And the purchase is for work, and the cashier gives you change. In this change you find a valuable coin (say, a 1956 silver quarter). Can you keep the valuable quarter? Does it matter if you have spend out-of-pocket first for the purchase and then have to submit to your company for reimbursement (ie, the purchase was authorized, but no company funds were provided prior to the purchase)? What if you made a personal purchase along with the company purchase during a single transaction? Is there a higher ethical standard if you are a government (city/state/national) employee rather than an employee of a private company?
2007-07-03 08:38:17 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The implication prior to the second question above is, if the company gave you funds to go make the purchase first, and you got the valuable quarter in change, is that the company's property, or not?
2007-07-03 08:43:49 · update #1
I'm as real as you are, patriotwww.
2007-07-03 08:44:49 · update #2
The point of making a personal purchase during the company purchase is that, can you rationalize what change goes with what purchase, or does that matter.
2007-07-03 08:49:21 · update #3
If while purchasing the item, the clerk gave you a free car wash coupon, would it belong to the company or you?
If you ordered a computer (on-line) for your company and they sent you two. Would you keep the extra one?
If you buy a computer ink cartridge for your company and it came with a 5 dollar off coupon on your next order. Is it okay for you to use it for your personal use?
The quarter belongs to you. If you used your money. If you used their money, the quarter belongs to your employer. It's up to you what level of integrity you want to live your life.
2007-07-03 08:54:51 · answer #1 · answered by Matt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The question boils down to who provided the money and took the risk to make the purchase (granted it was a low risk). You paid out of pocket so the valuable quarter is yours.
You of course owe the company a quarter, and the products that you purchased. If you were using company funds to make the purchase then the valuable quarter would be company property, but you used your own funds so you get the rewards.
The company is not out of any money from your purchase and it got the same value just as if you didn't notice the quarter was valuable and spent it on something else. This could have easily happened; in fact that is how the valuable quarter ended up in the cashier's till. The quarter has been passed around as legal tender worth only 25 cents for some time now. The only difference is that you noticed it has some extra value beyond the 25 cents.
It was your quarter when you noticed that extra value, it was change owed you. It was passed to you as legal tender and as part of the change due you so you don't owe the store any money either.
The only stickler is that you were on company time when you found the quarter. But, if you were on a company paid break and found the valuable quarter on the ground then you would expect to keep it and not share the profits with the company. The same case holds true here. You found that quarter "fair and square" so you get to keep the profits from it.
2007-07-03 08:56:53 · answer #2 · answered by Dan S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look at it this way. If the item costs $4.75, the company is expecting to pay that exact amount, whether they give it to you before you shop or after. The are not expecting to get the item for free, and they are certainly not expecting a profit.
So let's say you paid with at $5 bill, and received the silver quarter in change and say the silver quarter is worth $100. If you give your employer the silver quarter, they have a windfall of $99.75, that they were not expecting and did nothing to achieve.
You on the other hand, had the knowledge and smarts (not given to you by company training) to recognize the silver quarter. If you keep the silver quarter and return a regular old 25-center to your boss, your knowledge is rewarded and your employer receives exactly what it bargained for and expected.
Lucky you! Keep the quarter!
2007-07-03 08:52:34 · answer #3 · answered by raichasays 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Appears you have already talked yourself into the reasoning that this is okay. I agree with you. I would even agree if the original money was company money. I can't see why you can't make a personal purchase while shopping for the company as long as you didn't spend a lot of time contemplating the purchase. The change, as long as the company gets the correct change, swap the quarter out for your own.
2007-07-03 08:44:53 · answer #4 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I say you are fine. You are a lucky man. You spotted a valuable coin in some change. Good for you.
(You would be hard pressed in any company find a policy that help the coin as their rightful property.)
I do believe we tend to hold government employees to a higher standard than private employees.
2007-07-03 08:44:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So long as the company get the correct amount of change and the receipt,I don't think you have a problem here. I have not come across a question like this before so you are getting a star from me to you.
2007-07-03 09:37:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No ethical issue there as long as the company gets the receipt and the correct amount of change.
2007-07-03 08:41:10 · answer #7 · answered by sprcpt 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think I am an honest person. But I'd keep it, making sure the company got its money.
It's one of the perks of the job.
2007-07-03 08:53:01 · answer #8 · answered by True Blue Brit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no ethical issue, but certainly a psychological issue. Get thee to a nunnery!
2007-07-03 08:42:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you for real?
2007-07-03 08:40:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