New guidelines on which meal items university employees can be reimbursed for during travel went into effect November 1:
1. Up to three meals per day are reimbursable. An employee in travel status who claims receipts for food or beverages during a full day of travel will be reimbursed for the three largest dollar value receipts only. Employees with dietary restrictions requiring more than three meals per day may qualify for exemption if a physician’s note is attached.
2. In-between meal snacks are not reimbursable. Reimbursement may be allowed if the traveler attaches a physician’s note citing dietary restrictions.
3. When a meal is provided by a lodging facility or as part of a conference/official function/event, then a claim for purchasing another meal and seeking reimbursement is not allowed. Reimbursement may be allowed if the traveler provides documentation that the purchased meal was for a business purpose or attaches a physician’s note citing dietary restrictions.
4. If a traveler purchases groceries for a group of University employees or for themselves to consume while in travel status, the purchasing traveler should identify the number of meals the groceries covered, and fellow travelers should not include meal reimbursement requests for those meals.
More information and a series of frequently asked questions are posted at https://travel.unl.edu/policies/food-reimbursement-policy.