** HOW CHANGES FROM 2006 to 2007 ARE MARKED: …
2017
U.S. FIELD STAFF HANDBOOK
** HOW CHANGES FROM 2016 to 2017 ARE MARKED: Changes are in yellow highlight. This prints as a light gray background off black and white printers. **
Part 1: Certifications & Documents
Part 2: Pay, Allowances & Reimbursements
Part 3: Benefits
PART 1: CERTIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS
THE QUICK RUNDOWN…
o Chart of Certifications Cost and Time Paid
o Certificates and Documents needed
o Renewing Certifications
o Annual Driving Record
o 12 Month Attestation of Violations
o Leave No trace Certificate
o Utah Food Handlers Permit
o International Documents
o International Trips Requiring Visas, etc.
o Regional Certifications:
o California Commercial Drivers License
o Death Valley leaders – Leave No Trace cert.
o Hawaii Leaders – Volcanoes NP Certification
o Glacier Leaders - Certifications
o New Zealand Driver’s license
o Croatia Work Permit
o Visa & Immunization Certification time
o Border Crossings/Legal Issues
o Requesting a Schedule in Europe
Chart of Certifications cost and time paid
|CERTIFICATION |BR PAYS CERTIFICATION COST |PAY LEADER |Time (Hours) |NATIONALITY |
| | |TIME? | | |
|Immunizations |$300 USD |Y |3 |ALL |
|New Zealand P-endorsement |$500 USD or more |Y |16 |ALL |
|Work Visa |Variable |Y |3 |ALL |
|Class 4 license |$170 CAD for med exam |Y |8 |CDN |
|IGA Certificate |$76.95 CAD membership |Y |6 |CDN |
|Commercial Driver’s |$11 USD and cost of rental vehicle |Y |8 |US |
|License | | | | |
|Hawaii Volcanoes NP |N/A |Y |6 |US |
| | | | | |
|CPR/First Aid |up to $150 USD |N |2-7 hrs |ALL |
|ETOA |$38 |N |Minimal |ALL |
|Passport Renewal |N/A |N |variable |ALL |
|Driver’s license renewal |N/A |N |variable |ALL |
|International Driver's |$25-$30 USD |N |Minimal |ALL |
|Permit | | | | |
|Canadian Food Handler |N/A |N |1 |CDN |
|Course | | | | |
|DMV Med Exam/Certificate |Up to $100 USD |N |0.5 |US |
|Food Handlers Permit |$25 |N |1.25 |US |
|Leave No Trace |N/A |N |0.5 |US |
Certificates and Documents Needed
WHICH CERTIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS DO I NEED BEFORE I HEAD OUT INTO THE FIELD?
All US leaders must possess the following certifications and documents. Copies of these certifications and documents should be sent to certifications@:
Valid Class C License (or Class B Commercial License for those leaders licensed in California who would like to lead in California. We would also like all leaders hired prior to January 2007 to maintain their Class B license regardless of where they are leading.)
Current DOT/DMV medical exam (all leaders leading in the US)
Valid Red Cross or American Heart Association Standard First Aid Card.
Valid Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR Card.
Annual Driving Record
12 Month Attestation of Violations
Leave No Trace Certificate (one time certification)
Utah Food Handlers Permit
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO WORK OUTSIDE NORTH AMERICA:
Passport – for leaders scheduled to lead outside their home country
Work Visa – for leaders scheduled to lead in Croatia, Argentina, Bhutan, China, New Zealand, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. For South Africa, check in with Christian regarding Work Visa needs. Look on MainStreet under Leaders > Leading > Get Certifications > Visa Requirements for complete visa application details, and check your Leaders’ Notes as well.
International Drivers License – for all leaders working in Europe, Bali, Chile/Argentina, Chile/Patagonia, and Ecuador.
European Tour Manager’s Certificate – for all leaders working in Europe
New Zealand Commercial Driver’s License with Passenger Endorsement – for all leaders leading trips in NZ
Renewing Certifications
WHAT CERTIFICATIONS DO I HAVE TO RENEW, AND HOW OFTEN?
Re-certification for First Aid/CPR:
U.S. Leaders: CPR Certification lasts for 2 years, and Standard First Aid Certification lasts 2 years.
You must renew your First Aid and CPR certifications BEFORE they expire so as not to impact your trip leading schedule. If you attend a Standard First Aid/CPR course, Backroads will reimburse you up to $65US for an online course and up to $150 for an in-person combination course accredited by the Red Cross or equivalent ($75 for First Aid, $75 for CPR). If you choose to take a Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder course instead of a Standard First Aid course we will reimburse you $75, and if CPR is included in the course we will reimburse you up to $150. Although we do not require a WFA or WFR, we recognize the thorough training it provides and are happy to subsidize $150 of the cost.
We strongly encourage taking an in-person, hands-on course if possible. Currently Glacier National Park requires this type of certification in order to lead in the park. If an in-person class is not possible, you may take the course(s) online. We recommend the following online resources:
•
•
You can either submit your receipt and a Reimbursement Form to the Leader Pay and Literature Coordinator, or you can pay for the expense on your Backroads credit card (as long as it’s within the reimbursement amount), and submit the expense in BETSy under Leader Other – DMV, First Aid, Certifications. Backroads does not pay leaders for their attendance time at the certification classes.
Please submit a SIGNED copy of your new cards to certifications@. You will not be reimbursed until we receive a copy of your certifications. You must turn in valid, signed copies of your cards by the expiry date on your current cards or you will be in jeopardy of losing some trips based on National Park and or regional requirements for guides.
DMV Medical Exams:
U.S. Leaders: All US leaders leading in the US, regardless of license type, need to carry a current medical certificate with them while leading. The DOT/DMV medical exam and certificate needs to be renewed every two years. If you do not have this card with you and have a roadside inspection, the officer may write you a citation and not allow you drive a vehicle (right then and there!). Backroads will reimburse you up to $100 for the medical exam to get your medical certificate. After your exam is complete, send a digital copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate to certifications@. Additionally, you may want to keep a copy of the Medical exam for your records. You must keep the Medical Certificate on your person when driving a Backroads van.
Backroads does not pay leaders for their exam time for the DMV Medical.
The medical examiner you use must be listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry). The National Registry is a Federal program establishing requirements for healthcare professionals that perform physical qualification examinations. You may use the National Registry website found at to verify if the medical examiner you’re using is certified. All of the clinics listed below are certified. Certified clinics should have the exam paperwork.
One of the companies you can use is US Healthworks. There are US Healthworks locations in many states. Check here for a location near you:
Clinics in Salt Lake City:
Concentra2390 South Redwood Road, Ste 115
801-973-4434
accept walk-ins
Hours: M-F 7:30am – 5:30pm, closed on weekends
$88 for the exam
Driving directions from the SLC warehouse:
Drive WEST on 3300 South until you see Redwood Road
Turn RIGHT onto Redwood Road
Clinic is on the left-hand side
First Med – West Jordan
8822 South Redwood Road Suite E-122
801-256-0009
accept walk-ins
Hours: M-F 8am - 9pm, Saturday 9am – 9pm, Sunday 12pm – 9pm $55 for the exam
Driving directions from the SLC warehouse:
Turn left onto 3300 S
Take I-15 SOUTH towards Las Vegas
Turn Right (exit 295) for UT209W/9000S
Turn Right onto Redwood Road and drive until you see 8822 on your left. Although both Salt Lake City clinics accept walk-ins, please call in advance to schedule an appointment, identify yourself as a Backroads leader and the clinic will bill Backroads directly.
Clinics in Berkeley:
$40 DOT Physical
405 Roland Way #205
Oakland, CA 94621
510-830-7069 for an appointment (same day appt available)
Open Mon-Sat: 8:30am-8:30pm
Cost: $40
(There is also a location in San Jose.)
U.S. HealthWorks
2850 Seventh Street, Suite #100
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 845-5170
Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Cost: $99 (be sure to ask for a DOT physical only – no drug test needed)
For U.S. Healthworks, please call in advance to schedule an appointment, identify yourself as a Backroads leader and the clinic will bill Backroads directly or you may pay with your Backroads credit card.
COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE HOLDERS:
Renewing your Medical Exam and Certificate: If you already hold a commercial driver license, you must renew your DMV Medical Exam and Certificate every two years and MAIL your updated Medical Examination Form to the DMV of the state you’re licensed in. You keep the Medical Exam Certificate in your wallet (Ask your Medical Examiner if they offer a smaller, laminated version of the certificate so it’s easy to keep on you). If you have a California CDL, you must mail the Medical Examination Form to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
CDL Unit, G204
P.O. Box 944278
Sacramento, CA 94244-2780
The Medical Certificate Card must be kept with your driver’s license at all times when you are driving commercially. You can be given a citation for driving out-of-class if you drive a commercial vehicle after your medical certificate expires or without a valid medical certificate in your possession.
How to renew your California commercial driver license by mail -
you may be eligible to renew your license by mail if you can answer No to all of the following questions:
• Does your driver license expire more than 60 days from today's date?
• Will you be 70 years of age or older when your current driver license expires?
• Are you currently on any type of driving probation or suspension?
• Did you violate a written promise to appear in court within the last two years?
• Have you already received two consecutive four-year extensions by mail?
If you qualify and have not received a notice to renew by mail, complete a Renewal By Mail Eligibility Information form DL 410FO and send it along with a check for the $43 renewal fee to (double check cost on-line):
Department of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Renewal By Mail Unit
P.O. Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290-0001
If you need further information, please call 1-800-777-0133 or visit dmv..
CDL Renewal Fees (only for leaders who have a Calif. License and are leading in California)
U.S. Leaders: When you renew your Class B license (once every 5 years) Backroads will reimburse you for the difference between the cost of a Class B license ($43) and the cost of a Class C license ($33) – so you are eligible for a $10 reimbursement. We do not pay for the time involved with renewing your license, Type B or C, as renewing a driver’s license is seen as something you would need to do regardless if you are working for Backroads or not.
Annual Driving Record
As required by the Department of Transportation, we require all US leaders to submit an Annual Driving Record issued by the state in which you are licensed (also known as Driver Abstract). This is the same Driving Record you were asked to submit during the Leader Application process. It must cover the past 12 month period. You may go to the DMV website of the state in which you are licensed and request an electronic version of your driving record (it does not have to be “certified”). Backroads will reimburse you for the cost of the driving record up to $15, but you cannot submit for the time spent obtaining the drive record. Please send an electronic version of your current driving record to certifications@ or by fax at 801.322.7066.
12 Month Attestation of Violations
In addition, you are legally required to fill out the “12 Month Attestation of Violations” worksheet available in PDF on Mainstreet (Leaders(Vans & trailers(North America(US DOT). Please complete the form accurately with your name clearly printed with signature and send it to certifications@ or by fax 801.322.7066.
“Leave No Trace” Online Awareness Course
Please complete this free, online course and email your certificate to certifications@. It’s a one time, lifetime certification. It takes 30-45 minutes to complete the tutorial and quiz to receive the Online Awareness Certification.
Follow this link to the course:
Utah Food Handlers Permit
Please complete the 75 minute online course to obtain a Utah Food Handler Permit and email your permit to certifications@. The reason it is a Utah permit (although you may not reside in the state) is that you are employed by Backroads Utah, a Utah-based company. The course costs $25. Backroads will cover the cost.
Follow this link to the course:
International Documents
I’M WORKING INTERNATIONALLY THIS YEAR, WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?
If you are traveling across international borders to work for Backroads, all your paperwork must be in order. This includes a passport, visa and/or European Tour Manager’s certificate.
Passport. Check that your passport is up-to-date. If it’s within one (1) year of expiration, it’s a good idea to renew before you depart. It often takes up to six (6) weeks to process, so plan ahead. Backroads does not pay for expediting fees for renewing passports nor does Backroads pay to have more pages added to your passport book, so be sure to have your passport renewed at least 12 months prior to it expiring (to allow for 6 month validity that most countries require on entry.) Send a copy to certifications@ and give one to someone at home, just in case. Also, please make sure that your passport information is up-to-date in the ATLAS Leader Travel Profile.
Visa. Visa requirements are specific to each region. Check out the document on
MainStreet called Visa Requirements:
. You should also check out the Leaders Notes for visa information and confirm all arrangements with your RM. Christian Chumbley will assist you in obtaining your work visa if you are scheduled to lead in Bhutan, Vietnam or South Africa. For New Zealand, expect to receive information on how to obtain your NZ work visa from the New Zealand RM and/or Paul Smith shortly after receiving your schedule. Please note that getting your NZ work visa will require sending in your passport, and thus means you must be in your home country and not traveling for at least a couple of weeks. Backroads covers the cost of your Visa when it’s required.
Tour Guide ID Card:
All leaders working in Europe (American, Canadian, and European nationals) are required to carry a Tour Guide Card, which is issued by the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and legitimizes the status of tour managers working in Europe. The certificate has your name and photo on it and is generally accepted by customs in case you are detained while entering the country. It is good for the calendar year in which you obtain it.
As soon as you get your schedule to work in Europe, please apply immediately, since it can take some time to process and mail your paperwork. This is now an on-line application.
For all the details on how to apply please go to: MainStreet->Leaders->Leading->Get Certifications->ETOA Backroads Instructions 2017
International Drivers Permit. Anyone working in Europe needs one of these. They translate US licenses into every language. They are available from any AAA office. There is no test. You will need to show a valid driver’s license and provide two passport size photos. The cost is $20US for the license, + $10-15 for the photos. (You can bring passport sized photos with you, or have them taken there at the AAA office.) Use your BR credit card to pay for the photos and license and when the charge shows up in BETSy you should expense it to Leader Other – DMV, First Aid, Certifications, and type “International Driver’s License” in the notes field.
BERKELEY AAA Office:
1775 University Avenue (at McGee)
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 962-4611
SALT LAKE CITY AAA Office:
1400 S. Foothill Dr., Ste 116 (at Foothill Village)
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
(801) 238-1250
Obtaining International Drivers License after arriving in Europe
If you get to Europe and realize that you forgot to get your Intl Driver’s License before heading over, there is an easy way to obtain one via the web! Here is the link and details:
You can even send them photos from your own computer. You can have the license delivered to you for a cost of about $15US – but you will have to pay for this yourself, if you decide to go this route.
2017 Int’l Trips Requiring Visas and Misc Certification
This information is on MainStreet under Leaders < Leading < Get Certifications Here is the link:
G:\Leader Development\WorkPermits\Visa Requirements 2016.doc
Regional Certifications
Additional certification for California Residents working in California:
California Commercial Drivers License
Summary of Commercial Driver License program for California drivers:
• A Commercial Driver License (CDL) is required for any driver licensed in California that would like to be eligible to lead trips in California.
• Leaders must have their CDL before they will even be considered for a schedule.
• Leaders will be paid up to 8 hours to compensate them for taking the written and driving portion of the exam. Please submit this under “Regional Certification” in ATLAS Payroll.
• Alternative Option: maintain your operators permit in a state outside of California.
• Returning Leaders
o RLs are responsible for studying for the written portion of the exam on their own. Being a RL, they should already have the skills required to take the driving portion of the exam. BR will not pay for their studying time.
o Leaders may rent a 15-passenger van and take the test at will.
o BR will pay for the van and fees for the actual license. Please code the expenses in BETSy to Leader Other > DMV, First Aid, Certifications (visas, passports, driver permits, etc.)
o When complete, a copy of the Commercial Driver License (along with a copy of a current DMV Medical Card) should be sent to certifications@
• New Leaders
o New leaders will use the CA RSS as a point person to coordinate CDL certification when in California.
o They will have already obtained their DMV Med Card during training.
o New leaders will study on their own time.
o They may use a BR van if there is one available in Berkeley. If not, they will need to rent a 15-passenger van and take the test before being scheduled on any California trips.
o BR will pay for the van and fees for the actual license. Please code the expenses in BETSy to Leader Other > DMV, First Aid, Certifications (visas, passports, driver permits, etc.)
o When complete, a copy of the Commercial Driver License should be sent to certifications@.
Securing a van and required supplies
• Leaders will use the CA RSS as a point person to coordinate CDL certification when in California.
• The RSS will also be able to let them know whether a van is available in Berkeley or if they will need to rent one to take the test before being scheduled on any California trips.
How to Apply for a Commercial Driver License (CDL)
Step One – Medical Exam
• If you don’t have a current one, you will need to schedule a DMV Medical Exam. See details in DMV Medical Examination Card section above. For leaders already in the Bay Area, you can make an appt. at US Healthworks - 2870 7th St, Berkeley, CA 94710. (510) 845-5170. Make them ahead of time.
Step Two – Application & Written test for Commercial Permit
To apply for a commercial permit, you will need to: (Note the helpful hyperlinks in Blue)
• Visit a DMV office (make an Appointment(s) for faster service)
• Complete a California Driver License Driver License Application form (DL 44 or DL 44C). (An original DL 44C form must be submitted. Copies will not be accepted.)
• Complete a 10 Year History Record Check form (DL 939) if you have been issued a driver license in the same or different name to operate any type of motor vehicle in another state or other jurisdiction within the previous ten years
• Give a thumb print
• Have your picture taken
• Provide verification of your social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration while you are in the office.
• Verify your birth date and legal presence (you may use your California driver license)
• Pay the application fee for a 5–year license ($73 for original license or $43 for renewal/upgrade plus $33 for drive test.) You may use your Backroads credit card for this.
• Pass a vision exam
• Submit a completed Medical Examination Report form DL 51.
• Written test - Pass the traffic laws and sign tests for the class of vehicle you will drive, which is Class B. You also need to take the passenger endorsement test. You have three chances to pass the test. (Samples are online, but they are not as useful as the CDL handbook, which is also online) You can use all your tries in a row, during the same appt. Now that you have your permit, you can make a drive test appointment (see Step 3). Please secure this appointment ASAP as they book out.
Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be administering written or audio exams after 4:30 p.m.
Once you have passed your tests, you will be issued a permit. You can only drive with a person who has a valid California driver license in the class of license that your permit is for and is the specific age required for that class of license.
Step Three - Hands-on Driving Test
To apply for your commercial driver license you will need to:
• Call a DMV CDL office and make an appointment for a driving test. (Commercial driving test appointments cannot be made online) The Fremont DMV is the closest to Berkeley. There is an office in West Sacramento that usually has the most availability and may be the best option if you are in a rush to get licensed. The Santa Rosa office also does CDL testing.
• Bring the type of vehicle for the class you want to drive
• Please make sure that you have the required equipment and paperwork. (See the Drive Test information link on MainStreet.)
• Pass a pre–trip inspection (You have three chances to pass the pre–trip and you can use a written checklist)
• Pass a skills and driving test (You have three chances to pass the skills and driving test)
• You only get ONE TRY for the pre-trip, skills and driving test per appointment! So, it's useful to book multiple appointments for consecutive days, in case you fail a step.
• Once you pass, send a copy of your interim license to certifications.
After you pass your driving test or submit your certificate, you will be issued an interim license valid for 90 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your license after 60 days, call 1–800–777–0133 to check the status. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.
Step Four – Submit for your time in ATLAS Payroll
Leaders will be paid up to 8 hours to compensate them for taking the written and driving portion of the exam. Please submit this under Regional Certification (Area: California.)
Additional certification for Death valley leaders:
Leaders must complete the Death Valley Leader Addendum and the LNT Entrance Fee Certification. Here are links to the forms:
When you are finished, send the forms via email to TOS_CP@ or by fax to 510-527-9913.
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR HAWAII LEADERS:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park requires all leaders to complete a certified training program. We have uploaded video footage of this training from the national park to YouTube. All leaders working in Hawaii must view this video - approximately 6 hours of viewing time total (which you can submit for in ATLAS Payroll under “Regional Certification”.) You must then sign the statement located on MainStreet in the Hawaii Van Bag docs (Permits Print This(!!Must Do This Hawaii Volcanoes NP!!), and send it to Tamara Skootsky by email: Tamaras@, or fax: 510-527-9913.
The link to a playlist containing all of the videos (12 total) is here: .
ADDITONAL CERTIFICATIONS FOR GLACIER LEADERS:
As part of the Glacier National Park Permit, Leaders must turn in Attachment D of the Glacier National Park Permit before leading in the park. The document can be found in the Get Leaders Notes & Area Documents section for Glacier. Leaders must download the form, sign, and return the form to Emily Collins by email: emilyc@ or faxed: 510-527-9913.
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR NEW ZEALAND LEADERS:
NEW ZEALAND DRIVERS LICENSE
NEW ZEALAND COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE WITH PASSENGER ENDORSEMENT
If you are scheduled to work in New Zealand, you will need to obtain a New Zealand driver’s license with a passenger endorsement (this is their commercial driver certification equivalent). This is a complicated process that involves the coordination of a lot of paperwork well before you leave for NZ, as well as ample time prior to any Backroads schedule in order to complete the correct sequence once you are in the country. Please expect to spend 2 or more weeks in New Zealand prior to any other Backroads work in order to complete this process.
If you are scheduled to work in New Zealand, you will need to coordinate your work visa and other paperwork well in advance of leaving for NZ. You will receive communication from the New Zealand RM and/or Paul Smith, the Regional Manager and Regional Expert of New Zealand respectively, detailing the steps you must take. It is CRITICAL that you review this information closely, before your ticket is booked, and arrive in NZ fully prepared, with all the necessary paperwork. If you don’t, you will experience problems obtaining your license and may not be able to drive in NZ, and thus you may lose your NZ schedule. As well, please know that if you are working internationally and will not be returning to your home country or you won’t be spending much time at home, especially if home is the US or Canada, that obtaining all the necessary paperwork can be incredibly challenging and may require a lot of extra effort on your part.
As well, because of more rigorous requirements implemented in 2007, it is now necessary for anyone applying for a passenger endorsement in NZ to have a FBI or equivalent criminal background check performed before a license will be issued. More email communication will be sent from the New Zealand RM and/or Paul Smith detailing the necessary steps to apply for this criminal background check. In all likelihood, you will be asked to submit this application as soon as you receive your NZ schedule, as it can take months for this to process and hold up your passenger endorsement significantly.
In NZ, a very specific order is required to obtain your NZ license and passenger endorsement, which you will be guided through once you arrive in New Zealand. It involves: applying for the regular (non Passenger-endorsed) license, passing a written theory test, getting a medical exam, completing an 8 hour Passenger Endorsement course, applying for a Passenger Endorsement, completing a driving test, and finally obtaining a police clearance, which requires the FBI or equivalent criminal background check. Most of this process will happen in the first two days you are in the country but will take at least 2-3 weeks to fully complete, and upwards of 8 weeks to actually receive your license and Passenger Endorsement.
Backroads covers the cost of the licensing, which includes the medical exam, 8 hour Passenger Endorsement course as well as the written and drive tests. The total cost is around US$350.00. We will also pay leaders for up to 16 hours which includes the time required to obtain the necessary paperwork prior to leaving as well as the actual license exam time. Please submit these hours under “Regional Certification”. Most leaders are able to complete everything within this allotted time, however, it does happen on occasion that additional time is needed to complete the process. We will review each case individually and pay for extra time if warranted.
For leaders who already have their NZ license: The drivers’ license lasts for 10 years and P-endorsement can last for 1 or 5 years. Please select the “5 Year” option. Maintaining the P-endorsement for 5 years will make things much simpler when/if you return to NZ. You will then renew the year your P-endorsement expires, as needed. You will receive information from the New Zealand RM or Paul Smith guiding you through the renewal process, which is luckily significantly less-involved than initially obtaining the license. As of 2007, however, if you are renewing and have not physically been in New Zealand within the last 12 months, you must obtain a FBI or equivalent criminal background check, just like leaders who are getting their Passenger Endorsements for the first time. This is also true for those that have previously submitted their FBI check but have not been in the country for the last 12 months. As with the initial application process, getting your FBI background check started early is incredibly important, as this process can often take upwards of 4 months and you won’t be legal to drive guests in NZ until it has been received and processed.
Important Note: Once you have a license and/or P-endorsement, take great care of them, and NEVER discard them. Even expired licenses and P-endorsements can help significantly in renewing them.
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR CROATIA LEADERS:
CROATIAN WORK PERMIT
Although Croatia is now a member of the EU, they are not yet a member of the EEE (European Economic Territory), meaning that Trip Leaders are required to have either a work permit or simply be “registered” when leading trips in Croatia. The types of permits/registrations and documents necessary to receive them vary from year to year. Please look for a detailed email from the RM for further information, and refer to the information on MainStreet under Get Certifications.
VISAS AND IMMUNIZATION CERTIFICATION TIME:
Backroads will pay leaders for the time they spend obtaining work visas - average 2-3 hours, and this should be submitted in ATLAS Payroll under “Regional Certification”. We will also pay the cost of work visas, and the cost for immunizations that are pre-approved by the RM of the region a leader is going to for Backroads work (up to $300 max.) Refer to the Pay Chapter for the full policy on reimbursement for immunizations. We do not, however, reimburse for mileage or gas to/from the consulates or clinics for visas or immunizations. We also do not pay for time for immunizations.
