Scenario: A Tip or Two

Group Size: 4-15

Scenario

Major Ricardo Delgado and subject-matter expert Aaliyah Abbas are taking a taxi to an off-site meeting. On the way, they’ve had a very interesting conversation with the driver, an immigrant from a war-stricken country. The driver speaks with obvious pride of his adopted country and of his high hopes for his two young children, both born here in Canada.

When they arrive at their destination, the meter reads $9.70.  Aaliyah tells Major Delgado that she’s left her change purse at the office. “All I have on me is my lunch money - a ten-dollar bill – and -30 cents would be a terrible tip!”

“Don’t worry,” says Major Delgado with a wave of his hand. “I’ll get this one.”

As the Major fills out the government-issued taxi chit, he notices that Aaliyah glances over just in time to see him record the fare as $14.70 before signing his name.

As the taxi drives away, the Major says, “Look, the guy obviously needs the money and, with the price of gas these days, it’s only fair that the government should help him out a little.” Aaliyah is unsure what the protocol is in a situation like this, especially when it is a senior ranking military official. 

Categories

• Principles: Obey and Support Lawful Authority
• Values: Stewardship
• Cultural themes: Not Specific
• Misconduct types: General Misconduct 
• GBA Plus themes: Not Specific
• Audience: Defence Team

Facilitator’s Guide

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the ethical principle of “Obey and Support Lawful Authority” in this scenario. 
• Discuss the ethical value of stewardship in this scenario. 

Facilitation Questions

1. What is the problem in this scenario?  
   • Open group discussion. 
2. What considerations are at play with respect to Defence Ethics and the military ethos? 
   • Open group discussion.  
   • Discuss the ethical principle of “Obey and Support Lawful Authority” in this scenario. 
   • Discuss the ethical value of stewardship in this scenario. 
   • Discuss how Defence Team members must use resources responsibly. They must use public money, property, and all other resources managed by them in an effective and efficient way. 
3. We live in a culture in which it is customary to tip the providers of a variety of services. Is it acceptable for Defence Team members to tip a taxicab on government issued taxi chit?  
   • Open group discussion. 
   • In our culture, we often tip service providers such as the server at the restaurant, the hairstylist at the salon, or as in this case, the taxi driver. In fact, tipping has become so customary in some sectors that the low wages paid are expected to be supplemented by tips, as is often the case for restaurant servers. However, as Defence Team members, acting in our public roles, we must be mindful that we are not using our own funds, but taxpayers’ money.   
   • Not everybody realizes that the government acknowledges the custom of tipping for services. For example, when travelling on duty, personnel are provided with a fixed per diem for meals and incidentals. Calculated into that per diem is a factor for reasonable tipping. In addition, the National Joint Council (an organization made up of federal government employees and union representatives) provides guidelines.
   • Actual expenses, including gratuities, will be reimbursed (outside of per diem costs, which factored tips into incidentals). Tips shall be of a “reasonable” rate, determined by the claimant based on the number of bags, passengers, area, help provider by the driver, etc. (reference: National Joint Council of the Public Service of Canada).
4. Discuss how this situation would affect Aaliyah, as a subject-matter expert, and not a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member.
   • How does hierarchy, even when not a member of the CAF, impact the way that others interact with you and treat you?
   • If you were Aaliyah, would you feel comfortable confronting Major Delgado? Why or why not?