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Can the company make me "pay back" reward points?
I am looking for some advice and hope you ladies can help!
I am currently on maternity leave and was asked to come into the office today for a meeting. As an event planner, I often receive bonus reward points from hotels for signing contracts with them. When I started my job in 2009, I was told by my then-boss that the points were a "perk" of the job. In early 2010, I was told that the company was considering not allowing people to use the frequent flier miles, credit card rewards points and other points from business travel for personal use. She said this would also apply to the hotel points I received. I was told the matter was still being discussed but that was the last I heard of it. No company memo ever came out telling employees they could no longer earn points/miles and I witnessed other employees continue to earn their points.
Now, my new boss (she's been my boss for 1 1/2 years) told me today that I am NOT allowed to earn these points and they want to see my loyalty program statements so I can "repay" back the points I have used. I was taken aback today when they brought it up. My former boss, who still works for the company, claims she told me I couldn't earn these points, which is an absolute lie. I have a good relationship with my current boss and told her that former boss was not telling the truth and if I had been told I couldn't collect these points, I absolutely would have stopped. To be honest, they don't add up to that much, maybe 7 nights a year of free hotel stays, so it's not worth risking my job over.
Do they have the right to ask me to pay back the points? I don't know how they would make me do it as they don't necessarily have a monetary value. I am perfectly willing to stop receiving the points going forward now that they have made it clear it's a policy, but can they penalize me for the past? My boss told me I could still earn points from when I actually stay at the hotels, it's just the signing bonuses that I am not able to earn.
Also, would you show them your loyalty statements? I earn points on all these accounts from other means (personal stays, credit cards) and they would have access to all that information.
Just not sure what my "rights" are here and how far I should push this. DH and I are not in the position to write a check to my company for the "monetary value" of the points nor do I think it's fair for the company to benefit from this. The points are a bonus to a contract signed and it did not cost the company a dime for me to receive them.
Thanks for any advice you might have! I am definitely looking for unbiased opinions.
Re: Can the company make me "pay back" reward points?
I had a similar situation like this years ago. I meet with the the head of HR and told her (very politely) to put the request in writing, along with the policy/procedure that applies and fax it directly to my attorney. I made clear that did not want to discuss the issue unless my attorney was present.
The situation was dropped. However a few months later there was a new P/P created to address the issue that we all had to sign and was placed in our file.
Do not get in the middle of something you are not an expert in, we all have fields of expertise but it is also important to know when we need help.
Good luck!
I think this is the best advice. I would make sure you have everything in writing and documented.
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