No More Free Rides
Lily Leah
"Ms. Smith, a complaint has been filed with HR. You have been accused of misusing your personal vehicle for unauthorized commercial activity."
The administrative manager dropped a printed copy of the so-called joint complaint onto the desk, a faint, knowing smile on her lips.
The company had decided to issue me a fine, placed a formal warning on my record, and revoked my performance bonus for this quarter.
I stared at the handwriting on the complaint, then let out a short, incredulous laugh.
I recognized it instantly. It was Selena Rogers.
The same coworker who had been hitching rides with me to and from work every day for the past three years.
It was all because of last night's storm. She had insisted I take a long detour to drive her to the mall so she could pick up her boyfriend, and I had said no.
Then, in the break room, Selena's voice carried loud and clear.
"Jennifer, I didn't have a choice.
"We have to keep work and personal matters separate. The transportation stipend from the company isn't for you to make extra money."
Around us, coworkers glanced over, whispering and pointing, as if they had completely forgotten how eager they once were to ask for a ride home.
I took a slow breath. "Fine. I accept the company's decision."
Then I pulled out my phone and made a call.
"Mr. Wallace, I won't be renewing the lease on those two vans.
"Yes. The ones that have been picking up and dropping off the admin and sales teams every day, free of charge."
For three years, I had been the easygoing one, paying out of my own pocket every month to lease those vehicles so my coworkers could treat it as a perk.
If that was now considered unauthorized business activity, then from this day on, everyone could figure out their own way to get to work.