel and retains receipts and itinerary.
Finance validates receipts and issues payment to payroll or card.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | Yes, 7-day trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |