The end of the year is a time for celebration. However, it can also be when questions arise in the workplace about the appropriateness of gifts from suppliers and clients.
No matter how well-meaning a gift is, the potential exists for impropriety or the appearance of impropriety to be present because of the existence and acceptance of the gift.
The existence of a gift policy ensures that employees adhere to a code of conduct; therefore, the policy should be supplementary to the other codes of conduct, ethics, standards, values and policies stated in the employee handbook. It can also assist some of the more highly regulated businesses to meet their obligations under financial regulations.
What to include.
A gift policy:
* defines who may give a gift to company employees;
* can provide guidance to all employees about what is and isn’t appropriate to accept as a present;
* can define a gift, such as offering, advertisement, award, or token of appreciation from a customer, supplier, potential employee, or potential supplier;
* defines the acceptable value and type of gift permissible to employees; if a gift is allowed;
* state what should happen to that gift, e.g. raffled off for charity or shared amongst all employees;
* defines under what circumstances an employee may accept a gift with any exemptions;
* should include a named person who makes decisions in such circumstances and the records that need to be kept.
A clear understanding for all on what to do if offered a gift through work will make for a more harmonious time in the workplace and add to the Christmas cheer.
For further information and guidance on Gift Policies and documentation please contact Clover HR today.
