unauthorized trip
@SIMPLYD (90717)
Philippines
July 4, 2011 9:12pm CST
One of my functions is to oversee and authorize the trips of the 3 drivers of our company, in addition to being the assistant to my lady boss , who happens to have the highest position in the company, her being the SVP. From among the rest of my duties, I have to report to her any wrongdoings I might see in the office.
One day, as I arrived at the office, the keys to my drawer and steel cabinet where I store my laptop, was not in my bag. I realized I left it in the pocket of the bag I used the previous day. I hurriedly asked permission from the HR-OIC to get it from our house , which as I have explained was at least 40 minutes ride by public transport compared to the 15 minutes by our company car. She permitted me.
After a week, the HR Manager gave me a memo to explain why I used the company car without authorization. It was further reported that it wasn’t in the trip ticket of the driver. She said an incident report was given to her about it and it was said that the HR-OIC didn’t permit me to. I was surprised at the lie , but at any rate , I gave my written explanation. My lady boss told me, it was the HR OIC who reported.
In my explanation I said, being the authority to the drivers, I authorized it, since it forms part of an Official Business. I cannot work without my laptop stored at my steel cabinet, so I have to get the keys from our house. I have to use the car to expedite my trip. I further told them that being the supervisor of the General Services, I deemed it my privilege to be accorded one like that. That , silenced them all and even my boss, agreed to it.
What angered me was the denial of the HR OIC. The driver forgot putting it in the trip ticket and so did I forgot to remind him to have it there. Had the HR OIC reminded us about it, I could have written it at the trip ticket of the driver myself and authorize it. It was really meant to tarnish my name in the company. So , the confrontation that happened in my second discussion. (Topic: I was Provoked.)
If you were in my shoes, would it be called unauthorized? Wouldn’t it had been proper that the HR OIC just reminded me that I haven’t authorized it? Was I right in thinking that she had it all along to malign me?
3 responses
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
14 Jul 11
Memos are issued not based on the one happening. May be one incident is quoted but it has generated on account of various interactions you had with the HR-OIC. The general impression she has about you etc. We all carry images about others. If that is good we treat them well. If that is not good we treat them shabbily.
In companies these things are routine. forget that. start moving ahead. If u are going to think about that ur effectiveness will come down.
Nobody is big. Nobody is small. the company will run with or without any of the people therein.
If HR-OIC was liking u favourably she could have given a reminder instead she thought it fit to give a memo. u have answered. matter settled. Give a warm shake hand to her and be friendly with HROIC. good day./
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
15 Jul 11
Well, you are right. My asking permission from her is already an authorization by itself that i can go and use the car and the driver. Unfortunately, it was forgotten to be "regularized" meaning , a trip ticket should have been made later in the day. Thus, it was unauthorized indeed.
It was found out that indeed she did it to malign me and favor her friend, who i always catch making unofficial business matters when she goes out for an on OB.
Anyway, this was dismissed and now we are okay again. She's overly kind to me after that. 
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
16 Jul 11
good. it is nice of you to have accepted my feed back. this shows ur maturity. U are bound to improve in ur career path.
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
14 Jul 11
I will not okay your point "as incharge of transport I authorised ". this is normally not accepted in organisations and you could have told your next higher authority about it before using the office vehicle for your use. goodday.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
14 Jul 11
Even though the HR-OIC wavered in her statement, the fact that the trip ticket was not completed, is proof that the trip was not authorized.
I'm sorry if this is was not the response that you wanted to hear/read.
I think her only mistake was granting you permission in the first place. If you are the one authorizing trips in your company, then I think this incident is not applicable to your authority, as there is a conflict of interest here.
If you take out all the emotional context, then you will see that this is a clear offense. Now, if she has underlying intentions to malign you, then that is a different story (separate from this clear offense).
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
14 Jul 11
I admit it was my mistake, i forgot to remind the driver to do the trip ticket for me to authorize it, since we were in a hurry that it be expedited since transactions using the car will start by 9:30, and we have to hurry.
However, cases such as this in which it is of importance that my steel cabinet should be be opened is for itself an official business. Besides, as a supervisor , i deemed it a privilege that we be granted use of the car in emergency cases such as this.
Hence, this incident was dismissed.
@sophiecheer (931)
• Philippines
5 Jul 11
The true underlying intention of the whole issue is beyond me. I could clearly see though that on the outset, both of you are trying to do your job the best that you can. On her side, she reported the act in line with her duty as HR OIC while on your part, you retrieve your keys at home so that you can do your functions at the office-hence the trip. Considering that you "forgot" to jot down the specifics of the trip-which is part of the rule of your company, she deem it reasonable to categorize your act as "misdeed".
Frankly, the whole incident may be a result of an unwarranted disagreement or misunderstanding between you two. I can clearly observe that you two both have higher positions in the company and that the "incident" might as well be a manifestation of "power trip" fight-to see whose more powerful among you two. But then..I could be wrong in this whole aspect. Anyway, I hope you get to settle down this matter soon. Have a good day!
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
14 Jul 11
However, by her giving me the permission to get it from home with the use of the car, is by itself an authorization. Though, what is absent is the documentation. Thus, making it unauthorized , in the real sense of the word.
With my written explanation and emphasizing that as a supervisor, it is also my privilege to use the car in case of an emergency such as this, this was dismissed.
