However, nobody HAS to take them up on their tiny offer, but for some insane reason, many do, costing themselves and their coworkers a whole lot of money over the year
Sounds like taking F/O pay to get a freighter command.
Substitute "a whole lot of money" with "the chance for everyone on the fleet to get a Rome trip instead of a million to the indian subcontinent" and it sounds like Lifestyle requests.