Backroads Field Staff: Compensation, Benefits & Work Authorization

Work Authorization

Unlike many other travel and guiding outfitters, Backroads hires Field Staff as employees. This entitles our Field Staff to benefits not provided by companies that use Independent Contractors.

All Field Staff are employed and paid based upon their country of primary and fiscal residency. Field Staff must have legal work authorization & employment eligibility in a country in which we have an established employment structure: USA, Canada, Austria, Belgium (only for Trip Leader role), Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, or the UK.

What are the Work Authorization Requirements?

Employment eligibility requirements vary. See below for specifics:

UK/EU

Valid UK/EU passport
Primary residence in one of the countries in which we have an established employment structure (listed above)
Primary is defined by living there at least 6 months of the year OR the place where you spend the most time during the year
A valid UK/EU driving license
A bank account in the country of your primary residency
Registered in the National Health Care institution in the country of your primary residency
National Tax ID Number for your country of primary residency

Canada

Canadian citizenship or permanent residency in Canada. We do not accept or sponsor temporary work visas
A Social Insurance Number
A current, non-graduated, full Class-5 Canadian Driver’s License

United States

US citizenship or permanent residency in the US
A valid US driver’s license

Field Staff based in the United States and Canada are eligible to work in Europe, and we do send a small number of new Field Staff overseas in their first season (for less than 90 days). The key factors in determining European schedules are language skills, travel & life experience, and the ability to confidently drive a manual transmission. For returning Field Staff, we may provide a EU work visa for up to 8 months.

Unfortunately, Backroads does not sponsor an individual seeking a work visa if they do not have work authorization for one of our hubs of employment. Work permits or visas must be obtained separately, on the applicant's own, prior to being considered for a Field Staff position.

Leader Compensation & Benefits

The Backroads compensation and benefits package sets the standard in the active travel industry. Applicants will receive more details on compensation and benefits if advanced to the Interview stage of the hiring process. Below is some high-level information to help you make an informed decision about whether or not being a Backroads Trip Leader is the right job for you.

Amount of Work: Trip Leaders are hired as "seasonal" employees. Their first season typically spans a three-six month period starting when they attend training. Seasonal leaders can expect their season to end in October/November. Some seasonal leaders are scheduled for work during our winter "peak" (generally late December/early January) based on performance and business need.
Pay & Gratuities: All Field Staff are paid a competitive rate based on their country of primary residency. Pay rates may vary based on compliant wages, tenure and additional roles held. Detailed information about compensation will be provided during the hiring process.
On top of base pay, Backroads leaders receive a significant portion of their compensation in gratuities from guests. Our industry-leading position and higher average number of guests per trip translates into tips that usually double per trip income. Additionally, many perks and benefits minimize out-of-pocket costs, giving leaders the opportunity to save money.
Allowances: Food is provided while working on-trip as a Trip Leader or Support Leader. Daily food allowances are also provided for other work activities that don’t allow access to a kitchen (travel days, for example). On top of these allowances, Backroads leaders receive phone stipends and have access to Backroads' computers.
Housing: Lodging is provided while leaders are on trips. Communal housing is also provided between trips, so Field Staff will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses for lodging during the entire season. Many of our regions have "Field Staff Houses" that are available to all Field Staff free of charge while working and in-between trips. Some of these wonderful places include: Tuscany, Puglia, Provence, Loire Valley, Dordogne, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ireland, Switzerland. In the US: Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Anacortes, Washington; Portland, Maine; Whitefish, Montana; Berkeley, California; Stowe, Vermont; Anchorage, Alaska; St. George, Utah; In Canada: Outside Banff; Nova Scotia; Quebec. And other international locales such as: Wanaka, New Zealand; San José, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, etc. While housing is communal, all Field Staff will have separate beds (sometimes bunk beds!). Standard with these accommodations are computers, Wi-Fi, and access to bikes for personal use.
Travel: Backroads pays for all work-related travel. It is a Field Staff's responsibility to travel to their logistical hub (Alberta, France, Italy, or Utah) at the beginning of the season and home at the end of the season. Field Staff enjoy keeping their own frequent flyer miles for personal travel and may choose to stopover or extend their stay in desired locales within work-sponsored itineraries. Backroads provides all travel to trip destinations during a working season.
Anniversary Milestones: We recognize the hard work and dedication of our Trip Leaders by offering Backroads Trip Credit or gear stipends when they hit specific milestones like their 50th, 100th, 200th Trip Lead.
Recreational Benefits: Backroads also offers several benefits to leaders that are of a more recreational nature, including generous discounts with brand-name equipment and clothing companies, Backroads-labeled gear (items vary each year), and Backroads trip discounts for family and friends and our favorite: Staff Ride. Select Field Staff in their second season and beyond are invited to our annual Staff Ride which is a multi-day bike trip with hundreds of your colleagues.
The "Leader Lifestyle": Perhaps the most valuable benefit is enjoying a lifestyle few can match. In addition to trips that feature some of the world’s best hotels, restaurants, and scenery, imagine having time off in some of the most desirable locations around the world and the freedom to explore on your own. Not to mention being a part of an incredible, kind, adventurous, friendly, and tight-knit community that constantly inspires personal and professional growth. Being a part of the Backroads Community allows for a lifestyle of flexibility, growth, and experiences that many value above all other benefits of the job.