Border Crossings
WHAT DO I SAY AT THE BORDER, OR THE AIRPORT WHEN ENTERING A DIFFERENT COUNTRY?
Be honest and not evasive when questioned at borders. In addition to stating that you are a tour guide working for an American company leading trips in the country, you should stress that the clients in your group are all Americans. Backroads also recommends that North American trip leaders working in Europe also have the following on hand while working in Europe:
-Domestic Driver’s License
-International Driver’s License (AAA)
-Backroads Paystub
-Backroads Credit Card
Info on Requesting a Schedule in Europe
First of all, be certain that we have your updated information of essential skills necessary for a European Schedule. You will need to be a competent driver of a manual transmission van (‘stickshift’) and usually conversant or better in a European language (although some exceptions exist). To check what we have on file, in ATLAS go to Leader Profile>Leader Certifications. Nicole Fisher is your contact if you need to update this information.
European work, an Overview
The European season starts in mid-March and runs through early November. Trip Leaders can be scheduled in Europe for periods of time frequently exceeding three months based on availability and schedule requests (As far as we can tell, this is the case for every company we know in our industry that operates in Europe.) Although Backroads doesn’t reimburse the cost of visas and resident cards, we will continue to honor requests for both longer and shorter periods of time in Europe. Because the European season is longer than the North American season, requesting a shorter European season may result in less work overall, depending on many variables. Please read the below FAQ prior to submitting your availability form. The European season starts in mid-March and runs through early November. North American Trip leaders are frequently scheduled in Europe for the entire season. Occasionally we are asked if Backroads will provide a work visa for Trip Leaders traveling abroad; historically we have not. New for 2017 Given the increased security environment in Europe recently, this winter we’ll be looking more closely at providing Backroads' sponsored visas and resident cards (for France only) on a select basis, and below we recommend a few other encouraging options.
If you request to work in the EU for more than 90 days, our goal is to work together to make sure we preclude any frustrating incidents, if possible. We’ve provided a FAQ section below to help you understand more about our presence in Europe running ‘closed circuit tours’. Please read the FAQ below prior to making schedule requests.
When you log on to the ATLAS availability survey you will select your preference for length of season in Europe.
← Full Availability – I am available for a full season in Europe with no special parameters. Backroads can schedule me in Europe according to company needs. I have no restrictions on my length of stay in Europe, or on travelling in/out of the EU.
← Limited Availability – I am available to work in Europe for no more than (1-4) month(s) (Leaders may choose). Note: Those US/Canadians interested in a shorter season in Europe may be scheduled to work a portion of their season in North America for domestic work.
FAQs
❖ What is Backroads’ legal presence in Europe?
Backroads has a French subsidiary based on Pernes-les-Fontaines (Provence), France. The official name of the subsidiary is “801 France”, and it operates as a logistical hub for all trips in Europe (plus Turkey, Israel and Morocco). In addition to a small permanent staff, all of our European Trip Leaders are employed by 801 France. Stacy Loucks, as the European General Manager, works closely with a team of HR professionals and legal counsel to stay on top of evolving immigration and employment laws in France and the EU
❖ What is the law on “length of stay in Europe”? Non-EU citizens are legally allowed to be in the Schengen/EU zone for 90 days within a 6-month period from the date of entry. This law is interpreted differently and applied selectively throughout the EU; some countries have a history of a more literal and rigid application, while many countries default to a more relaxed and liberal application. Backroads has worked over a long period of time with many lawyers and is an active member of the European Tour Operators Association which plays a large advocacy role in the EU regarding the free movement of Guides and Trip Leaders in Europe. We have learned that most EU countries welcome members of the Tourist Industry as tourism plays a large role in their economy. Additionally, we are clear that the intent of the law is to preclude a non-EU citizen from immigrating into the EU and establishing an illegal residency and work situation. This is neither the intent nor the activity of a Backroads Trip Leader.
❖ So—I’m interested in spending a long season in Europe: is this still possible?
Yes. We are not proposing a change if individuals request to be scheduled on one continent, or even multiple continents and have no restrictions on length-of-stay. If you have no personal restrictions on your length-of-stay, and you are comfortable working with the existing environment.
❖ If I choose to stay in Europe longer than 3 months, will Backroads schedule me for work?
Yes. If you request, and are available for work, then we will attempt to schedule you according to your availability and preferences in ATLAS. This does not guarantee the exact length of your schedule in Europe, which will be determined by your performance, experience, our needs– all of our Scheduling Parameters, as usual. But, you will be scheduled for work in Europe! Yes. While this request does not guarantee you will be sent to Europe or the duration of a potential Europe schedule, we will always attempt to schedule you according to your availability and preferences. We will have long-stay Europe schedules available in 2017. As usual, your schedule will be determined by all of our scheduling parameters (performance, experience, our needs, etc).
❖ Would it be possible for me to do 2 separate stints in Europe, with each no longer than 90 days?
Maybe. This may be possible, especially for high performing Trip Experts. Please indicate this is your preference in your ATLAS notes. You may need to be available to fly to Europe in the late winter—Feb or March to achieve this within our busy periods. This is unlikely but possible, for key roles (like TE/REs). The Scheduling Team is available to discuss individual scenarios- email if you need more information about your requests and how to achieve your goal. Maybe. This is unlikely but it may be possible, especially for high performing leaders and leaders who have taken on other responsibilities such as Trip Experts. Please indicate this is your preference in the scheduling notes in ATLAS. New in 2017 – This next year we will be looking at options for a mid-stay break allowing for exit and re-entry, either with Backroads support or at the individual’s expense.
❖ Does Backroads provide any support (documentation or credentials) for trip leaders traveling on a tourist visa?
Yes. As mentioned above, Backroads is a member of ETOA acts as a support network by providing access to professionals in the rare case we need help with North Americans traveling abroad. Backroads provides Trip Leaders with ETOA certificates which outline our business in Europe as well as the main role of a Trip Leader in Europe: to accompany Americans on closed-circuit tours in Europe. In addition to the ETOA cards, Backroads also provides an “Explanation of Backroads Closed Circuit Tours” letter in all local European languages on MainStreet. Backroads also recommends that North American trip leaders working in Europe also have the following on hand while working in Europe:
-Domestic Driver’s License
-International Driver’s License (AAA)
-Backroads Paystub
-Backroads Credit Card
❖ Have Leaders ever been stopped by immigration authorities?
We have very few incidents of Leaders being controlled or questioned. In the few incidents we have experienced, at a minimum, Leaders are questioned and allowed to depart, and at a maximum, the person is informed not to return to the EU until a certain amount of time has transpired. After many years of very few incidents, there have been a few cases in the last year with leaders and immigration officials in the EU. The incidents include returning to the EU after a longer stay in the spring, passport controls between flights within Europe, and exiting after a lengthy stay. The officials’ actions and interpretations of the 90-day stay have been incredibly varied, from refusing entry (the most serious) to applying a fine, to questioning and inviting the person to return in two weeks.
❖ If I choose to stay longer than 90 days, what would I tell an immigration officer, should I be asked, when entering another EU country?
Although your response is completely personal, our official recommendation is to respond with the facts. And always tell the truth if you are pulled aside and questioned. The goal is to calmly prove that you are not, in fact, immigrating to Europe. It is best to have the above mentioned documentation, and it’s also proven helpful to explain the nature of your job - that you are hosting American guests on closed-circuit tours here (i.e. sold in the US). Overall, do not feel or act like you are a criminal, even if that is how they treat you (it’s their job!). Remember that you are a travel professional, and just act like it - like you always do. You can also provide the authorities with the name and contact information of Stacy Loucks and encourage them to contact her directly for more information on Backroads in Europe.
❖ If I choose Limited Availability for Europe, will I get less work overall?
Possibly. Because the European season is longer than the North American season, requesting a shorter European season request may result in less work overall, depending on many variables. It would not be our intention to offer shorter seasons, but we do acknowledge that this request may result in less work overall. Or it may not—we are offering more and more ‘shoulder season’ work in North America to extend leaders’ seasons and employment. Maybe. This is a hard question to answer because it depends on so many variables. Because the European season is longer than the North American season, with both earlier and later peaks (May-June & Sept-Oct), leaders in Europe often have more work opportunity. It would not be our intention to offer a leader less work based on their survey response, but we do want to acknowledge that this request may indeed result in less work overall. Or it may not—we have more and more ‘shoulder season’ work in North America that extends leaders’ seasons and employment. If you have specific questions on how your desire to work in Europe for a limited period of time might affect your schedule, please feel free to contact the Scheduling Team (schedulingteam@).
❖ Will requesting limited availability in Europe affect my candidacy for TE/RE/RSS roles?
No. We award these roles based on excellence and encourage all keen leaders to apply for more responsibility in the TE program.
❖ Are there steps I can take on my own to reduce any risk related to staying in Europe for longer than 90 days?
Yes. There are options available for individuals to pursue on their own, including applying for a Long Stay Tourist Visa. Information on this can be found on any country’s embassy website. Often times the biggest requirements to achieving a long stay tourist visa are having no criminal record, having funds available to support your entire stay, and having health insurance coverage during your entire stay.
Regarding travel, we’ve learned:
1. You can voluntarily choose to exit the Schengen Zone before you have been there for 90 days, and then re-enter. Depending on when your “180 days” begins, this may not completely eliminate risk, though is often successful at reducing it.
2. Purchasing roundtrip airfares originating from Europe and returning to Europe risk being perceived as if a person is “living” in Europe. If you plan to return to North America (or any non-EU country) on your own in the middle of the season, please speak with our Travel department to use the return portion of your Backroads ticket, and then purchase your second roundtrip (from the US back to the US) on your own.
3. Some European “gateway cities” are more difficult and regulated than others. The most highly regulated entry points are any major city in England, Germany, or the Netherlands.
Yes. Regarding travel, we’ve learned:
1. Carry appropriate documentation with you at all times while working for Backroads in Europe.
2. You can voluntarily choose to exit the Schengen Zone before you have been there for 90 days, and then re-enter. Depending on when your “180 days” begins, this may not completely eliminate risk, though is often successful at reducing it, as well as reducing anxiety.
3. Purchasing roundtrip airfares originating from Europe and returning to Europe risk being perceived as if a person is “living” in Europe. If you plan to return to North America (or any non-EU country) on your own in the middle of the season, please speak with Scheduling/Casto to use the return portion of your Backroads ticket, and then purchase your second roundtrip (from the US back to the US) on your own.
4. Some European “gateway cities” are more difficult and regulated than others. The most highly regulated entry points are any major city in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. However, please do note that as of 2016 there have been known incidents in Spain, France, the Czech Republic, and Iceland.
5. Ground Transport – if available, it might be worth considering using ground transportation when travelling within Europe. Airports seem to include more active monitoring, although again, that is still spotty and inconsistent. Nonetheless, with the preponderance of low-cost airlines, it’s good to remember that Europe has an incredible network of ground transportation that is timely and usually cost-efficient. If you feel strongly about using ground transportation, please contact
PART 2: PAY, ALLOWANCES AND REIMBURSEMENTS
THE QUICK RUNDOWN…
PAYROLL STAFF
SUBMITTING PAYROLL
• Payroll timing
• Direct deposit
• Submitting work in ATLAS
• Submitting work LATE is a PROBLEM
PAY RATES & ACTIVITY CODES
• 2017 Pay Charts
• 2017 Pay Changes
• Activity Codes
• Commonly Misunderstood Activity Codes
• New Activity Codes
• Things You Should NOT Submit For
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES PAY
• Training Pay
• Low Enrolled Trip Pay
• Regional Support/Lost Work Compensation
Solo led trips & compensation
• Leaders as Camp Assistants or Camp Chefs
• Trip Interruption
• Regional_Support
• Social Media Takeover
• Leader Referral Bonus
• Camp Assistant Referral Bonus
TIPS
• Tipping Rules for Americans
• "Tips" for Tips Submission
• Tip Check made out to Backroads
• Tips paid on Credit Cards
• Tipping Verbiage in Travel Planner
• Tips for Support Leaders
ALLOWANCES
• Food Allowance
• Lunch & Dinner OYO Allowance
• Allowance Guidelines
REIMBURSEMENTS
• Reimbursement Categories and Policies
• Photography for Backroads Marketing Materials
• Theft Reimbursement
• Travel Benefit for TE/RE/RSSs
• Partial Ticket Reimbursement on Personal Travel
• Expenses not Reimbursed
• Submitting for Reimbursements
• How Reimbursements are Processed
TAXES
• Tax Forms (W2 Forms)
Payroll Staff
Staff Associated With Payroll in Berkeley Office
• Claire Content: Leader Pay & Literature Coordinator - validates and approves all leader submissions in ATLAS Payroll before they are processed. Makes ATLAS adjustments or corrections for leaders, answers questions re: ATLAS, leader pay, allowances, reimbursements, pay policies. Approves reimbursements.
