Our boss has been alotting us $30 a day per diem for food. He gave one guy a credit card and we just buy our food on that. Some days might spend $5 others might spend $30. I was told that the employer has to actually pay the amount of per diem that he says he would in a check. So if he sets our rate at $30 a day the we should get a check for $150 in a five day work week. Is this true?

Per diem is usually applied after submitting an expense report for what you have spent on food throughout the day for your contract work. Consider yourself lucky that he gave you a credit card. Are you submitting receipts for what you spend on meals?

If you got a check for $150 dollars then you had better spend it on food; and not on anything else, or you would be out of pocket.

Or, what is your problem with how your employer pays you per diem? You getting meals, are you not ?

Unless you can find written company policy, or you have a written contract saying 30/day for food (and not saying 'up to' 30/day), then they can give you only what you spend in a day on that one card, or basically whatever they want. So charge away, each day.