So I recently returned from a trip to Germany done on company business. On Sunday, I rented a car and traveled to neighboring Austria for the day.

Is it ethical to expense the gas used for non-business purposes during my trip? I spent $50 in gas for the day.

My justification is that every other time I have traveled for more than a day or two with previous companies I have been given per-diem. Internationally this would be $105/day (domestic is typically $60). My new company doesn't do per-diem and just requests for you to keep all your receipts from any travel expenses.

After subtracting out hotels/flight/trains my daily expenditures were approx $40/day so it is not like I was living extravagantly.

10/31/2014 1:26:28 PM

Quote :

"Is it ethical to expense the gas used for non-business purposes during my trip?"

[no]

10/31/2014 1:28:37 PM

Quote :

"[no]"

10/31/2014 1:35:11 PM

just ask your company how they would like you to submit expenses, if they would like you to submit your full fuel bill or if they would like you to break out only what is work related.

without a policy or permission though it would not be ethical

[Edited on October 31, 2014 at 1:39 PM. Reason : .]

10/31/2014 1:38:57 PM

doesn't matter what your previous company's policies were.

your current company's policies are what matter.

billing a personal expense to your company is unethical. there's really no grey area here.

10/31/2014 1:48:04 PM

No

10/31/2014 1:53:28 PM

didn't HUR get fired from his last job? 2 in a row would be hard to explain away in an interview.

10/31/2014 2:01:04 PM

No, it's not ethical, but ethics are overrated. Your company's leadership has probably made countless unethical decisions in just the short time since you've made this thread., including what sounds like their crappy per diem policies.

Did bankers consider ethics when they were rigging Libor rates? No, they made millions
Did Roy Williams consider ethics when he was funneling players into AFAM classes? No, they won two championships
Did GM leadership consider ethics when they continued to sell death trap autos? No, they made their sales goals for that quarter and got a bonus
Did hulk hogan consider ethics when he drop kicked Randy Savage the turned heel and joined the NWO at bash at the beach? No, he won the WCW heavyweight title a few months later.


The point is, if you ever want to accomplish anything, you're gonna have to model yourself after those that have achieved "success" before you. Yes, sometimes that means being a little unethical every now and then.

10/31/2014 2:23:28 PM

He can't be serious with this shit, but then he's racist as fuck so I guess anything is possible.

10/31/2014 2:27:06 PM

^^^ I resigned my last position.

I got fired from a job in 2012 due to a "safety violation" which was really just an excuse by my incompetent a-hole of a boss to get rid of me. I know some of you feed off my tww trolling but this guy was a serious asshat. He had already chased off half of my group at the time and didn't take kindly to me calling him out for the prick that he was.

Thanks for the advice though i'll not add the item.

10/31/2014 3:16:36 PM

Quote :

"doesn't matter what your previous company's policies were. your current company's policies are what matter. billing a personal expense to your company is unethical. there's really no grey area here. "

10/31/2014 3:19:16 PM

This is like a case study on the fraud triangle

10/31/2014 4:12:47 PM

lol how is this even a question

10/31/2014 9:56:03 PM

$50 of gas in Europe is like two gallons isn't it?

11/1/2014 2:01:15 AM

Quote :

"$50 of gas in Europe is like two gallon 7.57 liters isn't it?"

FIFY

[Edited on November 1, 2014 at 2:07 AM. Reason : FIFYA]

11/1/2014 2:07:18 AM

^ That's the equivalent of 7.57 Big Slams for anyone who doesn't know Euro measurements.

11/1/2014 8:52:43 AM

We all should have told him it was okay.

11/1/2014 10:11:20 AM

Look at it this way, what is the likelihood that they find out and if they do how likely is it you lose your job over $50? At my last employer everyone including the site manager called per diem "combat pay" and charged non work related expenses that were reasonable to be refunded.

11/1/2014 10:53:06 AM

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view6/3492092/business-ethics-o.gif

11/1/2014 1:04:21 PM

You can't be serious, guy. . .

11/1/2014 7:18:51 PM

My current boss would tell me to expense it as a perk, his rationale is that if I'm going to be away from friends and family, he might as well do a little so that I can enjoy myself.

Depending on your relationship with your boss, ask your boss. Otherwise, if you're willing to quibble over a $50 gas bill, you have a screw loosE...

[Edited on November 1, 2014 at 7:42 PM. Reason : ]

11/1/2014 7:41:24 PM

^Not to be a Dudley Do-Right, but if your boss says it's okay (probably because he does it himself), and it contravenes company policy, it's still unethical.

[Edited on November 1, 2014 at 11:29 PM. Reason : Although it may be sufficient to save you if it's ever found out.]

11/1/2014 11:28:03 PM

As long as you are not doing cash advances for prostitutes you are fine.

11/3/2014 9:52:43 AM

Don't be a JEW

11/3/2014 10:01:48 AM

^^^ that's why i suggested he ask what the policy was, I've worked at a place where it is explicitly allowed per policy to expense certain personal expenditures while travelling for work

[Edited on November 3, 2014 at 10:10 AM. Reason : a]

11/3/2014 10:10:37 AM

no it's not ethical unless your policy allows it. The per diem thing isn't that uncommon. My company and I would say most the companies I interact with are similar regrading per diem vs expenses: it's expenses for short term and per diem for long term. Usually the grey area here is the definition of 'short' and 'long' term. Sometimes it's 3 months or less, sometimes 6 etc. depending on the project and client for us.

[Edited on November 3, 2014 at 10:46 AM. Reason : ]

11/3/2014 10:46:03 AM

Quote :

"^Not to be a Dudley Do-Right, but if your boss says it's okay (probably because he does it himself), and it contravenes company policy, it's still unethical. "

I work for a smallish company (~300) employees and my boss is a VP. The company policy is intentionally vague because they want to give people flexibility... but not too much flexibility. I recognize i'm in somewhat of a unique situation here though.

11/3/2014 10:55:43 AM

HUR's response to this thread:

11/3/2014 11:14:47 AM

My wife's last job specifically allowed her to use her credit card to get gas as long as she was not on vacation.

11/3/2014 11:35:49 AM

I tend to go by the "if you have to ask...." rule.

11/3/2014 12:00:20 PM

*think about the expense*

did you get a chubby

if yes then dont report it

11/3/2014 3:18:56 PM

The trick is to eat free fruit and cookies from the hotel and pocket the per diem to cover personal shit like booze and stuff.

11/6/2014 8:06:47 AM

some places that have full breakfasts will also give out to-go breakfasts that you can take and eat for lunch.

11/6/2014 8:50:51 AM

Quote :

"I tend to go by the "if you have to ask...." rule."

11/6/2014 2:43:29 PM

Some companies, like the government, require you to declare any meals provided so that your per diem can be adjusted to reflect a meal not earned.

11/6/2014 3:59:02 PM