Claim for Per Diem, Travel Expenses, and Restoration of Annual Leave

An employee of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (BHA) and his duly authorized representative of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) have appealed a Claims Division denial of the employee's claim for reimbursement of per diem, travel expenses, and restoration of annual leave. The expenses were incurred while the employee was on a temporary detail which he requested so that he could take care of some family obligations. When the request was granted, there was a verbal understanding between the employee and the agency that the Government would not be liable for any expenses incurred. As a result, no written travel orders were issued. When the employee returned from the detail, he filed a grievance in which he contended that management refused to pay him per diem and travel expenses, and refused to grant him appropriate travel time. The agency denied the request for relief, and the employee subsequently filed a claim with the Claims Division. The denial by the Claims Division was based on the premise that the trip was for the convenience of the employee, and this made it ineligible for payment. Since the detail was at the request of the employee and since no travel orders were issued, the United States is not obligated to pay the employee's travel expenses. Accordingly, the denial by the Claims Division was sustained.