Remove Expenses Public Handbook Page

### How to see how much budget is left

If you want to see how much you still are allowed to expense within the policy,

for example how can expense on [office equipment](/handbook/finance/expenses/#equipment):

for example how can expense on [office equipment](https://internal.gitlab.com/handbook/finance/expenses/#equipment):

1. Navigate to the `Policy` tab.

1. Click `Benefits`.

### In what countries are direct reimbursements available?

Please check [this section](/handbook/finance/expenses/#44-reimbursement-payout-timelines) of the Expense handbook page for information on reimbursements and payout timelines.

Please check [this section](https://internal.gitlab.com/handbook/finance/expenses/#44-reimbursement-payout-timelines) of the Expense handbook page for information on reimbursements and payout timelines.

### How can I receive my funds if my reimbursement fails?

## Do remote employers provide work equipment?

Not all remote employers provide work equipment. This is an important question to ask during your interview process. However, at GitLab, team members are [allowed to spend company money](/handbook/finance/spending-company-money/) as they would their own, with [guidance provided](/handbook/finance/expenses/#equipment) for various types of equipment.

Not all remote employers provide work equipment. This is an important question to ask during your interview process. However, at GitLab, team members are [allowed to spend company money](/handbook/finance/spending-company-money/) as they would their own, with [guidance provided](https://internal.gitlab.com/handbook/finance/expenses/#equipment) for various types of equipment.

## How to connect with people when starting a remote job

Informal team member communications, such as a chat about life outside of work, are necessary for building trust. Trust is essential for great business results and is a [foundational element of culture](/handbook/company/culture/#culture-at-gitlab). Many businesses invest heavily in offices and facilities, because they believe offices are necessary for informal communication.

> During the pandemic, many businesses that were forced to work remotely discovered that productivity [increased](https://bfi.uchicago.edu/working-paper/why-working-from-home-will-stick). Many of these same businesses are now making plans to return to the office. One reason given is that not everyone can work from home. GitLab solves this by allowing people to [rent and expense work space](/handbook/finance/expenses/#co-working-space). Another reason given is that people miss working from a central office with co-workers. I don't think that people miss the commute or the office furniture. They miss informal communication. Central offices are an expensive, inconvenient, and indirect way to facilitate informal communication. It is more efficient to directly organize informal communication.

> During the pandemic, many businesses that were forced to work remotely discovered that productivity [increased](https://bfi.uchicago.edu/working-paper/why-working-from-home-will-stick). Many of these same businesses are now making plans to return to the office. One reason given is that not everyone can work from home. GitLab solves this by allowing people to [rent and expense work space](https://internal.gitlab.com/handbook/finance/expenses/#co-working-space). Another reason given is that people miss working from a central office with co-workers. I don't think that people miss the commute or the office furniture. They miss informal communication. Central offices are an expensive, inconvenient, and indirect way to facilitate informal communication. It is more efficient to directly organize informal communication.

>

> For example, every person who joins GitLab has to schedule at least 5 coffee chats during their onboarding. We also have Ask Me Anything meetings with senior leaders, Group calls organized by different groups/departments, and over 15 other explicit ways to encourage employee connections and relationship building. Intentionally organizing informal communication enables the trust-building conversations that are essential for collaboration. This can be more effective than relying on chance encounters in a physical office. You can connect with team members throughout the world and across departments through a coffee chat. You may not meet people outside of your own floor in an office setting. - *GitLab co-founder, Sid Sijbrandij*

For parents with toddlers who may not understand why a parent is home but unable to play or engage, consider working in a space with a door that you can shut. This creates a more obvious separation between work and life.

If you live in a space where such a division is impractical or impossible, consider working in a coworking space, external office, or shared community home through firms such as [Codi](https://www.codi.com). GitLab recognizes that not every living space is amenable to remote work, which is why we will [reimburse for external spaces](/handbook/finance/expenses/#co-working-space).

If you live in a space where such a division is impractical or impossible, consider working in a coworking space, external office, or shared community home through firms such as [Codi](https://www.codi.com). GitLab recognizes that not every living space is amenable to remote work, which is why we will [reimburse for external spaces](https://internal.gitlab.com/handbook/finance/expenses/#co-working-space).

### Block out family time on your calendar

![GitLab in-person interactions at Commit SF 2020](/images/all-remote/gitlab-commit-sf-2020-in-person.jpg)

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GitLab believes that [in-person interactions](/handbook/company/culture/all-remote/) are valuable. We are intentional about gathering the entire team every 9 to 12 months for a shared experience ([GitLab Contribute](/handbook/company/culture/summit/)), and we encourage team members to gather in-person for [reimbursed holiday gatherings](/handbook/finance/expenses/#team-building), [GitLab Commit](https://about.gitlab.com/events/) events, and other opportunities such as conferences and trade shows.

GitLab believes that [in-person interactions](/handbook/company/culture/all-remote/) are valuable. We are intentional about gathering the entire team every 9 to 12 months for a shared experience ([GitLab Contribute](/handbook/company/culture/summit/)), and we encourage team members to gather in-person for [reimbursed holiday gatherings](https://internal.gitlab.com/handbook/finance/expenses/#team-building), [GitLab Commit](https://about.gitlab.com/events/) events, and other opportunities such as conferences and trade shows.

GitLab also gathers its [e-group](/handbook/company/structure/#e-group) for a [quarterly four-day offsite](/handbook/company/offsite/). These offsites are planned and highly structured as to create exceptional efficiencies. The agenda, takeaways, and changes are all documented for the rest of the company to see, with broader company discussion in a dedicated `#e-group` Slack channel. This is intentionally designed to be [transparent](/handbook/values/#transparency).