Overview of daily travel allowances among Russian employees
Recent research shows that for a large majority of Russians, daily employer payments during business trips cover only basic meals. A study conducted by Aviasales for Business in collaboration with Superjob employees and published by socialbites.ca highlights this pattern. The data point to a persistent gap between actual travel costs and what is provided for day to day expenses on business travel.
When respondents were asked whether they have any extra funds after covering daily travel costs, about one third answered affirmatively or noted that it sometimes happens. A smaller share described the subsistence as insufficient for anything beyond basic meals. A minority, roughly six percent, reported this scenario quite strongly.
Overall satisfaction with daily allowances remains low. Sixty two percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction, down slightly from seventy percent in 2020. The people surveyed indicated that the optimal daily allowance for trips within Russia lies between one thousand five hundred and two thousand rubles. This recommended amount represents two to three times the typical payouts observed in practice. In internal, or domestic, business trips, many employees receive roughly five hundred to one thousand rubles per day. For trips abroad, employers commonly pay around two thousand to three thousand rubles per day, while employees expect a figure exceeding three thousand rubles.
Industry insights from SuperJob show that the market share of open positions requiring business travel was one point six percent in twenty twenty three. The majority of such opportunities occur in sectors including industry and manufacturing, where openings constitute about three and a half percent, construction and design around three percent, and information technology just under two percent. These figures reflect ongoing demand for mobility across sectors in the economy and the continued importance of travel allowances as part of compensation packages.
The study was conducted in June and analyzed a large sample. Interviews included thirty six thousand client companies using Aviasales for Business, while the analysis also encompassed five hundred twelve thousand job postings from SuperJob. The research allowed multiple responses from participants, which helped capture a broader view of how travel allowances are perceived and what expectations employees hold when on business assignments.
In related remarks, leaders in financial policy have discussed the attitudes of pessimists and optimists when it comes to compensation planning, highlighting how perspectives on travel expenses shape company budgeting and employee sentiment. This discussion underscores the ongoing relevance of balancing realistic travel costs with fair compensation to support employee morale and productivity on business trips.