By Hugh Martin | Sun City West
When I first heard that Sun City West was furnishing “take-home” vehicles to employees, I thought it was so ridiculous that it could not possibly be true. However, I subsequently learned that not only is it true, but that it has been in existence for some time! I was informed that presently two of the managers are provided with “take-home” vehicles for the stated purpose of responding to after-hours “emergencies."
The lingering question is: Are these employees actually tasked with responding to after-hours emergencies, or are they more likely only attending to infrequent urgencies? An emergency is often defined with a reference to an occurrence in which life, health or property may be endangered, requiring drastic and immediate action. In contrast, an urgency may be serious, but far less compelling than a fully verifiable emergency.
The liability issues pertaining to “take-home” vehicles are consequential. Does Sun City West presently have a written policy governing this practice? Record-keeping is key to defending potential liability issues. Strict guidelines pertaining to the usage of “take-home” vehicles must be enumerated within the policy. A log-sheet should be maintained noting the date, time, and reason for each after-hours response. Is such a log-sheet utilized currently?
Realistically, is the after-hours usage of Sun City West vehicles a cogent necessity or just another perk? Is this practice sustainable? Does it, in any way, exhibit sound fiscal stewardship?
