Venkman

I don't think the argument is whether or not per diem is literally money, but that we don't like hearing about how per diem is part of the salary structure. We all get it, you can usually bank per diem and come out ahead. But talking about it like it's part of the salary undermines real pay increases. "Well they only pay $xx,xxx per year, but we get per diem so it's really $xx,xxx!" No no no. That's not what per diem is about.