• Mike Louvau: HR Manager - can answer questions on benefits, payroll, tips, insurance, worker’s comp, company policy, employment verifications, employment opportunities in the office etc…
• Sue Dean McGilpin: Payroll Lead - Processes payroll for all US & Canadian staff at Backroads, not just leaders. Can answer questions for US & Canadian leaders about payroll deductions, taxes, W2 and T4 forms, changing direct deposit account.
• Christine Daniels: Benefits Coordinator - Can help US & Canadian leaders with days worked requirements, insurance deductions, enrollment in Backroads health plans and 401(K) plan, and assists with worker's comp claims.
Payroll Timing
WHEN AM I PAID?
U.S. leaders are paid on the 7th and the 22nd of each month. If the 7th or 22nd falls on a weekend or holiday, you will be paid on the business day prior to the weekend or holiday. There are two pay periods in each month: the 1st through the 15th and the 16th through the last day of the month. The paychecks are issued seven days after the end of each pay period. (This paycheck timing is a change effective 4/1/17)
Direct Deposit
CAN MY PAYCHECK BE DIRECT DEPOSITED?
Yes! In fact most leaders do sign up for direct deposit so they can be assured that their money gets into their account consistently when they are leading trips. You can even have your paycheck split between 2 or more accounts! We highly recommend that you sign up for direct deposit if you do not already have it! Just talk to the Payroll & HRIS Specialist and she will get your banking information and set it up for you. If you do not have direct deposit then there will definitely be some lag time before you get your paychecks, as we do not consistently forward leader mail out during the season.
If you receive notification from your bank relative to ANY kind of a change (merger, account number/transit/routing number change, etc.), please follow up with them to determine if there is a change to your direct deposit information. If there is, you need to pass that information on to the Backroads Payroll/HR Dept. BEFORE the change, or your direct deposit paycheck will not go through as planned – i.e. you will not get paid – and we don’t want that to happen!
HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY PAYSTUB?
You can now access, view and print your paystubs online! You won’t receive a paper direct deposit stub anymore, but will instead receive an e-mail letting you know your paystub can be viewed online (don’t worry – if you’re the kind of person who likes the tactile experience of a paper direct deposit stub, you can go online and print your own.) You can access the website through the Human Resources page on MainStreet by clicking on the ‘Paychex’ button. Or you can log in through the link below:
• Go to - please save this site to your “favorites”
• Enter our Company ID which is: 0400 8110
• Enter your username which is your first initial followed by your full last name all lower case, with no spaces (e.g. Sue Smith’s username would be ssmith)
• First time users will be prompted to enter a temporary password which is your first initial followed by your last initial (both capitalized) and the last 4 digits of your social security number (e.g. if Sue Smith’s Social Security Number ends in 1111, her temporary password would be SS1111)
• You will be prompted to change your password the first time you log-in, and FYI anyone in HR can assist you with setting up a new temporary password if you ever forget your password. Just ping us if you need help. This password will be used for future visits to the site.
You can access your paystubs going back to 2011, and can also look up your tax filing status and view and print your W-2s. You can also view and/or change your mailing address and direct deposit information.
ATLAS PAY SHEET VIEW IN ATLAS
You can view the ATLAS Pay Sheets on line via ATLAS. Click on ‘ATLAS Pay Sheets’ under “Payroll Info” to view one of your pay sheets. Enter your password again, for security purposes, then select the Pay Period you wish to view. Then click “Get Pay Sheet”. You will then see the ATLAS Pay Sheet data which includes your activities and dates paid out in a given pay period, along with the breakdown of straight time hours and overtime hours and straight time pay and overtime pay, tips, etc.
Submitting Work In ATLAS
When do I need to submit my work into ATLAS?
You should submit your work to ATLAS Payroll as soon after completing the work as possible, but by the payroll entry deadline at the latest. The payroll entry deadline is the last day of each pay period or a day or two before this, so usually falls on the 15th of the month for work in the 1-15 pay period, and the 31st of the next month (or last day of the month) for the 16-31 pay period. (See Payroll Submit Deadlines in ATLAS Payroll screen, or click the link to the document on MainStreet here: US ATLAS Payroll Dates.) It’s a good habit to submit your work into ATLAS after every trip or block of work. If you do not submit your work by the Payroll Entry Deadline then the Payroll Validator has to try to track you down to confirm you did the work and confirm the hours and tips, and this takes time and effort and is not ideal.
submitting work late is a problem
In 2017 leaders who are often delinquent with their payroll entry will have an LPF point deduction. More news on this coming soon.
2017 Pay Charts
The Pay Charts listing the different rate types and activities associated with them can be found on MainStreet.
• For U.S. leaders see: Leaders > Post Trip > U.S. Leaders-Pay Info. > Hourly Rate Types/Est Hrs. (This chart is being updated soon!)
• There is also a chart showing the pay periods, submission deadlines and pay dates for all pay periods in 2015. Go to : Leaders > Post Trip > U.S. Leaders-Pay Info. > Payroll Dates
Pay Changes for 2017:
|TOPIC |US |
|RATES |$10.50/hr, $15.75 OT for most work except TE/RE/RSS |
| |Hourly, TD Fieldwork, H&T work |
| |(senior leaders will have slightly higher rates to |
| |average what they made previously) |
|OVERTIME |Time and a half after 8 hrs/day & after 40 hrs in |
| |week, Double time after 12 hrs/day. |
|PAYROLL TIMING |NEW TIMING: 1st-15th of month paid on 22nd, |
| |16th-31st of month paid 7th of next month |
|ESTIMATED HRS |Travel, Fam, GRAF, Drives estimated hrs 10 hrs/day |
| |Support estimated hrs 9 hrs/day |
|TRAVEL |Travel now 10 hrs/day, 6 hrs half day and is set |
| |based on start & end locations, and cannot be |
| |adjusted based on actual travel time |
| | |
| | |
|Fieldwork Codes and Rate Type Changes: | |
|Hourly 3 is a new rate type we created to continue to pay TEs and REs a higher rate for their Fieldwork |
|(Research/Presearch/QualitySearch). |
|(GRAF - Training Leaders (US/CDN) will receive that rate type as well.) |
| |
|[pic] |
| |
| |
Activity Codes
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT ACTIVITY CODES TO USE IN ATLAS?
The Activity Codes Key can be found in two different places:
In ATLAS behind the word “HELP” on the bottom of the screen you will find the ATLAS Manual. At the bottom of the Table of Contents you will see “Activity Codes Key.” Just click on this and it will take you right to the key of all codes and their descriptions, as well as what rate type is associated with the codes for US and Cdn/Euro leaders.
In MainStreet under Leaders < Post Trip Post Trip > Allowances Chart.
Please click here to view the chart.
When AM I ELIGIBLE FOR a food ALLOWANCE?
You are eligible for a food allowance up to the amount listed on the Allowances Chart during the following types of work days (both full and half days):
□ Drive Days
□ Travel Days
□ Pre-search
□ FAM days
□ GRAF days
□ Prep days
□ Research
□ Shadow days
□ Support Leader days
□ QualitySearch
WHAT KIND OF ALLOWANCES DO I GET DURING TRIPS?
□ Lunch and Dinner OYO Allowance:
On inn trips when guests are on their own for lunch and/or dinner, you are allotted a food allowance to apply towards these meals. The amount is determined by region, according to the Cost of Living in each region. Refer to the Allowances Chart for the allowance amounts for each region.
ALLOWANCE GUIDELINES
• MAXIMUM: The amount listed on the allowance chart is the maximum limit. While this is not a change of policy, many of you have mentioned that this has not always been the practice. For example, in the past, $22.16 may have been submitted even though the limit was $20. We are now requiring that all of us hold the limit. Should you exceed the limit while at a restaurant after ordering, the amount is your responsibility. In the example above, you would put only $20 on the BR credit card and pay the remaining $2.16 in personal cash. BETSy will trigger a required note if you go over the amount and communicate directly to you and to your RM in the event of an overage.
• TWO LEADERS: Of course, in the case of 2 leaders, (i.e. $40) you may submit for $22.16 since that still meets the individual limits of $20/leader in the above example. However, just so you understand, BETSy was designed so that the budgets do not automatically fluctuate based on the number of leaders/night; so in that submission case, it will trigger an “overage” with the $22.16 entry and will kindly ask you to list the other individual leader name(s) you’re covering. BETSy will send a message to your RM to explain why in that particular case it shows up as an overage based on multiple leaders versus a true overage of limits.
• NO CARRYOVER: Q: If I don’t use my D2 OYO lunch allowance can I use it to increase my D4 OYO dinner amount? A: Allowance amounts do not “carry over.” For example, if you do not use your OYO lunch allowance you cannot later increase your OYO dinner amount. Allowances do not carryover or transfer; they are single use only. If you don’t need the whole allowance, great, don’t use it. We want you to be well-fed, not wasteful.
• CONTRIBUTION V. COVERAGE: Since their inception in the ‘90s, allowances were designed to minimize out-of-pocket costs in the field so anything you earn is earnings. The purpose is to “get yourself fed” while working, aka meet basic needs, versus covering everything that may be associated with a meal (cappuccino, beer, etc). If those items fit within the allowance limit, great; if not, you need to cover them on your own. Please do not absorb leader food within purchases intended for guests, i.e. during a prep day, to then have more for later; that kind of shifting is not acceptable.
Reimbursement Categories & Policies
WHAT TYPES OF NON-TRIP EXPENSES DOES BACKROADS COVER?
and
SHOULD I PAY WITH MY BACKROADS CREDIT CARD, OR USE MY OWN AND GET REIMBURSED AFTERWARDS?
See the list below as to which non-trip expenses Backroads covers. If the amount you are spending is within the allotted amount that Backroads has agreed to cover then you can use your Backroads credit card and submit for the expense in BETSy. If, however, the amount you spend exceeds the amount Backroads covers, then you will need to use your own money and submit your receipt for a reimbursement of the portion you are eligible for. For more details on these categories see the “Certifications & Documents” section of the Policy Manual.
□ CPR/First Aid Recertification (use Backroads credit card if $150 US or less for combo class in person –not on-line; $75 if only CPR or only First Aid)
□ DMV Medical Card (use Backroads credit card if $100 US or less)
□ Class B Driver’s License Renewal (partial) (U.S. leaders only who started prior to 2007 or who started after 2007 and have a Calif. License and are leading in California) (Use your own credit card and submit for reimbursement.
□ International Driver’s License (use Backroads credit card)
□ Immunizations (use your own credit card and submit for reimbursement. Please submit immunization expenses to your medical insurance company BEFORE requesting reimbursement from Backroads. Backroads only covers amounts not covered by your insurance.)
□ Work Visas (use Backroads credit card)
□ Mileage Reimbursement (when using own vehicle for work) (submit for reimbursement)
□ Reimbursement for Driving own car instead of flying to trip start (submit for reimbursement)
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENEWING MY CPR/FIRST AID CERTIFICATION?
Backroads will reimburse you up to $150US to renew your CPR/First Aid certification combo course (in person, not on-line.) If the course you take costs $150US or less you can pay for it on your Backroads credit card and then submit the expense in BETSy under “Leader Other – DMV, First Aid, Certifications”. Please put a note in that this was for CPR/First Aid Recertification. If the course you take costs more than $150US, then please submit your receipt with a Reimbursement Form to the Leader Pay and Literature Coordinator for reimbursement. You only need to renew your certifications when they expire, not every year, as we had required in the past.
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENEWING MY CLASS B DRIVER’S LICENSE? (This only applies to US leaders who started prior to 2007, or who started after 2007 and have a Calif. License and are leading in California)
U.S. Leaders: When you renew your Class B license (once every 5 years) Backroads will reimburse you for the difference between the cost of a Class B license and the cost of a Class C license if there is a difference. Currently a Class C costs $33 and a Class B costs $42 so we reimburse $9. The logic behind this partial reimbursement is that if you were not working for Backroads you would have to renew your license anyway, so we are just paying for the additional cost of maintaining your Commercial License (Class B). Please submit your receipt with a Reimbursement Form to the Leader Pay and Literature Coordinator for reimbursement. We do not pay for the time involved with renewing your license, Type B or C, as renewing a driver’s license is seen as something you would need to do regardless if you are working for Backroads or not.
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENEWING MY MEDICAL CARD?
