Gifts at work: What can I accept and what not?

Created: 06/23/2022, 18:18

By: Carina Blumenroth

If you accept gifts as an employee, this can have negative consequences for you.

(symbol image) © Imago

You get a bottle of wine or a stay at a spa hotel as a gift from a customer – what sounds like a nice gesture can also be a bribe.

If you receive gifts from business partners or customers, it can initially be a nice gesture, at least if there are no conditions attached to the gift.

Nevertheless, many employees are not clear about what they can and cannot accept.

The suspicion of

quickly arises.

To avoid this, there are a few tips and tricks you can follow.

Bribery or a nice gesture – which gifts are actually popular?

Whether for an anniversary, birthday or Christmas: gifts are popular and they strengthen relationships.

When it comes to gifts, there are no limits to creativity.

Nevertheless, there are a few classic gifts for employees and customers, including:

• gift baskets

• Wine, champagne, other beverages

• Travel, stay in wellness hotel

• tickets

What sounds like a nice gesture here, however, sets off alarm bells for some workers.

You fear bribery if you accept these gifts.

The fear is not unfounded at all.

Bribery is talked about when something is demanded in return.

This can be, for example, consent to a contract.

Employees should therefore be particularly careful when receiving gifts from people outside the company.

Beware of gifts in return

You should keep your hands off all supposed gifts that are linked to something in return.

This can mean small decisions, a special voting behavior or contracts that should still be concluded.

If you do that, you've been bribed.

Would you like more tips on the subject of jobs and careers?

How expensive can a gift be if it is not a bribe

Expensive gifts to decision-makers in particular are quickly suspected of being bribery.

But employees should also be very careful about what they accept and what they don't.

In general, of course, gifts should look good, and in some cases that means they're expensive.

For example, expensive watches are quickly associated with the fact that something in return is linked to them.

In principle, however, there is

According to the

Bible, the value of a gift does not necessarily depend on whether it is a breach of duty in an employment relationship or a criminal bribery.

Inexpensive gifts are comparatively unproblematic, but there are no clear limits.

The numbers

are often in the room, which are still acceptable for gifts.

However, there is no universal solution.

Gift or Bribe: It also depends on social adequacy

Social adequacy actually refers to a criminal offense that is generally sanctioned.

Social adequacy is a factor that helps in evaluating gifts in the workplace.

Accepting gifts correctly: Company values ​​can help

According to the

bible, employees should create clarity for their employees, which can be achieved with internal corporate compliance regulations.

This means company-wide rules that the respective company has created itself.

Although these do not have a binding obligation, they still offer advantages.

• Employees are given guidelines on how to behave

• Negative public image can be avoided

• Companies can exclude liability

For example, the specific handling of gifts can be regulated, whether they are accepted at all and what value they may have.

The gift was accepted – what are the consequences?

You may be violating the law or internal corporate compliance rules and this can have consequences for you.

You can

expect a

Sometimes employers also state a clear omission.

If it is a serious violation, you may be threatened with

.

This is usually the case if you intentionally violate the duties or the law.

are liable to prosecution if you, as an employee, accept an expensive gift and

then

giver .

This carries a fine or imprisonment of up to three years.

Gift or bribe - you are on the safe side

If you do not have any internal regulations, then to be on the safe side, ask your employer how you should behave.

It is

.