Travel Expenses for Interview Candidates

Posted by Jennifer Taylor on January 10, 2017 at 8:53am in HR Policy

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We're reviewing some of our recruitment procedures and I wondered what other organisations are doing these days regarding offering travelling expenses for candidates comes for interview?

Do you offer at all?

Do you put any restrictions in place if you do?

Many thanks

Jennifer

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Replies

Chelsea Bain January 12, 2017 at 12:28pm

Hi Jennifer,

I work in recruitment and prior to my current role in house, I came across a number of Financial Services and Utilities who would cover expenses, but the consistent message is only if the candidate asks.

Now I work for a mutual and part of making our candidates feel valued, we will cover travel expenses in certain circumstances. For example if someone is coming from abroad we will cover their flight OR hotel, and for our graduate assessment centres we will cover travel for anyone who asks. Particularly important for that graduate population as they are usually not earning yet, and will have a number of assessments, so we want to stand out as helpful.

This is all on case by case basis and comes from the manager's budget not recruitment, so up to them if they would like to offer the extra support.

Hope this helps!
- Jennifer Taylor > Chelsea Bain January 13, 2017 at 11:51am
  
  That's really helpful, thanks Chelsea. Giving me plenty to think about.
  
  Jennifer
Howard Rose January 12, 2017 at 10:36am

I have had travel expenses paid only once, this was in 1985!!!! and I was interviewed by EMI at Feltham. At the end of the interview they casualty asked me how far I had come. I told them and they returned with a cash payment. I guess it was calculated as a pence per mile payment. I enjoyed working with EMI for 5 years after that!

It is interesting as at the time defence contractors were on what was known as "Cost Plus" which meant the more they spent the more they could charge back to the MOD so I suspect that some how interview costs were charged back to the project and ultimately to the MOD plus a percentage. So the morel of the story here for me is the only time I have seen it happen is when there is financial gain for the interviewing organisation and this was 30 yrs ago. I would not expect to see it in today's economic climate.

Hope that helps.
- Jennifer Taylor > Howard Rose January 13, 2017 at 11:52am
  
  That's great, thanks Howard
  
  Jennifer
Mykela Pratt January 11, 2017 at 2:41pm

I work for a local authority and we still do although are also reviewing policy at the moment with a view to withdraw. Sorry I can't be much use as ours is currently very vague and says 'reasonable' expenses. If we do keep reimbursement in there we will definitely set capped limits around them.
- Jennifer Taylor > Mykela Pratt January 13, 2017 at 11:51am
  
  Thanks Mykela
Caroline Reid January 11, 2017 at 12:32pm

Hi Jennifer,

I work in Finance and HR and in my 20 year career, I have not come across any company offering travel expenses for candidates attending interview.

Hope this helps!

Caroline
- Jennifer Taylor > Caroline Reid January 11, 2017 at 1:34pm
  
  Really helpful, thanks Caroline!
  
  Jennifer
Sarah Loates January 11, 2017 at 11:46am

Hi Jennifer

I know this is something which some organisations do, but this is not something I have ever offered or been offered in 20 years in HR. Which sector do you work in?

All the best

Sarah
- Jennifer Taylor > Sarah Loates January 11, 2017 at 1:38pm
  
  Thanks Sarah
  
  I work for a charitable organisation which runs libraries, museums and theatres on behalf of a council. We used to be part of the council and it's a carry over from then and needs updating.
  
  Jennifer