What is business sense? or rather good business sense?

depends on the particular older worker. everyone is different. While most older people start to become rather absent minded, they are certainly not all that way. Plenty of older people are real sharp. It is just like any other group of people - you cannot accurately sterotype them.

basically you do business to earn some money. so if by employing older people you get less output, it is not good business sense. It depends on the person and it can not be generalised like this.

Absolutly not. AND Hertz of all people! Why give them your cash AND take a deduction for the amount you spent? Unless you have too much money on hand, take the mileage on your car. Personally, I take all expenses on my car rather than mileage due to the paperwork you mentioned. BUT - all my gas, maint ... is on my credit card so I have a solid record plus I take the monthly note and insurance. As for travel, I take a PerDiem rate as allowd by the IRS on any country/city I travel to and the company still pays my hotel/air travel. The erDiem covers the cab, meals, bottle of water... Any meals I eat at the hotel are but on that bill and are covered by the company. It ends up I come out ahead, but being in China for 10 days on business is no picnic. I figure its battle pay.