Let’s Do the Right Thing

Christmas is near, and that means it is gift-giving season. Maybe a client sends a grocery basket or a box of wine for the whole office to enjoy. Sometimes a supplier hands over an expensive gift to one particular employee (executive). Is it harmless or potential conflict of interest?

It has been a culture to give gifts to show gratitude or if you want to put a good impression to your potential business partners. Like for example, a supplier generously gave a brand new LED TV to a middle manager after landing a big account. Hence, in accepting that gift it is giving the supplier the notion that you can be bought by gift and decisions vary depending on the amount of the gifts. Generally, employees shouldn’t accept gifts for doing the job the company pays them to do.

Gift-giving is part of the Filipino culture of doing business to enhance good business relationships. However, Directors, Officers, and Employees must be aware that other parties may use this custom of gift-giving as means to gain favors or influence the objectivity of said Directors, Officers, and Employees. Thus, there is a need to properly regulate the receiving of gifts without prejudice to maintaining efficient, friendly, and cordial relations with Third Party entities.

That’s why most big companies have a no-gift policy. What does it really mean? How does it relate to companies and what is its value to us, as employees?

No- Gift Policy is a gift policy wherein its main purpose to avoid a conflict of interest or to put doubt on the client’s mind that decisions could be swayed by gifts so private companies and government offices and its employees do not accept gifts from vendors, suppliers, customers, potential vendors or suppliers, or any other individual or organization, under any circumstances.

Most of the companies now aim to regulate the receiving of gifts without compromising efficient, friendly and cordial relations with third party entities –