Ultralytics Employee Travel Policy (2025) ๐ŸŒ

Scope ๐Ÿ“Œ

This policy applies to all employees of Ultralytics who are required to travel for business purposes. Employees are responsible for making their own travel arrangements while adhering to the guidelines outlined in this policy.

Employee Responsibilities ๐Ÿ“‹

Pre-Approval Required

All business travel must be approved by your manager before booking. Unapproved travel may not be reimbursed.

  • Travel must be business-critical, cost-effective, and approved by your manager prior to booking
  • Expense claims must include a clear description of the business purpose
  • Submit expenses promptly, ideally within the same fiscal quarter incurred

Reimbursement Procedures ๐Ÿ’ฐ

graph TD
    A[Travel Need] --> B{Cost Estimate}
    B -->|Under $3,000| C[Pay Personally]
    B -->|$3,000+| D[Request Upfront Approval]
    C --> E[Travel]
    D --> F[Receive Approval]
    F --> G[Receive Payment]
    G --> E
    E --> H[Submit Receipts]
    H --> I[Reimbursement/Reconciliation]

    style B fill:#e1f5ff
    style D fill:#fff3cd
    style C fill:#d4edda

Standard Reimbursement Process:

  1. Pay expenses personally during travel
  2. Submit receipts after travel for reimbursement
  3. Receive payment within 7 business days
Best Practice

Use a personal credit card with travel benefits for better rewards and protection.

Per Diem Rates ๐Ÿ’ณ

What Per Diem Covers

Total per diem = Lodging + M&IE (Meals, Incidentals & Expenses)

Accommodation All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Tips and gratuities Ground transportation (taxi, metro, bus) Incidental costs (laundry, parking, etc.)

Employees traveling for business will receive a daily per diem allowance based on their destination. The following rates apply for the full year of 2025 and will be updated on January 1st, 2026:

CountryCityLodgingM&IETotal Per Diem
China ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณBeijing$123.50$69.00$192.50
Shanghai$187.50$80.00$267.50
Shenzhen$115.00$71.00$186.00
Hong Kong$177.50$90.00$267.50
France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ทParis$255.50$86.50$342.00
Germany ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ชBerlin$135.50$72.50$208.00
Dusseldorf$159.00$75.50$234.50
Nuremberg$147.50$75.50$223.00
Munich$156.00$77.00$233.00
Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡นRome$244.50$89.50$334.00
Japan ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ตTokyo$187.50$65.00$252.50
Netherlands ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAmsterdam$226.50$96.00$322.50
Eindhoven$117.00$70.50$187.50
Portugal ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡นLisbon$140.00$56.00$196.00
Singapore ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌSingapore$152.00$75.00$227.00
Spain ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธBarcelona$153.50$67.00$220.50
Madrid$187.50$68.50$256.00
Malaga$139.00$73.50$212.50
United Kingdom ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡งLondon$212.00$87.00$299.00
United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธDenver$161.25$69.00$230.25
Las Vegas$119.25$64.50$183.75
Los Angeles$143.25$64.50$207.75
Santa Clara$153.50$59.50$213.00
New York$256.50$69.00$325.50
San Francisco$204.00$69.00$273.00
San Jose$144.00$69.00$213.00

Methodology ๐Ÿ“š

How We Calculate Per Diem Rates

Ultralytics bases daily per diem rates on official U.S. government sources, adjusted to reflect our company's size and budget considerations.

RegionSourceUltralytics Rate
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ CONUSGSA Per Diem Rates75% of official
๐ŸŒ OCONUSU.S. Department of State50% of official
  • CONUS = Continental United States
  • OCONUS = Outside Continental United States
  • Rates reviewed and updated annually on January 1st

Travel Booking ๐Ÿ›ซ

Flights
  • Book 14 days in advance (domestic)
  • Book 21 days in advance (international)
  • Economy class only (no exceptions)
  • Reimbursed separately from per diem
Accommodation
  • Covered by per diem lodging allowance
  • Not reimbursed separately
  • Book within per diem budget
  • Business-appropriate location
Ground Transportation
  • Covered by M&IE allowance
  • Use most cost-effective option
  • Taxi, metro, bus, rideshare OK
  • Rental cars require pre-approval
Cost-Effectiveness
  • Choose efficient and economical options
  • Balance cost with convenience
  • Employees arrange their own travel
  • Manager approval required
Booking Tips
  • Compare prices across multiple platforms
  • Consider alternative airports for better rates
  • Use company travel portal if available
  • Book refundable tickets when possible for flexibility

Sustainability โ™ป๏ธ

Environmental Responsibility

Prioritize virtual meetings whenever possible to minimize environmental impact. Consider:

  • Video conferencing for routine meetings
  • Combining multiple trips into one journey
  • Direct flights to reduce emissions
  • Public transportation when available

Expense Reporting ๐Ÿงพ

Receipt Requirements

Receipts required for ALL reimbursements

  • Upload clear photos or PDFs
  • Include itemized details
  • Submit within same fiscal quarter
  • Use Rippling expense management system

Exceptions โš ๏ธ

Need an Exception?

Any exceptions to this policy must be pre-approved by your line manager prior to travel.

Common exception scenarios:

  • Premium cabin for flights over 8 hours (rarely approved)
  • Higher per diem for special circumstances
  • Rental car when public transport unavailable
  • Extended stays for business reasons

Submit exception requests with:

  1. Business justification
  2. Cost comparison
  3. Alternative options considered
  4. Expected ROI or benefit

Requests reviewed case-by-case. Allow 5 business days for approval.