Trip Prep Specialist (TPS) Compensation & Benefits

Pay

Trip Prep Specialists receive a competitive rate of pay. Applicants will receive more details on compensation and benefits if advanced to the Interview stage of the hiring process. Below is some high-level information to help you make an informed decision about whether or not being a Backroads Trip Prep Specialist is the right job for you.

Amount of Work

Trip Prep Specialists are hired as "seasonal" employees. Their first season typically spans a three-seven month period starting when they attend training. Seasonal leaders can expect their season to end in October/November. Some seasonal TPS are scheduled for work during our winter "peak" (generally late December/early January) based on performance and business need.

Schedules

First-year TPSs typically work in one or two different regions throughout the season (May-October/November). You will receive your specific schedule assignment during training. We're looking to hire TPSs to work in all regions we run trips, including the following regions.

Europe: Tuscany, Dolomites, Provence, Loire Valley, Croatia, Sicily, Puglia, Catalonia, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portugal, Andalucia, Brittany & Normandy, Bavaria, Piedmont, Parma, Switzerland, Pays Basques, Germany, Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Mallorca, Alsace, Bordeaux & Dordogne, Greece, Sardinia & Corsica, and Denmark.

United States: Anchorage, AK; Whitefish, MT; Jackson Hole, WY; Berkeley, CA; Anacortes, WA; Stowe, VT; St. George, UT; Portland, OR; Bend, OR; Portland, ME; Ashville, NC and Santa Barbara, CA.

Canada: Canmore, AB; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Victoria, BC; Quebec City, QC.

Allowances & Housing

Food allowances are provided for days you're traveling for work. Housing is provided for all field staff so you will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses for housing during a season of work. Many of our regions worldwide have staff houses in wonderful places that are available to staff free of charge while working. Some of these wonderful places include: Tuscany, Puglia, Provence, Loire Valley, Dordogne, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ireland, Switzerland. In the US: Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Anacortes, Washington; Portland, Maine; Whitefish, Montana; Berkeley, California; Stowe, Vermont; Anchorage, Alaska; St. George, Utah; In Canada: Outside Banff; Nova Scotia; Quebec. And other international locales such as: Wanaka, New Zealand; San José, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, etc. While housing is communal, all Field Staff will have separate beds (sometimes bunk beds!). Standard with these accommodations are computers, wireless internet and access to bikes for personal use. TPSs are also provided with a cell phone stipend to supplement communication costs.

Travel

Backroads pays for all work-related travel. It is a Field Staff's responsibility to travel to their logistical hub (Alberta, France, Italy, or Utah) at the beginning of the season and home at the end of the season. Field Staff enjoy keeping their own frequent flyer miles for personal travel and may choose to stopover or extend their stay in desired locales within work-sponsored itineraries. Backroads provides all travel to trip destinations during a working season.

