A Unique Travel Arrangement
When someone travels frequently for work, they can accumulate significant expenses for the company and spend a lot of time away from their family. This was the case for a father who had to travel extensively for his job. To maintain a connection with his child, he made an agreement with his company that allowed his child to fly out to see him on the company account, as long as he covered the flight costs.
This arrangement worked well until a new manager introduced changes to the ground travel policies, disrupting the previous setup. The father then found a creative way around the new policy, which ultimately cost the company a considerable amount of money before the changes were reversed.
A Business Consultant's Journey
In the mid-1990s, the father was a highly paid business consultant. His company would hire him out to businesses looking to establish themselves. He would travel to these companies, spend a few weeks there, and train their management on the intricacies of business ownership. He also handled large projects such as planning, building, staffing, and organizing new offices.
The company charged clients anywhere from $300 to $400 per hour for his services, billed by the week at a minimum of 40 hours. In return, the company covered all of his expenses, rather than passing them on to the client. This arrangement continued for years.
Balancing Work and Family Life
During this time, the mother quit her job to stay home with the child, while the father managed the household finances. However, the father was often away for three weeks at a time, and when he was home, he spent most of his time at the office. The child rarely had more than two days of quality time with their father each month, which negatively impacted the parents’ marriage.
To make things better, the father received a model plane for his sixth birthday and a membership card to the airline his company used. Though it was a copy of his father’s card, the child thought it was the coolest thing ever. The card had the father’s name on it along with the word “admiral.”
Creating a Special Arrangement
The father brought up his concerns about the lack of family time to his boss and struck a deal. The child would be flown out to see him every third or so weekend. The father would pay for the flights but use his company account, allowing him to take advantage of frequent flier discounts, company discounts, and collect loyalty points.
This arrangement was great for everyone involved. The child could fly for a fraction of the cost, spend weekends with their father in different cities, and the mother got a break from the child. Everyone benefited, especially the child.
Changes in Management
A year later, the father achieved “admiral” status in the airline’s loyalty program, having visited all 48 continental states. However, a change in management brought new policies. The new manager decided to cut costs by replacing rental cars with local transportation, limiting the number of cab rides per day.
While the father raised concerns about the impact on his ability to show his child the city, the manager insisted it was a better use of company resources. Other expenses, like hotels and dry cleaning, remained covered.
Creative Solutions
Normally, the child’s visits were filled with museum trips, movies, and dinners. However, with only two cab rides a day, this became challenging. On one visit, the father used all his cab rides to explore the city, resulting in 11 cab rides in a single day.
After the child was sent home, the father faced another challenge: no more cab rides. To solve this, he contacted the local post office and arranged for himself to be “shipped” to work and back. He paid for first-class delivery by the pound, which quickly became exorbitantly expensive.
Consequences and Reversals
At the end of the trip, the father submitted an expense report with thousands of dollars in “shipping” costs. The company eventually reversed the changes, reinstating the previous policy. The new manager had no issues with the child traveling once a month on the father’s business account, as long as the father covered the flight costs.
Community Reactions
The story sparked discussions among readers, many of whom admired the father’s ingenuity and the flexibility of the company. Some believed the father was exaggerating, while others praised the company for addressing the issue when the new manager tried to change things.
Conclusion
The father’s creative solution highlighted the importance of balancing work and family life, while also showcasing the value of flexible policies. It also demonstrated how even small changes in management can have significant impacts on employees and their families.