To renew your DMV medical exam you should try to schedule an appointment during a time when you are going to be at the Backroads office (Utah or Berkeley), so you can use one of the local clinics we are affiliated with. If, however, you are unable to make it to Berkeley/SLC, and have to take this physical exam elsewhere, we will reimburse up to $100US, which is even more than our local clinics charge. If you must go elsewhere, be sure that you call around for the best price, and state that you just need the DMV medical exam, not a full physical. If your DMV physical costs $100US or less you can pay for it on your Backroads credit card and then submit the expense in BETSy under “Leader Other – DMV, First Aid, Certifications”. Please put a note in that this was for the DMV physical exam. If the exam costs more than $100US, then please contact Nicole Fisher to get approval and then submit your receipt with a Reimbursement Form to the Leader Pay and Literature Coordinator for reimbursement. Make sure to note if you received special approval from Nicole Fisher. We do not pay for the time involved with getting your DMV Medical exam.
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR GETTING AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVER’S LICENSE? (US/CDN LDRS ONLY)
All US and Canadian leaders working in Europe need an International license. They are available from any AAA office. The cost is approx. $35, plus the cost of the photos ($10-15). Backroads covers this expense, so use your Backroads credit card and when the charge shows up in BETSy you should expense it to Leader Other – DMV, First Aid, Certifications, and type “International Driver’s License” in the notes field.
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR IMMUNIZATIONS?
Backroads covers the cost of some but not necessarily all of the immunizations recommend per country by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Before assuming Backroads will reimburse your immunization, it’s your responsibility to determine exactly which vaccines are recommended and which are covered by Backroads. See below.
The CDC has 3 categories of recommendations for vaccines and medications:
1) All Travelers. 2) Most Travelers 3) Some Travelers. Backroads covers the vaccinations listed under Most Travelers. Any reimbursement over $300 requires RM pre-approval.
Why not the other categories? The All Travelers list includes routine vaccinations regardless of destination. The Some Travelers section list vaccines based on where exactly you’re headed, how long you stay there and what you’ll be doing…so will occasionally include a recommendation that applies to your work and might thus be covered.
Submit your immunizations through your health care coverage. For amounts that are not covered by your insurance, Backroads will reimburse you based on the above criteria. If your health care coverage does not include immunizations, then shop around to find the most reasonable traveler’s health clinic. Be cautious - some clinics routinely recommend everything on the CDC list regardless of how applicable the vaccine is to your situation.
Once you have researched what the immunizations will cost, send an email to your RM if the cost is above $300US or you’re seeking to cover items not on the Most Travelers list. For reimbursement, provide proof that you have submitted this claim to your personal insurance. Submit all the receipts for reimbursement with your BETSy and code to Certifications/Immunizations.
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR WORK VISAS?
Backroads covers the cost of your VISA when it’s required. Visa requirements are specific to each region. Check out the Leaders Notes for visa information and confirm all arrangements with the Leader Scheduling Coordinator. Use your Backroads credit card and when the charge shows up in BETSy you should expense it to Leader Other – DMV, First Aid, Certifications, and type “Work Visa for leading trips in (country)” in the notes field.
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PERSONAL CELL PHONE USE? (for Ldrs & Camp Assistants working in US or Europe)
Leaders will use their personal cell phones if working in North America, Europe and Winter Regions (with coverage).
We do not send out unit cell phones to any US or European regions, but instead will rely on (and reimburse) leaders for their personal cell phone use.
Leaders working in North America in this program will be reimbursed $10 per trip for their cell phone usage and wear & tear, and this can be submitted in BETSy (see below.) Leaders working in Europe will be reimbursed €10 per trip. To help leaders that work in regions that visit more than one country during a trip, we are increasing the reimbursement to €15/trip to cover the additional cost of having a second phone chip, or some extra credit to cover roving costs. (ex. BZAI/Q, WZAI, BSVI, BASI.) This reimbursement would also be granted for Support Leader and Presearch (one assignment = 1 reimbursement). There is no reimbursement for unit drives unless there is some extenuating circumstance that requires a great deal of cell phone use (van breakdown, etc.)
To account for extra phone usage TE/RSS’s will be reimbursed at a higher rate of $15 or €15 EUR per trip (when they lead in their region).
Camp Assistants will be reimbursed $10 for cell phone usage on trips only. This reimbursement is only provided on trips where you were able to use your phone for a good percentage of the time.
BETSy Note – Leader and TE/RSS cell phone reimbursements can be taken from your trip wallet cash and then submitted in Leader Communication>Unit Cell phones on BETSy.
RE’s will be reimbursed at a straight monthly rate of $50/month to use towards their personal cell phone or smart phone plans. Those RE’s working in Europe will receive a reimbursement of €50 /month for the months they are working in Europe. This reimbursement is in lieu of per trip reimbursement and is available in months they are working a minimum of 10 days (Scheduled trip days and/or an 8 hour day submitted for office work). Winter RE’s that are able to use their phones in their region will also receive this reimbursement in the currency of their home hub (SLC, Pernes, or Canmore.) We will also provide a bi-annual equipment reimbursement of $100 (or Euros) towards a smartphone purchase. This equipment reimbursement can be submitted only once per 24 month period (e.g. if you submit for it in May, you will need to wait for May of two years from now to submit for it again). Receipt of the new phone must accompany the equipment reimbursement request.
BETSy Note – The RE reimbursement can be taken from your trip wallet cash and then submitted in Leader Communication>RE Reimbursement on BETSy.
WHAT’S THE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT IF I USE MY OWN CAR FOR WORK?
If you need to use your own car for work (for a fam, presearch, etc.) because a van is not available or because it will actually cost less to use your own vehicle, and you’ve received approval to use your own car, then you can submit for mileage reimbursement. The mileage reimbursement rate for 2017 is as follows: U.S. = 50 cents USD/mile. ** Please note: you must receive approval from your manager prior to using your own car for Backroads work.
Please submit for your mileage on a Reimbursed Expenses Form (under mileage section at bottom), noting date of travel, the destination, and total miles driven. Please also note who approved this.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are submitting for mileage reimbursement then you must be paying for your own gas. If you use the Backroads credit card for gas and then submit for mileage on top of this, then you will have to deduct out the amount you spent on gas, otherwise you will be double dipping!
WHAT’S THE REIMBURSEMENT IF I DRIVE MY CAR TO MY TRIP START, INSTEAD OF FLYING?
You may be able to drive if you have been scheduled to fly but it is generally not an option if you have been scheduled for a unit drive and it will cost us a flight to have someone else drive the unit and then fly back. If you want to drive your own car to a Region please ask the Regional Manager and Leader Scheduling Coordinator for permission well ahead of publish, and let the Leader Travel Specialist know you do not need a plane ticket.
If your deviation request to drive instead of fly is approved here is the reimbursement you are eligible for:
1. If you are driving to and from your loop: Backroads will reimburse you for either 50¢/mile or the cost of the R/T flight we would have purchased for you from the Backroads home base, whichever is less. (We will not reimburse for gas.)
2. If you are driving one-way (and we would have flown you one-way): for either 50¢/mile or the cost of the O/W flight we would have purchased for you from the Backroads home base, whichever is less. (We will not reimburse for gas.)
3. If you are driving one-way (and we would have flown you roundtrip): If Backroads was going to fly you round-trip and you decide to only fly one-way and transport yourself the other way instead, then Backroads can only reimburse you the difference in cost between a round-trip and one-way ticket, or your mileage – whichever is less. Often times, a round-trip ticket costs less than a one-way ticket, so the reimbursement amount may be low, if anything at all. To find out what reimbursement you are eligible for, submit a Reimbursed Expense Form to the Travel Specialist indicating the miles you drove your car and she will do a fare check to determine your reimbursement eligibility.
Photography for Backroads Marketing Materials
We encourage all leaders and staff to submit their photos to Marketing for use in our printed promotional materials and catalogs.
Even if an image isn’t used in the coming year, it will remain in our database and at any given time in the future if your image is used in print, you will receive $150.*
See “Photography Guidelines” on MainStreet under MARKETING page for all the details:
[pic]
Theft Reimbursement
WILL I RECEIVE ANY REIMBURSEMENT IF I HAVE PERSONAL BELONGINGS STOLEN WHILE WORKING FOR BACKROADS?
If it is determined that the theft was beyond your control and you did everything possible to prevent it, Backroads will reimburse you some or all of the value of the items stolen, depending on the total and excluding those items which are not eligible for reimbursement. Please refer to the chapter on “Security, Liability, and What to do if Things Go Wrong” for details.
To receive reimbursement, please submit the following things to the Global Field Operations Manager and the Leader Pay and Literature Coordinator as soon after the theft as possible, and no later than 1 month after the date of the theft:
□ A report detailing what occurred and the security measures taken (where you were, what time it was, what you were doing, etc.)
□ A police report
□ A list highlighting major items stolen and the approximate replacement cost of the reimbursable items. Whenever possible, use the existing pro-deals to replace any clothing or equipment. Enter the pro-deal price next to those items on your list that can be replaced through pro-deals. For the remaining items, mark down the current replacement cost. If you already purchased any replacement items write down the price next to those items and attach the receipts.
Items not eligible for reimbursement: money, cameras, jewelry, CD players, IPods, IPads, players, personal laptops, any outdoor equipment that is not necessary on trips (i.e. climbing gear, skis, etc.) or any other high value personal items (a comprehensive list is not possible, but we hope you get the idea).
Travel Benefit for TEs, REs and RSSs
Will Backroads reimburse me for travel expenses I incur because I do not live near a Backroads’ home base (SLC/canmore/pernes)?
Travel from home: If you are a TE/RE/RSS who does not live near one of the Backroads hubs (Salt Lake City, Canmore, Pernes) we will cover the total cost of travel from your home to your trip start when you are flying to a loop for which you are the TE/RE/RSS. The same policy will apply towards your travel from the hub home after your loop end, if you are required to drive a unit to the hub due to your role as a TE/RE/RSS. Please know that this benefit is designed to assist you with travel expenses from you home base (versus a current travel destination or location); in other words, this benefit applies to travel to/from legal residence – NOT wherever you happen to be living or travelling before/after your loop start. If you are unclear about whether you qualify for this benefit based on your location, please contact Lynny Kramm, or your RM.
Partial Ticket Reimbursement on Personal Travel
wHAT IF I FLY MYSELF HOME MID-SEASON FOR PERSONAL REASONS AND THEN END UP PICKING UP A TRIP OR TWO? WILL BACKROADS REIMBURSE ME FOR MY FLIGHT?
If a leader working overseas flies him/herself home between trips for personal reasons, but then ends up picking up 1 trip or more during his/her time off (due to a situation of dire need on our end), we will pay partial reimbursement for his/her flight according to the number of trips that were picked up using the following formula:
1 trip = $400.00US
2 trips = $600.00US
3 trips = $800.00US
4 trips or more – TBD on a case-by-case basis
Expenses Not Reimbursed
WHAT EXPENSES DOES BACKROADS NOT REIMBURSE?
Passport renewal fees or expedited passport renewal fees, and adding passport pages.
Wilderness First Aid – we don’t reimburse full cost, just the cost of a standard First Aid course ($75), or $150 if it includes CPR certification.
Replacement fees for lost or stolen passport or driver’s license (unless we determine that the loss or theft was beyond your control).
Anything not previously mentioned in this section
Submitting For Reimbursements
If you need to submit for reimbursement, please use the proper form on MainStreet (Leaders < Post Trip < Reimbursement Form) include your receipts, and mail to the Leader Pay and Literature Coordinator in Leader Development. Or you can fax your form and copy of receipt/s to 510-292-2793, or scan and email it to clairec@. Be sure to fill in the address where you would like your check mailed. It is very important that you submit for reimbursement shortly after you incur the expense. Reimbursements should never be carried into the next year. For example, if you pay an out of pocket expense in 2016 you need to submit it and be reimbursed for it in 2016 as well – do not wait until 2017 to submit it! Finance closes the books for the entire year in January, so if you don’t submit in time, it will be too late… (.
How Reimbursements are Processed
U.S. Leader Reimbursements
U.S. leader reimbursements cannot be processed through payroll, unfortunately. Please be sure to fill out the Reimbursement Form, and put the address where you would like your check mailed. If you do not fill in the address box, then your check will be sent to your hub and put in your leader mailbox there. It takes approximately two weeks to process a reimbursement check from the time we receive the request in the office.
Tax Forms
When will I receive the forms I need to file my taxes?
The Payroll & HRIS Specialist will send out the W-2 forms by the end of January, and they will also be available online via Paychex for you to view and print. You will receive an email letting you know when your W2 is available to view on-line.