Anniversary Milestones

We recognize the hard work and dedication of our Trip Prep Specialists with Backroads Trip Credit or gear stipends when they hit specific milestones like their 100th, 150th, 200th Prep.

Recreational Benefits

Backroads also offers several benefits to Field Staff that are of a more recreational nature, including generous discounts with brand-name equipment and clothing companies, Backroads-labeled gear (items vary each year), and Backroads trip discounts for family and friends and our favorite: Staff Ride. Select Field Staff in their second season and beyond are invited to our annual Staff Ride which is a multi-day bike trip with hundreds of your colleagues.

The "TPS Lifestyle"

Perhaps the most valuable benefit is enjoying a lifestyle few can match. As a TPS, you benefit from a more consistent schedule and living space throughout the season (compared to the trip leader role) with the opportunity to live like a local in incredible destinations. Imagine having time off in some of the most desirable locations around the world and the freedom to explore on your own. Not to mention being a part of an incredible, kind, adventurous, friendly, and tight-knit community that constantly inspires personal and professional growth. Being a part of the Backroads Community allows for a lifestyle of flexibility, growth, and experiences that many value above all other benefits of the job.

Additional Benefits Based on Hub of Employment

During the hiring process applicants will receive more detailed information on their applicable employee benefit packages. Below is a general overview of benefits offered:

US Work Authorization

401k Plan: Field Staff are eligible to contribute (up to 75% of their income) to a 401k plan after six months of employment. Backroads provides a 20% match on employee contributions of up to 15% of pay, vesting over the five-year period from date of hire
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance: Backroads provides group medical, dental and vision insurance plans to Field Staff who meet eligibility requirements (the most important being working 1560 hours during the measurement period)
Flex Plan: This plan allows benefits-eligible employees to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualifying health and dependent daycare expenses
Workers Compensation Coverage: In the unfortunate event of a work-related injury, all Backroads Field Staff are covered by workers compensation insurance which provides coverage for medical care, disability pay, and medically necessary transportation costs
Paid Sick Time: Field Staff receive up to 40 hours of paid sick time in the event of injury or illness that results in the inability to complete scheduled work

Canadian Work Authorization

Health/Dental Insurance Program: Reimbursement up to $150 CAD per month for provincial medical and/or supplemental medical insurance
Holiday Pay: In accordance with Canadian Labor Code
Vacation Pay: Dependent on tenure
Workers Compensation Coverage: In the unfortunate event of a work-related injury all Canadian Backroads Field Staff are covered by a combination of workers compensation insurance and employer paid travel medical plans (when working outside of Canada) which provides coverage for medical care, disability pay and medically necessary transportation costs
RRSP: Field Staff are eligible to participate in our Canadian Retirement Savings Plan. This is a subsidy to your own individual retirement savings plan. Backroads currently matches 20% (on up to 15% of your total salary). Backroads will apply a five-year vesting period of 20% per year from date of hire. To receive a matching contribution, you must present a receipt for your retirement plan contribution by April 30th of the following year (e.g., 2024 RRSP contribution receipts must be received by the People and Culture department by April 30, 2025 and 2025 receipts by April 30, 2026).

EU/UK Work Authorization

Field Staff employed by one of our subsidiaries in the UK/EU enjoy benefits depending on country of fiscal residency, the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the statutory benefits required therein. In general, our UK/EU Field Staff enjoy these benefits:

Employment Contracts: Industry and nationally compliant employment contracts, typically seasonal in nature
Medical Benefits (European “Social Security”): Employees benefit from the national health plan from their country of residency/employment
Retirement & Unemployment: Employees are eligible for statutory retirement and unemployment benefits as defined by their individual country/jurisdiction of employment
Vacation & Holiday Pay: Employees earn mandatory vacation and are eligible for Holiday pay as defined by their national and industry contracts and collective bargaining agreements (if applicable)
Parental Leave: Most – but not all - contracts include some allowance for parental leave. This is pro-rated based on time worked and if the employee is under contract
Other Benefits: Employees are eligible for other, more minor, benefits that are unique to their national and industry contracts and labor regulations

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