Ethical Issues in Company Travel (TI)

This pages contains a selection of advice from The Ethics Office at Texas Instruments Corporation.

The advice is that of either TI Ethics Director Carl Skooglund or Glenn Coleman, Manager of Ethics Communication and Education. The articles were distributed among TI employees via TNEWS.

Article Number 61: Ethical issues regarding travel for TI

Doing business for TI often requires travel for the employee. A review of some of the ethical issues and the standards surrounding TI business travel might help the TIer avoid some of the pitfalls.

1. Expenditures allowed for business purposes are those considered to be reasonable and necessary. TI travel policy simply does not allow for expenditures considered lavish or extravagant, and, in general, TI considers such expenditures to be unacceptable and not reimbursable.
2. Reservations for airline tickets, car rentals and lodging should be arranged through TI authorized travel agency using the corporate card for payment.
3. TIers may use frequent traveler credits accumulated as a result of TI business travel as long as no additional cost is incurred to TI to earn those credits.
4. It is essential that all travel be necessary and scheduled in a manner that is cost effective to TI and the TI traveler. Policy allows nonstop flights, but only when "business needs dictate". Nonstop flights should not be used indiscriminately. If taking a nonstop flight means paying full fare, other options that can significantly reduce your ticket price (intermediate stops, connections, over Saturday stays, etc.) should be considered.
5. TI travel agencies are responsible for offering and scheduling routings and accommodations that take advantage of TI contractual agreements with hotels, rental car companies and airlines. They will work with you to find cost effective itineraries to meet your travel requirements. However, you should keep in mind that TI reserves the right to make final supplier decisions based on price and contractual commitments to suppliers.
6. TIers traveling on personal or family trips can often use the TI corporate travel rates. Contact your authorized agency or TI Travel Services for details.
7. Because of the wide variations and complexity in airline fares and schedules it is often tempting to try to "beat the system." Be careful. An airline ticket is a contractual agreement whereby a traveler agrees to use it for its intended purpose.
8. For example, don't purchase a ticket with an intermediate stop if your destination is actually the intermediate point and you have no intention of traveling the final leg of the trip. Although this "hidden city" technique can sometimes save money, it is likely to violate the contractual terms of your ticket.
9. Don't ever use an airline ticket that has been purchased in someone else's name. In addition to violating the contractual ticket agreement, it could invalidate travel insurance coverage.

Here is a simple rule of thumb. Airline tickets should be used by the individual in whose name they have been purchased with the intention of traveling in accordance with the dates, times and departure/arrival points described on the ticket.