Short Story: A question of Ethics becomes an ethical question
By emptychair
@innertalks (23742)
Australia
April 4, 2019 8:07pm CST
Freda was handling the banking for a small firm that she worked for.
Twice a week, or sometimes more, she would drive her car to the bank, and deposit the accrued money there.
Sometimes, when she was going to the bank, the Manager of the firm, would ask her to do his personal banking there for him.
Freda was not really happy about this.
Another time, the boss, would ask her to call into the local supermarket, near the Bank, and buy him some biscuits, and coffee supplies for his Office, which he always liked to have well stocked, so as he could serve a cup of tea, or coffee to anyone that he had to meet, or talk over things with, in his office.
Freda never liked being his lackey here either.
Now, Freda used to claim her petrol expenses, as she was using her own car to perform these errands for the boss.
One day, Freda, never took her car, but walked to the bank. She was a little over weight, and she really needed the exercise too.
All well and good to here, but when Freda got back to the office, feeling refreshed from her walk, later that week, she also claimed this walking trip within her total car expenses for the week.
Freda’s boss was a shifty type of a guy, getting her to perform non-work related tasks for him, but does this justify Freda, claiming this trip to the Bank as a car expense?
If she had driven to the bank, sure, she could claim it legitimately then, but if she walked instead, was it really ethical for her to still do this, or not?
Was she still entitled to an allowance no matter how she got herself to the bank, or not?
What do you think?
Photo Credit:
The photo used here was freely sourced from the free media site: pixabay.com
Freda's little yellow car parked outside of the bank.
1 person likes this
1 response
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
6 Apr 19
I recall a comic strip where the loud-mouthed introduced himself to a visitor as the "go-getter" of the office.
This was overheard by the boss who promptly told him to get a cup of tea and some biscuits too.
I hope Freda did not invite the trouble for herself.
Regarding claiming of car expenses, I can share from my own experience.
I was office bound most of the time and looked forward to a break at times.
I needed some walking exercise too. So I used to take a short train ride or even walk to the bank if the weather was pleasant. As the fare was little, I did not claim reimbursement unless I took a taxi.
In this case, I think unless Freda is paid reimbursement irrespective of whether she used her car, then it is alright.
Otherwise, I would not claim car expenses after not using the car - siva
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
6 Apr 19
Thanks siva.
I knew that you would rather "err" on the side least benefitting yourself, as that is usually the most honest way.
Yes, here, Freda would be unethical I think too, if she claims the usage mileage and usage of her car to claim reimbursement for petrol use, or kilometres travelled.
I remember one old lady, who was the pillar of honesty, and a member of her local church elders committee.
She didn't baulk though at soaking off postage stamps that the Post Office had been careless in not cancelling on letters, when they arrived on a letter in her mailbox. She would use them again, saying that it was the Post Office's carelessness that cost them this money. They deserve it, for lax workers being allowed to work there like that.
There are no short cuts with honesty though. Honesty is either honesty, or it is not.
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@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
6 Apr 19
@innertalks I worked for a very wealthy person during the last 25 years of my working life.
Though he was careful to hold on to the last penny for himself, he used to treat me as equal in all other respects. My way has always been to give more than I took, so even what was due to me was not claimed by me like the expenses incurred for the official trip to banks, etc
I made sure my conscience was crystal clear and that is more valuable a legacy than what money I could have made even legitimately.
I can agree with the old lady you mentioned but I will not do that. However, I recall some prestamped envelopes enclosed with the letters I received to reply and if I did not use them I made use of them in other envelopes - siva
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@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
7 Apr 19
@Shiva49 Our conscience is a good guide for us. If we do not feel completely clear in our conscience about what we are doing, I would agree with you, that it is far better for us not to do that, that is what we were thinking about either doing, or not doing.
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