Originally Posted by
FLYGVA
I assumme this is also different from regulations within the company.
For example, we in Germany have had a ruling by our Federal Labour Court, that (Bundesarbeitgsericht, judgement of April 11 2006 - 9 AZR 500/05) miles earned for comany travel belongs to the company if there is no other agreement between company and employee. I know of a number of smaller and larger companies that have this rule also in effect for any form of compensation.
A number of other companies have a slightly different approach for compensations vs miles. If one is paid or in any form reimbursed for the travel time (= travel time is working time), compensation belong to the company. If travel time is not remibures and the employee looses out of his free time, than compensation belongs to the employee.
It is easy for me, working for the government, as we use tax payer money for our travel and therefore all compensation belong to the office - I would even risk disciplany actions if I do not mention it.
+1 - This is the important point. Whether the carrier pays the passenger or the employer is a minor bureaucratic detail. If the terms of your employment are as above, it becomes your obligation to pay the compensation over.
As an aside, in the US, compensation for delay/cancellation/denied boarding becomes taxable income to the individual if the ticket is purchased by a third party, e.g., employer. Not the case for duty of care (with the presumption that the employee is not also being reimbursed for same by the employer).