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Question Details: The company I work for provides petrol for my own vehicle which I use for work. However, my boss has never stated I cannot use my vehicle outside of work hours as there's never been a policy or documentation relating the issue of using one's own vehicle for jobs. Can I ever be fired for using it outside of work hours?
Filed under Employment Law | 1079 View(s)
Community Law Wellington & Hutt Valley
It is unlikely that you can be lawfully fired for this, if what you are doing is known to your boss and you are following any policies about petrol and work travel.
However, employment relationships are founded on mutual obligations of trust and confidence and outright abuse of loose rules could lead to a finding of a lack of good faith on your part, and eventual disciplinary proceedings and dismissal.
If the issue is not formalised in the near future we suggest you tread carefully as it would be difficult to argue later that excessive personal petrol use was an unwritten part of your employment agreement.
Answered 5 Mar 2013. The IMPORTANT NOTICE below is part of this answer.
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