PART 3: BENEFITS
THE QUICK RUNDOWN…
• Insurance Benefits
• RE Medical Coverage
• 401k Plan
• Flex Plan
• Workers Compensation Insurance
• Medical Leave
• Family Leave
• Family Emergency Travel Benefit
• Leader Gear
• Pro-deals
• Trip Milestone Awards
• Credit Union
• Trip Discounts
• Moving into the Office
• Benefits connected with TE, RE & RSS positions
Insurance Benefits
HR Benefits Status consists of three status types:
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to the unknown future of the Affordable Care Act, some of the definitions below are subject to change
DEFINITIONS: 3 US Leader Benefits Status types
1. Seasonal: a Leader who works a six-month or shorter season during the year, typically during the months of May-October. This status includes all first year leaders unless they are promoted to a different status in the fall of their first year of work. A Seasonal leader is not eligible for health insurance benefits.
Travel days are not necessarily included in the 6-month period if they are not closely associated with the timing of field work. If a new leader attends an early training session but doesn’t enter the field until later in the season, their travel day to begin work will start their six-month period. In addition, one or two days of office or field work outside of the regular season, RLT and/or Trainings are not necessarily included in the 6-month period.
2. Extended Seasonal: a Leader who works more than six months of the year but less than the Year-Round requirement. Health insurance eligibility for Extended Seasonal leaders is determined by the number of hours they work as described below.
Extended Seasonal Leader Insurance Eligibility:
Because the leader job is seasonal in nature, and hours of work are highly variable and impossible to predict in advance, Extended Seasonal leaders are considered “variable hour employees” under Affordable Care Act regulations. Insurance eligibility for variable hour employees is determined by looking at hours of work during a look-back “measurement period,” and that measurement period differs for newly hired leaders and leaders returning for their second season and beyond. A description of both types of measurement periods, and eligibility rules follows.
First Year Extended Seasonal Leaders:
First year Extended Seasonal Leaders in their first year of employment are not eligible to join our group insurance plans, but are instead in a “measurement period” used to determine eligibility for insurance in year two. Each new leader’s measurement period begins on the first of the month following their date of hire (which is the 1st day of leader training), and continues for the next 11 months. If a new leader works 1430 hours or more during their measurement period, they will be eligible to join our group plans on the first of the month following their anniversary date (e.g. a leader hired on April 14, 2017 has a first year measurement period that begins on May 1, 2017 and ends on March 31, 2018. If they work 1430 hours or more during this period, they will be eligible to join our group medical plans on May 1, 2018. If they work fewer than 1430 hours, they will not be eligible to join our plans, and will then be subject to the measurement period described in the Second Year and Beyond section below).
Second Year and Beyond Extended Seasonal Leaders:
Based on Affordable Care Act rules, group insurance eligibility for Extended Seasonal Leaders is determined by looking at hours worked in the previous year. This is referred to as the “Measurement Period.” Leaders who worked 1560 hours or more between February 1, 2016 and January 31st, 2017 (referred to as the “Measurement Period”) are eligible to join, or continue participating in, our group health plans as of May 1, 2017 and that eligibility for coverage remains in effect until April 30, 2018, provided you continue to be employed by Backroads and don’t significantly reduce your availability to lead trips*. Leaders who worked fewer hours during this period are not eligible to join our plans in 2017.
This calculation of hours is done on an annual basis. So…if you worked fewer than 1560 hours between 2/1/16 and 1/31/17, you are not eligible for coverage between 5/1/17 and 4/30/18, but you may be eligible on 5/1/18 if you work the required 1560 hours between 2/1/17 and 1/31/18. Conversely, if you worked 1560 hours between 2/1/16 and 1/31/17 and are joining or continuing our group health plans on May 1, 2017, you could lose coverage on April 30, 2018 if you do not work 1560 hours or more between 2/1/17 and 1/31/18.
*Extended Seasonal Leaders who are eligible for health benefits may lose that eligibility if they make themselves unavailable for a continuous period of six weeks or more during either peak season (5/1 thru 10/31, and 12/1-1/15), if they are a Winter TE and are not available for Spring Break (March) or you have reduced availability so that we are unable to schedule you (i.e. (i.e. You’re asking for more than 21 days off during peak season). A leader in this situation will lose insurance on the last day of the month in which their availability stops (e.g. a leader who makes themselves unavailable from 8/15 thru 10/15, lose benefits 8/31). If they lose health benefits, then their next chance to get back on benefits will be 5/1 of the following year if they meet the 1560 hours requirement. Otherwise, they’ll remain ineligible for health coverage.
3. Year-Round: a Leader who works** at least nine months of the year including five of six peak months (May-Oct) plus December and January. (Winter TEs/RSSs must also be available for Spring Break (March). Availability through both peak periods is required. Individual situations may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Backroads reserves the right to define status as it relates to HR Benefits. This group will be eligible to receive health insurance benefits on the first day of the month following their upgraded status.
Leaders who are Regional Experts (RE) are also eligible to receive health benefits on the first day of the month following their upgraded status.
If a leader decides to work less than the defined Year-Round level, their Year-Round status will be forfeited, and they may lose health benefits. A leader may still qualify for benefits under the Extended Seasonal status if they work over 1560 hours in the year-long measurement period and fulfill the availability requirements.
Those with elevated roles (i.e. TE and RSS) may be given special consideration to keep benefits if moved to the Extended Seasonal status before the review of their measurement period.
The Year-Round status group is identified by LD and flagged by Scheduling, and will have priority for the most work on offer.
Leaders who qualify for health benefits are eligible to join the group health plans described below.
**“Work” includes field, office and warehouse work. As noted in the Scheduling Chapter, on average, Fully Available leaders are unscheduled for 60 days between May 15 and October 15 (about 150 day period). Depending on seniority, leaders have a limited number of days they can be unavailable to still be considered Fully Available.
What Group Health/Dental/Vision Plans Are Available, And What Do They Cost?
Backroads offers group medical plans through Blue Shield, Kaiser and GeoBlue. California residents can choose from a Blue Shield HMO, Blue Shield PPO, Blue Shield Bronze Plan, Kaiser HMO or Kaiser Bronze Plan. Non-California residents can choose from a Blue Shield PPO or Blue Shield Bronze Plan. Leaders who reside overseas for at least 6 months per year are eligible to enroll in the GeoBlue Ex-Pat medical plan. Along with medical, we offer group dental insurance and self-funded vision insurance. Dental Insurance is a separate policy so you can combine it with the group health plan, or enroll in the Dental Plan only. You cannot join the vision plan without joining one of our group medical plans.
|Plan |Your Monthly Cost |
| | |
|Blue Shield CA HMO Medical Plan | $169.00 |
| | |
|Blue Shield CA PPO Medical Plan |$185.00 |
| | |
|Blue Shield CA Bronze Medical Plan |$130.00 |
| | |
|Kaiser CA HMO Medical Plan |$126.00 |
|Kaiser CA Bronze Medical Plan |$76.00 |
| | |
|Blue Shield Non-CA PPO Medical Plan |$132.00 |
| | |
|Blue Shield Non-CA Bronze Medical Plan | |
| |$97.00 |
|GeoBlue Ex-Pat Medical Plan | |
| | |
| |$134.00 |
|Guardian Dental Plan | |
| | |
| |$10.00 |
| | |
|Self-Funded Vision |$1.00 |
| | |
*These monthly rates will increase on May 1, 2018.
For more information, dependent premium rates and enrollment forms contact the Human Resources Department.
Enrolling in our group medical, and/or dental plans requires a commitment. You cannot drop out and re-enroll later unless you’re cancelling coverage to join a group plan through a spouse or parent (as examples).
Group plan payments are automatically withheld from your paycheck. You must make other arrangements for the months you do not receive a paycheck. You may either send a check payable to Backroads c/o Human Resource Department or you may instruct the Human Resource Department to have payments deducted from future paychecks.
RE Medical Coverage
American RE's are eligible for year-round medical coverage. Canadians and Europeans have more federal coverage already, so this benefit is more specific to our US citizens in this program.
Leaders must meet minimum work hour requirements in order to receive medical coverage. You all generally meet these requirements based on your full schedules but are subject to some uncertainty depending on your schedules. Now, year-round medical coverage is a standard benefit for REs. This has been approved contingent on individual REs making themselves available to work year-round (not 100% but more than 80%). Please contact Human Resources to enroll in our medical insurance program if you are not already enrolled.
401k Plan
DOES BACKROADS OFFER A 401K PLAN?
All Backroads employees who are U.S. residents are eligible to join our 401(k) plan after satisfying the six-month waiting period. Enrollment is voluntary and takes place quarterly (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1). On these dates you can enter the plan or change your contribution percentage. You can stop making contributions to the plan at any time.
How Does The 401(k) Plan Work?
The main purpose of a 401(k) plan is to save for retirement by allowing participants to contribute a percentage of each paycheck into the plan. The most attractive feature about 401(k) plans is that contributions are made on a tax-deferred basis, allowing participants to save tax dollars today. You can elect to contribute from 1% to 75% of your gross pay into the plan, where the money is placed in investments of your choosing. Your federal and state taxable income is reduced by the amount of your contribution. Here's an example of how it works:
Sally Forth earns $24,000 a year ($1000 a payday). The following chart shows her earnings without 401(k) and with a contribution of 10%, or $100, of each paycheck into her 401(k) plan.
|Without 401(k) |With 401(k) |
|Gross |$1,000.00 |Gross |$1,000.00 |
| | |401(k) |-100.00 |
| | |Taxable gross |900.00 |
|Federal tax |-116.41 |Federal tax |-$101.41 |
|FICA |-$76.50 |FICA | -76.50 |
|State tax |-46.08_ |State tax | -39.78_ |
|Net Pay |$ 761.01 |Net Pay |$ 682.31 |
Note that her net pay was reduced by only $78.70. Thus, her $100 investment only cost her about $79, thanks to the 401(k) tax savings. As a general rule, you can expect to save about 20 cents in taxes for every $1 you invest.
Backroads currently provides a 20% match on your employee contributions up to a maximum of 15% of your salary (if you choose to contribute more than 15% of your salary, you will not receive a match on the deferrals in excess of 15%). Note: no match is paid on catch-up contributions. Please note that the 20% employer match is paid on your contributions up to 15% of pay each pay period. In some rare instances (we’re aware of only two: (1) you contribute more than 15% of pay each pay period and hit the IRS cap prior to year-end, and/or (2) you contribute at a rate higher than 15% of pay for part of the year, and contribute at a a rate lower than 15% for the other part of the year) this matching practice can result in your employer match being less than a 20% match on contributions up to 15% of pay. Because of this, we run a true-up at year-end (or early in the following year) to “true-up” your employer match to make sure you receive the full 20% match on your employee contributions up to 15% of your pay. This “true-up” is deposited as a lump sum, and you must be employed on the day the true-up calculation is run to receive a true-up.
401(k) plans are meant for long-term retirement savings and there are restrictions and penalties placed on fund access before retirement. However, 401(k) plans do offer a loan provision that allows participants to borrow against their account balance, up to $50,000. This allows you access to your funds without having to pay taxes and penalties.
Vesting for the employer match is scheduled from your date of hire, regardless of when you enter the plan.
Vesting schedule (from hire date)
|0-1 years | 0% |
|1-2 years | 20% |
|2-3 years | 40% |
|3-4 years | 60% |
|4-5 years | 80% |
|5+ years |100% |
If you worked for Backroads for five years and one day, you would be 100% vested. If you worked for four years and eleven months, you would be 80% vested. 401(k) plans are portable. If you leave Backroads your funds can be "rolled over" into an IRA account or, in some cases, to your new employer's 401(k) plan.
How Do I Maintain My 401(k) Account?
You can change the amount you contribute to the plan at the beginning of each quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1). Please contact the Human Resources Department for the appropriate paperwork if you would like to change the percentage of your salary you are contributing. Or, you can locate the form yourself on MainStreet under Human Resources>Employee Benefits Forms.
You can change your investment direction (i.e. the funds into which you put your money) on any business day by calling Teletouch (1-800-547-7754) or by visiting Principal’s website (), free services through Principal. You will be prompted to enter your social security number through Teletouch or set up a username and password through the Principal website. You’ll need our contract number, 420224, and your social security number to set up your login. Once you have successfully entered either the website or Teletouch systems, you can check your account balances, receive investment and fund performance advice, move money that has already been contributed, or change your future investment direction.
Principal Financial Group issues statements on a quarterly basis. If you need help understanding the information on your statement please call Teletouch or the Human Resources Department. For more information regarding our 401(k) plan, contact the Human Resources Department.
Flex Plan
does backroads offer a FLEX PLAN? (aka ~ sECTION 125 PLAN)?
Yes. All U.S. employees are eligible to join our Section 125 Flex Plan after satisfying the 30 day waiting period. Enrollment is voluntary and takes place annually in December and becomes effective January 1 or, for new leaders, on the first of the month after satisfying the 30 day waiting period.
