Coach Sharon Youngblood works as an athletic coach and recruiter for Florida State University. Athletic competitions and the recruitment of athletes require Sharon to do a great deal of traveling. The university reimburses Sharon for her travel expenses. Sharon joined a frequent-flyer program and has been receiving credit for her business travels as an athletic coach. Solely because of the mileage accumulated from her business travels, Sharon will soon be eligible for a free trip anywhere in the continental United States. She very much wants to travel to Seattle, Washington, over her Christmas vacation to visit her parents. Sharon is considering using her free ticket for this personal trip but is not sure whether it would be ethical to do so.
There is no question. Different companies have different policies abut the use of frequent flier miles acquired on business trips. Most of them allow it for personal travel. (As in the movie "Up in the Air")
There is also currently no income tax on the use of frequent flier business miles for personal travel.
Current tax policy and company policy should be followed. I do not see this as an ethical question. When I acquired miles on over 100 business trips, I considered it as a reward for undergoing the extra stress and incovenenience of the trips and the preapration for them. My company at that time considered requiring the mileage to be creidited to the company travel account, but eventually decided against it.
I agree with DrWLS. However, some companies consider the free miles their property, as they paid for the travel. So ethically, it is a matter of your employer: You agree when you went to work for them you would abide by all their lawful policies. Ethically, I would abide by my employer's policies first.
Determining whether it would be ethical for Sharon to use her free ticket for a personal trip requires considering a few factors. Here's how we can approach this question:
1. Check the terms and conditions of the frequent-flyer program: The first step is to review the terms and conditions of the frequent-flyer program Sharon joined. The program should outline the specific rules and limitations regarding the use of accrued miles. Sharon should determine if these rules allow for the use of miles for personal travel or if they are exclusively for business purposes.
2. Consult the university's guidelines: Sharon should also consult any guidelines or policies set by Florida State University regarding the use of reimbursed travel benefits. The university might have specific rules about the usage of these benefits, including whether they can be used for personal purposes.
3. Consider ethical standards: Even if the program and university guidelines allow for personal use, Sharon should consider ethical standards. She should evaluate whether using the accumulated miles, which were earned through business travel, for personal reasons aligns with her personal values and the ethical standards she upholds.
4. Seek advice from supervisors or colleagues: If Sharon is still uncertain about the ethical implications, she should consider discussing the situation with her supervisors or colleagues in the athletic department. They might be able to provide guidance or insight based on their professional experience and knowledge of university policies.
By assessing the terms of the frequent-flyer program, university guidelines, personal values, and seeking advice, Sharon can make an informed decision about the ethics of using her free ticket for personal travel.