FSD 50 Stopover and meals enroute

The grievor sought full reimbursement for meals and accommodation.

The employee was posted in the USA and requested permission to use a private motor vehicle as a means of transportation for a holiday in Canada. Because of the distance that had to be covered, the employee also requested that management approve meals and accommodation stopovers during the required travel to get to the holiday destination.

Management pre-approved the use of the PMV and approved an advance for the estimated cost of transportation, but informed the employee that in conformity with FSD Directive 50 they could not approve the reimbursement of meals and accommodations.

The Executive Committee noted that the Foreign Service Directives Committee recognized that there were savings to the department in that the cost of the trip including meals and accommodations was less than the air fare entitlements.

The Executive Committee considered and agreed with the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee that in view of the specific limitations contained in the directive, meals and accommodations are not claimable and as a result the employee had been treated within the intent of the directive.

The grievance was denied.