Should an employee who picks up a company-related package on the way to work be allowed to claim mileage?

Question

The boss asked him a few days ago to pick up the package (place is 1 mile from his house) so he picked it up on his way to the office the next morning. This pick up was part of his regular commute to the office. I found out about him reporting mileage and time because this morning he was bragging the company paying for his commute while showing everyone the mileage check as proof. I don't think it was right for him to report that mileage nor the time because it was a commute. IMO, mileage should not be paid unless the employee is running a company errand in their own personal vehicle AND they depart from/return to the office.

Is what he did legal? Should I report him to the appropriate parties? How would your employer handle this?

Answer 1

His commute is changed from the office to the place where he picks up the package. His hourly pay should start there too. The only thing he cannot do is claim the 1 mile from his house to the pick-up spot. I get a $70/day car allowance, but if I don't use my car that day? Yup, I still get the $70.

Just walk away from him, he seems like a jerk to be bragging about $30. Tell him about the free dinner your boyfriend bought you last night and if he drove a better car than a Corolla, he might have a girlfriend!

Answer 2

He can probably claim the mileage, but that doesn't mean he should. I've worked with people like that - who try to scrounge every last dime they can out of the company. Although it may seem great to him now, it will probably come back to haunt him.

Bosses are well aware of those actions, and that kind of attitude doesn't sit well with them. It usually becomes evident at raise and promotion time.

Answer 3

yes, if ur boss tells u to pick up a package using ur own personal vehicle, u can record the mileage and be payed by the company. the company might not give gas money or pay for ur oil changes, but certainly will pay for the mileage.

Answer 4

If it was only one mile out of his way he should have only claimed that mile, if anything.  He sounds like a cheapskate but companies are full of them.  We have a director at my office who routinely orders two meals when he has business dinners and wraps one up for this wife.  This guy easily makes over $100,000.  It's sick but some people are just like that.

Answer 5

yes he should claim mileage,, and time if he is hourly paid.

  he was wrong for bragging about this,, i'll bet he won't be picking anything up for the company soon...     i have employees (8) we have pickups severals times a week,, small ones,, and if any of my employes wants to pick up on their way to work, then i will pay them mileage and hourly .as long as it is not out of their way...

to your question,,  sometimes it is bad policy to allow this ,,simply because it creates bitterness with other workers..

you have made that clear..

Answer 6

He should not have reported mileage since it was part of his normal commute.  I would not report him, let your boss deal with it.  It may or may not ever get back to your boss, but I wouldn't worry about it.  Your boss may have already addressed the issue, so I would leave it alone.

Answer 7

How tacky... Bragging, I tell you those people always seem to get away with stuff like that but people like you and I wouldn't. He should only get a $1.50 for that. You are in a catch 22, I really don't know how your work place is but this is what I would do, I would go to the person who is in charge of that department and say that so and so was bragging and showing his check to everyone stating that the package he picked up which was a mile away from his home that y'all were paying for the whole commute and he was rubbing that in our face, so I was just trying to give you a heads up because alot of people took great offense over it and they are not happy, and let that person take it from there, so it makes it look like that you were just helping that department out. Good luck and nail his butt.

Answer 8

His commute time is his to do as he wishes.  By having him do work-related activities, it has become work time, not commute time, and he should be reimbursed.  If he's non-exempt, he should also get overtime.

Answer 9

I don't like it when people brag about stuff. He should not have been bragging and showing off the check. However, he was ok reporting the mileage.

My opinion...if he didn't get the mileage it is the same as if the company was getting free use of his personal vehicle. The company's other option would have been a much more expensive hot-shot service.

Where I work we get paid mileage for running company errands on the way to the office, with the mileage starting when we depart from the errand. For example..in your case his mileage would have started when he departed from picking up the package.

I drive a Corolla myself. If he has the right setup it can easily get 35mpg. Mine does with an automatic and Pirelli tires. If has an automatic and those horrible Goodyear Integrity tires then he's lying about the 35mpg (city), if this is the case he's getting no more than 30 in the city and maybe 35 on the highway. Anywho...if your employer is like mine they pay $0.41 per mile which is right around $14 - $15. The car has a 13 gal tank so that check will buy roughly 1/2 tank of gas, in my area.

Answer 10

THE BOSS TOLD HIM TO PICK UP THE PACKAGE, SO IF HE DROVE 35 MILES AFTER HE PICKED IT UP THEN THAT IS WHAT HE GETS PAID FOR. WHEN YOU USE YOUR CAR FOR CO. YOU GET SO MUCH A MILE NOT BY HOW MUCH GAS YOU USE, IT FIGURED AT MIL AGE BECAUSE THERE IS ALSO WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR NOT JUST GAS.

BUT YO SOUND MORE UPSET THAT HE IS GETTING IT AND NOT YOU !

Answer 11

He may be cheap, but it is perfectly legal. Reporting him will not do you any good.

Answer 12

What do you care if the company paid him?  They could have refused, but then they'd have had to pay someone to drive out and back, instead of just one way.

Good God, man, find something worthwhile to fight for.  We're talking about a 35 dollar check, not millions in embezzled cash or insider trading...

Answer 13

Yes, he should claim both time and mileage. Bragging about it though was a bit tacky though.

>>Is what he did legal?<< Yes

>>Should I report him to the appropriate parties?<< No. If you did you will be seen as a snitch/tattler who can't mind their own business.

>>How would your employer handle this? << Pay time and mileage.

Answer 14

no

Answer 15

Anytime that a person is doing something that is company related, traveling for company reasons, or working extended hours he or she should be reimbursed. It is very legal for him to do what he did. Yes, it is only a mile from his house, but he had a company package in the car which he was told to pick up. Now, the miles he claims can only be from the point of pick up, to the point of drop off. And say it is 15 miles. He should only be able to add to that about a 1/2 gallon of gas for reimbursing. If he stretches it or tries to add miles/fill his tank.. THAT is illegal

Answer 16

Ask your boss. Who's payin this guy?

Maybe if you brown nose enough you could have his job!

Or would you feel better if we just beat him up and give you the money?

Welcome to America, you know how we do.

Answer 17

yes cause he is working doing somthing for the company