What is a Flex Plan?
A Flex Plan allows you to purchase certain “eligible” benefits with pre-tax dollars. By participating, you can save federal, state and social security taxes on every dollar contributed to the plan. The eligible benefits include: company-sponsored group insurance premiums, miscellaneous health related expenses (i.e. eyeglasses, prescription drugs, chiropractor) and dependent child care expenses.
You determine the amount of your contribution to be applied to your anticipated eligible expenses. This amount is automatically deducted from your salary each pay period and is placed in your account and monitored by the Flex Plan administrator. The amount can be as little or as much as you desire, but you must use all of it in the same plan year or you lose it. Funds cannot rollover into future years, nor will they be returned.
Example: Let's say you earn $2,000/month and have eligible expenses of $455/month (example doesn't fit leaders particularly well, but the principle is the same):
| |With Flex |Without Flex |
|Monthly Salary |$2,000 |$2,000 |
|Flex Contribution |- 455 |- 0 |
| | | |
|Adjusted Taxable Income | 1,545 | 2,000 |
|Taxes |- 338 |- 464 |
| | | |
|Subtotal | 1,207 | 1,536 |
|Flex Expenses |PAID |- 455 |
| | | |
|Spendable Income |$1,207 |$1,081 |
The eligible expenses must have been incurred in the plan year and you must provide proof of the expense (a bill or statement).
To be reimbursed for an eligible expense through the Flex Plan, you submit a request for reimbursement to the Plan Administrator, along with a copy of the paid bill or invoice and related insurance paperwork or child-care documentation, if applicable. The Plan Administrator would then direct deposit your reimbursement to your bank account from your flex account within a couple of days. Flex Plan participants with Backroads health and/or dental coverage can have their insurance premiums automatically deducted from their Flex Plan accounts (thus making your 20% premium contribution tax free). For more information contact the Human Resources Department.
Workers Compensation Insurance
AM I COVERED BY WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE?
You are automatically covered by Worker’s Compensation Insurance at no cost to you. Backroads pays the premium for this coverage. In the event of a WORK-RELATED injury, all your medical expenses are covered and you are provided with income protection.
If you sustain a MINOR WORK-RELATED illness or injury while on a trip and need medical attention, get it. Worker’s Compensation premiums escalate significantly with each claim, so Backroads prefers that you pay for minor treatment directly to the doctor/hospital rather than claim it as a work-related injury. Our worker’s comp coverage allows us to pay for such “first aid” situations like this without adversely affecting our experience rating. “Minor” injuries/illnesses include things like poison oak, food poisoning, rashes, a few stitches, etc., where medical treatment will be a 1-time event with virtually no chance of complications. These types of treatments should be paid for with trip cash or Backroads credit card.
Any major work related injuries or illnesses (broken bones, back or knee injuries, etc.) MUST be submitted as a Worker’s Comp claim. To do this, tell the attending physician that it is a work-related condition. Your very next call should be to the Backroads Human Resources Manager!!! To ensure maximum coverage, Backroads must notify the insurer of the incident within 48 hours and submit a claim report within five days of the accident, injury or illness. Be prepared to tell the HR Manager or Benefits Coordinator, in person or on voicemail, the date, time and location of the incident, what the injury/illness is (medical diagnosis if available) and a detailed account of how it occurred. You also need to report the name of the attending physician and/or hospital and how we can reach you for more information. Be sure to do this promptly so the paperwork can be submitted before the 48-hour and five-day deadlines. If the proper paperwork is not submitted in time, Workers Compensation will likely start an investigation. This is a MAJOR hassle for everyone involved, including YOU.
For all NON WORK-RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES, U.S. leaders will need to use their own personal medical insurance. Leaders should inquire with their current medical insurance company to see what is covered when they are overseas. Many insurance companies will cover emergency care only while overseas (no routine care) and some might not cover anything overseas so it's important to check with your insurer.
Medical Leave
Backroads Utah will provide unpaid medical leave to eligible employees who are temporarily unable to work due to medical disability. You become eligible to request medical leave only after completing 12 months of service with Backroads Utah (this time does not need to be consecutive). Additionally, to be eligible you must have worked 1,250 hours within the last twelve months. As soon as an eligible employee becomes aware of a need for the medical leave of absence, a physicians’ statement must be provided verifying the medical disability and its beginning and expected ending dates. Any changes in this information should be promptly reported to Backroads Utah. Eligible employees are normally granted leave for the period of the disability, up to a maximum of 12 weeks during any 12-month period. If this initial period of absence proves insufficient, consideration may be given. Any extension beyond the 12-week period requires approval by your supervisor, and/or the President. Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the applicable plans, Backroads Utah will continue to provide health insurance benefits to those currently enrolled in insurance for the full period of the approved medical leave (employees must arrange to pay their regular monthly premium contributions while on leave). So that an employee’s return to work can be properly scheduled, an employee on medical leave is requested to provide Backroads Utah with at least two weeks advance notice prior to returning to work. When the medical leave ends, you will be reinstated to the same position, if it is available, or to an equivalent position for which you are qualified. If you fail to report to work promptly at the end of the approved leave period, Backroads Utah will assume that you have resigned. Medical Leave can be unique for the leader job, please contact Human Resources with questions. Please note: a maximum of 12 weeks of medical leave, family leave, or a combination of both is available within a 12-month period.
Family Leave
Backroads Utah provides family leaves of absence without pay to eligible employees who wish to take time off from work duties to fulfill family obligations relating directly to childbirth, adoption, or placement of a foster child, or to care for a child, spouse, registered domestic partner or parent with a serious health condition. Employees become eligible to request family leave only after completing twelve months of service with Backroads Utah (this time does not need to be consecutive). Additionally, to be eligible you must have worked 1,250 hours within the last twelve months. A written verification of the qualifying event must be provided including expected beginning and end dates. You may request up to twelve weeks of unpaid family leave over any twelve month period. If this initial period of absence proves insufficient, consideration may be given. Any extension beyond the twelve week period requires approval by your supervisor, and/or the President. Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the applicable plans, Backroads Utah will continue to provide health insurance benefits to those currently enrolled in insurance for the full period of the approved family leave (employees must arrange to pay their regular monthly premium contributions while on leave). So that an employee’s return to work can be properly scheduled, an employee on family leave is requested to provide Backroads Utah with at least two weeks advance notice prior to returning to work. When the family leave ends, you will be reinstated to the same position, if it is available, or to an equivalent position for which you are qualified. If you fail to report to work promptly at the end of the approved leave period, Backroads Utah will assume that you have resigned. Family Leave can be unique for the leader job, please contact Human Resources with questions. Please note: a maximum of 12 weeks of medical leave, family leave, or a combination of both is available within a 12-month period.
Family Emergency Travel Benefit
WILL BACKROADS HELP ME GET HOME FOR A FAMILY EMERGENCY?
In the case of a family emergency, Backroads works expeditiously to remove the leader from any immediate work or trip responsibilities. In the event of the death of a leader’s immediate family member (spouse, children, parent, sibling), Backroads will provide the leader with a courtesy $500US flight credit toward any personal ticket necessary to get home, and a paid Travel day. If that leader is replaced mid-trip, Backroads will also pay that leader for his/her remaining days on that trip as a courtesy. Bereavement policy for a friend or family member who is not defined above as part of the immediate family requires the approval of the Manager of Leader Development.
Leader Gear
In alignment with company growth, Field Staff and Office Staff may be provided select sponsored clothing/gear to maintain professionalism, encourage retention and offer an opportunity to showcase the Backroads name.
Please be aware that we may not always have the inventory of gear available if you are a late-season hire/New Leader. All Gear is ordered based on the Gear Survey sent out in the Fall of the preceding year. While some extra gear will be ordered to accommodate late-hired staff, you may not have access to the same amount or type of gear if you do not fill out the survey. Additionally, some of the later-hired staff in the current year or late-season reactivating returning leaders may not have access to as much gear as those who have lead/worked for Backroads in the past and have been working a full season currently.
Pro-deals
Backroads Pro-Deal Program
Who is eligible for our Pro Deal program?
Pro-deals are available to all Active and Active-Limited leaders here at Backroads. The companies that participate in our Pro Deal program typically offer from 20% to 50% off retail prices to qualified outdoor professionals from selected companies like Backroads. Pro-deal purchases are for your personal use ONLY. Any abuse of this policy will terminate your pro-deal discount privileges, and may cause us to lose our Pro Deal account with that vendor. The contact for any questions about the pro-deal program is Eric Malkowski, however bike purchase questions should go to Karen Williams our Bike Shop Coordinator in SLC.
Ordering Information
The Pro Deal page is located in MainStreet under Leaders> Prodeals. This lists all the companies we have pro deals with and it has links to company web sites as well as their order forms. When setting up your Pro Deal account with a company, please link it to your Backroads email address so that it will be approved.
Order Forms and Price Lists
If you are using an order form or price list that is outdated, just email prodeal@ and request the updated forms.
Use of Personal Credit Cards
Leaders must use their personal credit cards for all Pro purchase, and Backroads credit cards should never be used for this purpose. If you want to cash in on your Trip Milestone Gift Pro-deal credit (for leading 50, 100, 150 trips, etc. with Backroads) you should pay for the pro-deal on your own and submit for reimbursement for your trip milestone gift allotment. Please include your receipt and your milestone certificate along with your Reimbursement Form
How to order bikes/bike parts
We have a number of bicycle manufacturers in our program that offer a pro discount. Check the manufacturer’s description to see which deals must come through the bike shop and which deals can be ordered directly. We also have special deals for employees on various bicycle parts and accessories. If you are interested in purchasing bike parts/accessories please contact the Bike Shop Coordinator in SLC directly with the subject line “Employee Bike Purchase.” Leaders must be employed at least six months and must intend on returning for at least a second season in order to be eligible for pro-deal bikes. All bike orders are restricted to low-season times of the year. Your order may not be approved or delivered if ordered outside these time periods.
Trip Milestone Awards
Backroads recognizes and awards leaders when they reach certain trip leading milestones – 50 trips, 100 trips, 150 trips, 200 trips (and so on.) When you reach one of these trip milestones you will be notified by email, and will receive a certificate for either a pro-deal credit or Staff Ride Travel credit (your choice). (Only trips you lead as a leader are included, not Camp Assistant or Camp Chef trips, or Support Leader.) Here are the award amounts based on number of trips led:
50 trips = $100 Prodeal credit or $300 Staff Ride Travel Credit
100 trips = $200 Prodeal credit or$400 Staff Ride Travel Credit, or $1,500 Trip Credit
150 trips = $400 Prodeal credit or $400 Staff Ride Travel Credit, or $3,000 Trip Credit
200 trips = $600 Prodeal credit or $600 Staff Ride Travel credit or $3,600 Trip Credit
250 trips = $800 Prodeal credit or $800 Staff Ride Travel credit or $3,600 Trip Credit
300 trips = $1,000 Prodeal credit or $1,000 Staff Ride Travel credit or $4,000 Trip Credit
If you choose to use the Staff Ride Travel credit you can apply it towards a flight, train ticket, bus ride, etc. (You cannot apply it towards hotels or food)
If you choose the prodeal credit, you should use your own credit card to pay for your pro-deal and then submit your receipt and your award certificate with a Reimbursement Form to Claire. If you decide to use the trip credit instead, please check with Mike Louvau for the paperwork you will need to fill out. You must redeem your award within one year of receipt, and you must be active as an employee to redeem your gift.
Credit Union
does backroads belong to a CREDIT UNION?
Backroads is a member of Patelco Credit Union, one of the largest and most successful credit unions in the U.S. A credit union is like a bank, except that one has to become a member as opposed to just getting a checking or savings account. Some of the benefits of membership in a credit union include: no-fee interest earning checking, low interest credit cards and auto loans, nation wide ATM access and other financial services. Membership costs $10, but this fee is waived for all new employees and during open enrollment in April. For more information contact the Human Resources Manager.
Trip Discounts
do i receive TRIP DISCOUNTs?
Backroads provides generous trip discounts to employees, their friends and immediate family members.
