Backroads Trip Leaders: Compensation, Benefits & Work Authorization

 

Why Backroads?

Where do we start? Dream job. Best job in the world. Recognized by Outside Magazine on their annual "Best Places to Work" surveys. Our leaders love their work so much, over 90% return each year. And that's just the start of it. Working for Backroads means you will:

  • Have an office that's constantly changing—in the most beautiful areas of the world.
  • Be outside on a daily basis, being active and healthy.
  • Challenge yourself, physically and mentally, developing leadership skills and friendships you will carry with you forever.
  • Be part of a continually growing company that provides extensive mentorship, embraces transparent management practices, and provides dynamic career opportunities.

Now Getting Down to Business...

Backroads began in 1979 as an innovative active travel company. Now the industry leader in active travel, we offer more biking, walking, and multi-adventure tours in more locations worldwide than any other company. In addition to our company headquarters in Berkeley, California, Backroads has five logistical hubs: Salt Lake City, Utah; Canmore (near Banff), Alberta, Canada; San Giovanni Valdarno, Tuscany, Italy; Pernes-les-Fontaines (in Provence), France; and an administrative hub in Utrecht, Netherlands.

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 based upon their country of primary and fiscal residency. Field Staff must have legal work authorization in a country in which we have an employment structure. Those countries are: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, or the UK.

We are in the process of establishing local payroll structures in Czechia, Ireland, and Norway. If you are a permanent resident or citizen of one of these countries, we welcome your applications. Please be aware that, depending on the status of our presence in these countries, we may incur obstacles or delays and not be able to hire you for the 2025 season. If you apply, we will send you regular status updates on each of these local payroll structures.
Learn more about our specific work authorization needs here.

Leader Compensation & Benefits

The Backroads compensation and benefits package sets the standard in the active travel industry. Here is more 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 Leader earning potential depends on the amount and type of work. New Leaders who graduate from earlier Leadership Training Programs have greater earning potential because they will be available for work sooner. Time off requests can limit earning potential, for more information visit the FAQs page. From ~May 15-October 15, new trip leaders can expect to work approximately three weeks (15-18 days) each month. This is a combination of weeks working as both a Trip Leader and as a Support Leader, as well as days preparing for a trip, traveling, training, loading equipment, driving vans, becoming familiar with regions and maintaining equipment. During the same time period, second-year leaders work a similar average amount, typically with more Trip Leading work on their schedules (plus ancillary work, driving, etc.). Earning potential and opportunities to lead year-round grow in a leader's second year and beyond. While leaders aren’t working, they have the benefit of time off to explore the region they are in and go on their own outdoor adventures.

Trip Leaders are hired as "seasonal" employees, and their season is a six-month period starting when they attend training. Seasonal leaders can expect to wrap up work on or before October 31. 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 hourly rate based on their country of fiscal residency and tenure at the company.

On top of the most generous base pay rates in the industry, 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. Detailed information about compensation will be provided during the interview stage process.

Allowances
Food is provided while working on-trip working 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, in hotels. 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: In Europe: Tuscany, Puglia, Provence, Loire Valley, Dordogne, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ireland, Switzerland. In the United States: 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. 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 provides all work-related travel. It is a Field Staff's responsibility to travel to their hub of employment (Canmore, France, Italy, Netherlands, 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.

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 (our version of the company picnic). Staff Ride is an all-inclusive multi-day bike trip held in a different destination each year such as: Vietnam, California, Greece, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Provence, India, Croatia, etc. Field Staff who have led or prepped 50, 100, 150, etc. trips also receive additional milestone gifts to celebrate their accomplishments.

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 Backroads leader 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

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 eligibility based on a Field Staff's status. Leaders with extended seasonal status who work longer than six months are eligible on the first day of the month following their one-year anniversary if they work 1430 hours or more in their first 11 months of employment (or 1560 or more hours during the previous calendar year in subsequent years of employment).
  • 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.
Canadian Work Authorization:
  • Health/Dental Insurance Program: Backroads will reimburse up to $150 CAD per month for provincial medical and/or supplemental medical insurance beginning the first day of the month following the first day of training. Field Staff are eligible to receive this reimbursement during months in which they work 10 days or more.
  • Holiday Pay: Canadian Field Staff receive paid holidays in accordance with Canadian Labor Code.
  • Vacation Pay: Canadian Field Staff receive vacation pay at the rate of 4% of pay for employees who have been with the company for one to five years and 6% of pay for employees who have been with the company for more than five years.
  • 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., 2023 RRSP contribution receipts must be received by the People and Culture department by April 30, 2024 and 2024 receipts by April 30, 2025).”
EU/UK Work Authorization:

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

  1. Employment Contracts: Industry and nationally compliant employment contracts, typically seasonal in nature.
  2. Medical Benefits (European “Social Security”): Leaders employed in Europe benefit from the national health plan from their country of residency/employment. European health plans typically provide for partial or total medical coverage in case of injury or illness, as well as financial compensation during sick leave.
  3. Retirement & Unemployment: All European employees are eligible for statutory retirement and unemployment benefits as defined by their individual country/jurisdiction of employment. Both Backroads and the employee make regular (required) contributions to these programs in each pay slip. Typically, the employer contributions are higher than the employee contributions.
  4. Vacation & Holiday Pay: All European employees earn mandatory vacation and are eligible for Holiday pay as defined by their national and industry contracts and collective bargaining agreements (if applicable). Vacation earnings are pro-rated for months worked and typically paid out as additional earnings at the end of the seasonal contract. Holiday premiums are earned if the employee is scheduled to work on a holiday as determined by their pay jurisdiction (not where they happen to be working).
  5. Parental Leave: Most – but not all -  European contracts include some allowance for parental leave. This is pro-rated based on time worked and if the employee is under contract.
  6. Other Benefits: Our European employees are eligible for other, more minor, benefits that are unique to their national and industry contracts and labor regulations. Thus, these benefits vary by place of employment and payroll jurisdiction. Some examples of minor benefits that some Europeans receive differentially are:
    • Sunday Pay premiums – when working on a Sunday
    • 13th and/or 14th months pay
    • Premium for rest periods worked
    • Premiums for evening/night shift work

**NOTE: most of the above benefits are taken into consideration in the local rates of pay. This is in order to arrive at a rate of pay that is comparable across all European jurisdictions.

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