Can UO employees get credits with local merchants, as a reward for biking to work? Maybe.
Scenario: In an effort to encourage active lifestyles, a UO Department is developing “Webfoot Points,” a program with local businesses in Eugene to promote active and healthy lifestyles. The program would provide UO faculty and staff with “Webfoot Points” - which are similar to discounts or gift cards - if the employees walk, jog, or bike to work. Webfoot Points include free hours of use of PeaceHealth Rides, free rides using Uber or Lyft, discounts on scooter and bicycles, and free tickets to a University of Oregon home football game. These benefits are not available to non-UO employees; a DuckID is required to enroll.
If I earn Webfoot Points, does state law allow me to benefit from those points?
No. If you accept a discount or gift card, you could be using your UO position for private financial gain—the mere fact that you are a UO employee who walks/jogs/bikes to work entitles you to these benefits, while members of the public who work for other employers in Oregon are not eligible. This may be prohibited by state law.
Unless: You could participate if the benefits were part of your official compensation and benefits package at UO. There are several ways to make this happen, such as through UO policy, an employment contract, or formally through a supervisor. You could also participate if the program were open to a broader community – people who don’t work for UO.
Watch out! The Points may also count as a “gift” under state law. If a Webfoot Points merchant has an interest in the decisions you make (e.g., one merchant is also a bidder for a transportation service contract with UO, and you get to help decide who gets that contract), the “points” are a “gift” under Oregon law and are subject to the $50 annual gift limit. For more information on Gifts, see here.
Watch out again! If you stand to gain personally and financially from a decision you make as a UO employee, you may need to report it so that UO can manage the conflict (e.g., you could be removed from decision making regarding the bid.) For more information on conflicts of interest, see the Policy