Most people traveling for work get something like that. its called per diem. food on the road when you have no choice but to eat out locally or at hotels. Standard business expenses.
And you had to provide receipts showing what meals you spent the per diem on.
Yep, but this just seems to an across the board handout, not travel related. I’d be surprised if it’s not included in a W-2, it’s basically cash they’re being given as evidenced by the fact they were able to buy household items with it instead of food.