Check out the charts below for details:
Trip Discounts for friends, family members and employees not using trip credit
|Relation to employee |Discount* |Must travel with |Space availability |
| | |employee? |requirement? |
|Employee/Immediate Family |10% any time! |No |No |
|Backroads Alumni |10% |No |Yes |
|Immediate Family |20% |No |Yes |
|Friends |20% |Yes |Yes |
|Employee/Immediate Family |30% Inn/40% camping |Yes |Yes |
|Immediate family traveling with us for the|30% Inn/40% camping |No |Yes |
|first time | | | |
Rules, restrictions and helpful hints:
1. Any combination of the above discounts are available to a max of 4 family members and 2 friends/year
2. Discounts are applied to the departure specific base price
3. Immediate family is defined as parents, siblings, grandparents, children, spouse or very significant other.
4. Family and friends must pay the standard deposit when making their reservation.
5. Be sure to inform them that their reservations are subject to space availability at the higher discount levels, and on popular trips confirmation of savings may not be available or may not be given until just prior to departure. We recommend being strategic, it is highly unlikely to receive the highest % discount options on holiday departures or our most popular trips in high season. If they have their hearts set on one of these trips (and who could blame them!) they can jump on without worry by taking advantage of the 10% savings level.
6. The Sales Manager makes all final decisions on space availability. We try to make these decisions 60 days prior to departure, but that is often that timing not possible on popular trips.
7. If your family or friends cancel any time after confirmation, they will be charged the standard cancellation fees.
8. Equipment (e.g. Roubaix upgrades) are complimentary to employees and family members based on availability (i.e. if we have one available in the region, there is no charge)
9. Discounted employees, friends and family members must pay the full single room price if a private room is requested or assigned.
10. Be sure your friend/family member notifies sales of their relationship to you!
11. Be sure your friend/family member notifies sales of their relationship to you!
Private Trip Discounts – Discounts are applied to the base price and are available on “make a date” and “available for private or small group” departures only that are organized by the employee, and the employee must also be a guest on the trip. 4 family/2 friend limits do not apply to these discounts.
|Group Size |Per Person Savings |
|8 to 10 |5.00% |
|11 |5.50% |
|12 |6.00% |
|13 |6.50% |
|14 |7.00% |
|15 |7.50% |
|16 |8.00% |
|17 |8.50% |
|18 |9.00% |
|19 |9.50% |
|20 |10.00% |
Moving into the Office
WHAT BENEFIT SENIORITY DO I RECEIVE IF I ACCEPT AN OFFICE POSITION?
Leaders accepting ongoing office positions (does not apply to seasonal or temporary office positions) receive one year of seniority per two years of trip leading experience with Backroads for benefit purposes. However, benefits seniority will be granted on a one to one basis for each trip leading year in which the leader; (a) worked 120 days or more, or (b) worked at least 80 days and had a pay for performance rating in the top 25% of leaders. Regional Managers receive benefits seniority on a one to one basis for each year worked as an RM.
WHAT BENEFITS DO I RECEIVE IF I ACCEPT A SEASONAL OFFICE POSITION?
Leaders who work seasonal office positions also receive benefits, in recognition of the expertise leaders bring to seasonal positions, and also in recognition of the year round commitment leaders must make to accept these positions.
Leaders working full-time 40 hour per week seasonal office positions receive the following benefits:
Seasonal positions of 3 months in duration or shorter
No additional benefits are provided outside of the normal leader benefit package for seasonal positions that are 30 days in length or shorter. Leaders accepting seasonal positions greater than 30 days receive 24 hours of sick time and paid holidays that fall during the duration of the seasonal assignment in addition to the benefits provided as part of the normal leader benefit package. Sick time is intended for use only during the term of the seasonal position.
Seasonal positions greater than three months in duration
In addition to the normal leader benefits package, leaders accepting seasonal positions of greater than three months duration also earn paid vacation time at a rate of four hours per month, 24 hours of sick time, and paid holidays that occur while working in the office. For example, a leader accepting a six month seasonal position would receive three days of paid vacation (24 hours), 3 days of paid sick time (24 hours), and all paid holidays which fall during the six month period of time. These benefits are only provided during the time the leader is scheduled to work in the office. They will not continue to earn these benefits once they return to leading trips. Also, if there is a gap of two weeks or more during the seasonal position where the leader leaves the office to lead trips, they will not earn these additional benefits during that time.
Recurring seasonal positions greater than three months in duration
Recurring seasonal positions are seasonal office positions that repeat each year. For example, if a leader has an agreement to work in Sales six months out of each year, and lead trips the other six, on a year after year basis they are a recurring seasonal employee.
Recurring seasonal benefits begin only once the leader returns for the second year of the office position. During the first year four vacation hours are earned each month and 24 hours of sick time is provided.
In addition to the normal leader benefits package, leaders accepting recurring seasonal positions of greater than three months duration also earn paid vacation time at a rate of eight hours per month, 24 hours of sick time per year, and paid holidays which occur while working in the office, and pro-rated trip credit. For example, a leader accepting a six month recurring seasonal position would receive six days of paid vacation (48 hours), 3 days of paid sick time (24 hours), all paid holidays which fall during the six month period of time, and ½ of the annual trip credit that applies to their level of seniority. These benefits are only provided during the time the leader is scheduled to work in the office. They will not continue to earn these benefits once they return to leading trips. Also, if there is a gap of two weeks or more during the seasonal position where the leader leaves the office to lead trips, they will not earn these additional benefits during that time.
Additionally, it is our intention to provide these time-off and trip credit benefits for use while working in the office. We strongly encourage you to utilize this time off during your seasonal office assignment.
Benefits connected with TE/RE & RSS positions
There are many benefits to being a Trip Expert, Regional Expert, or Regional Support Specialist. These benefits are both tangible and intangible and include things like scheduling priority (via LPF point accumulation) and more pay. See the Top Ten Benefits of Being a TE/RE/RSS listed below. To find out more details about these positions please refer to the TE/RE Handbook and RSS Handbook on MainStreet. For the TE/RE Manual go to MainStreet > Leaders > PreSearch > TE/RE Handbook. For the RSS Handbook go to MainStreet > Leaders > PreSearch > RSS Materials > RSS Handbook.
Top Benefits of Being a TE/RE/RSS
• More Work.
Season Start. Scheduling Priority (or guaranteed scheduling) for your trip(s). As long as a TE/RE maintains performance, they will always be scheduled to start up their trip loop(s) or area (if an RSS). This translates into more work and work you can count on ahead of time since you'll be the first to be scheduled, and since you know early on when your trips run/start.
TE/RE Hourly work. Each TE/RE has been approved to spend specified amounts of hourly time working on your regions with your RMs. Not only is this great for your earning potential but the pre and post-season work you complete will only serve to make you more impactful to the business, and it will make your job more manageable during season, freeing you up to lead trips like you always have, without feeling like you (or your RM) are 'letting anything go'.
• More Money.
a. Higher Hourly rates. We think this is more reflective of the increasing value these leaders hold in the field. Below are the STARTING Rates for field positions - in USD only:
[Regular Leader Hourly = $10.50US)
TE = $15 US
RSS = $15 US
RE = TBD based on experience
• PreSearch/QualitySearch/Research FIELD – TE/RE is paid at Hourly 3. Hourly 3 pay is $12/hour ($18/hr OT) for a 12 hour day, with 8 hours at straight time and 4 hrs at overtime, so $168/day total! TE/RE’s have more earning potential since they are paid at a higher hourly rate for doing fieldwork.
• Research DESK – TE/RE is paid at Hourly 2 (your TE/RE Hourly rate), and is for unscheduled work before or after your scheduled fieldwork (on computer, w/books, maps, phone, etc.) Post Season Updates are paid this rate as well.
• Scheduling benefits/advantages (LPF points!). TE/RE/RSSs have a better chance at getting the schedule they want, and getting work in winter because they can earn significant LPF points. These points impact 20% of your overall LPF score and are awarded based on an scale measuring the trip(s) volume/difficulty rating (A, B, or C), cross referenced with the TE/RE/RSS’s tenure in the program (1, 2, or 3+ years).
a. PreSearch/PSU: Points are automatically awarded when PreSearch is completed and again when Post Season updates are complete. In addition, we will keep TE’s off of low enrolled custom or low enrolled private trips (unless absolutely necessary) unless we are confident the gratuity is on par with at least our average sized 16 guest trip, with the possible exception of the more far flung destinations. To learn more, go to MainStreet>Leaders>Leading>Policies & Procedures>Chapter 10 "Leader Performance & Evaluations".
b. Leader House Set Up & Close: RSS points are awarded automatically once you have submitted pay for opening up the Leader House, and again once you have closed it. Earning LPF points could mean up to a maximum of a 16% gain in LPF ranking, or jumping about 20-30 leaders up. This can dramatically increase chances of work in shoulder or off-season, or for getting desired trips. And again, this directly impacts earning potential.
c. Weighted for Impact: Finally, we will award more credit for any TE/RE/RSS's performance with a trip that isn't adequately addressed by the formula! I.e. - we will assign more LPF points for RE/TE/RSS's who take on the biggest assignments and make the biggest improvements to these trips/regions.
• Loop Start/End Travel Benefit. If you are a TE/RE/RSS who does not live near one of the Backroads hubs (Salt Lake City, Pernes, Canmore) we will cover the total cost of travel to and/or from your home to either the hub (if required to pick up and drive a unit due to your TE role) or your trip start when you are flying to start a loop for which you are the TE/RE, or coming from the end of a season in the region for which you are TE. (You may not use this credit towards personal travel home mid-season). If you choose to drive your car instead of fly we will look at the mileage cost vs. the flight cost and give you the lesser of the two. The same policy will apply towards your travel from the hub home after your loop end, if you are required to drive a unit to the hub due to your role as a TE. [This benefit is designed to offset any out-of-pocket travel expenses you may incur due to your TE/RE/RSS responsibilities at the start/end of the season.]
• RE Medical Coverage. American RE's are eligible for year-round medical coverage. Canadians and Europeans have more federal coverage already, so this benefit is more specific to our US citizens in this program. This removes the uncertainty of wondering “will I get scheduled enough to get Health Insurance Covered?” This is contingent on individual REs making themselves available to work year-round (not 100% but more than 80%). Please contact Human Resources to enroll in our medical insurance program if you are not already enrolled.
• Gear & Apparel. In years when we issue “schwag” to leaders, TE/RE/RSS will be eligible to receive additional pieces based on their higher level of contribution!
• Communication Tools. RE’s are eligible for company iPhones to assist them in keeping up with correspondence from the field or office. Either they can choose to join the company iphone plan or receive a monthly reimbursement. RE’s will be reimbursed at a straight monthly rate of $50/month to use towards their personal cell phone or smart phone plans. Those RE’s working in Europe will receive a reimbursement of €50 /mo for the months they are working in Europe. This reimbursement is in lieu of per trip reimbursement and is available in months they are working a minimum of 10 days (scheduled trip days and/or an 8 hour day submitted for office work). Winter RE’s that are able to use their phones in their region will also receive this reimbursement in the currency of their home hub (SLC, Pernes, or Canmore.) We will also provide a biennial equipment reimbursement of $100 (or Euros) towards a smartphone purchase. This equipment reimbursement can be submitted only once per 24 month period (e.g. if you submit for it in May, you will need to wait for May of two years from now to submit for it again). Receipt of the new phone must accompany the equipment reimbursement request.
• Professional Development & Quality Summit. Extended title, more responsibility, work at a higher level. In this role, you’ll develop your negotiation, vendor relation, logistical, teamwork, IT skills and so much more.
o The Quality Summit: Backroads will host a one-day “Quality Summit” the day prior to the annual Staff Ride, in the Staff Ride location. All eligible TE/REs/RSSs will receive an allowance towards their travel to the Quality Summit (and Staff Ride). Amount is determined by role volume and complexity, and is only available if TE/RE attends the Quality Summit, and is not eligible towards food or accommodation (accommodation the night of the Summit will be provided by BR).
o Growth Potential: Within Backroads, an individual with proven performance as a TE/RE/RSS is much more likely to be considered for an OPS (TD, LD, L&T) position and other positions that might become available at Backroads than someone who doesn't have that experience.
o Professional References: Finally, when you are ready to move on, Backroads will provide you with a job reference that will contain specific and significant reference to the added responsibility and talent required in this important TE role.
• Empowerment. Greater ability to really make a difference! Our guests will benefit from your efforts to improve quality, leaders will benefit from more smoothly run trips, and everyone at Backroads will really appreciate your effort to make our trips the highest quality for the best price possible. True 'ownership' of a trip/region!
• Fun! Get to know vendors, locals, etc. Learn a language better! Settle in, fully explore the area! Truly become a regional expert! Indulge in the wonderful fringe benefits from vendors, and just being in the area and knowing the inside scoop.
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related searches
- how to switch from survival to creative
- how to get from grams to tons
- how to go from ml to moles
- how to convert from moles to grams
- how to convert from pdf to txt
- how to convert from miles to kilometers
- how to convert from mph to mpm
- how to convert from miles to meters
- how to scan from printer to computer
- how to copy from adobe to excel
- changes from the neolithic revolution
- how to convert from lbs to kg