Ethically Questionable? What's your take?

[AMCRambler]

I'm responsible for purchasing a lot of the supplies for my department at work. As such I get a lot of junk mail and flyers from different companies like Staples, Office Depot, CDW, etc. I got one today that I found pretty interesting.

Companies like to do gimmicks to get your business like buy one get and that sort of thing. This flyer advertised free gifts with purchase of $125 or more. Now being that I'm purchasing for my company, buy one get ones or extra gifts that are are useful office supplies or useful to my company are a good way to get me to purchase from your company. The twist with this flyer is that the gifts are more of a personal nature. One is a $15 restaraunt gift card and the other is a bath shampoo/body wash set.

Seems to me pretty unethical for someone responsible for purchasing supplies to purchase from this company to get their free gift as opposed to another company. If the prices favor the company offering the free gift, I guess you could make the case that it doesn't matter. But if they didn't, even if it were only by a few cents?

My company has a policy about accepting things like this as I'm sure most do. Its generally not allowed, not that I would ever consider doing it even if there was no policy.

Was wondering what OT thinks? Would you favor one vendor over another for free shit at the expense of your company? Doesn't seem worth it to me but I bet it happens all the time.

 

[CPA]

Like your company, mine has a gift acceptance policy, but it does allow gifts under a certain value.

We have fleet vendors and other large vendors that will send gift baskets or such around the holidays. As long as the value is low enough, it's okay.

On the otherhand, we have had folks terminated, even high up the ladder, for accepting large gifts, particularly from vendors trying to get our business.

 

[NetWareHead]

Like your company, mine has a gift acceptance policy, but it does allow gifts under a certain value.

We have fleet vendors and other large vendors that will send gift baskets or such around the holidays. As long as the value is low enough, it's okay.

On the otherhand, we have had folks terminated, even high up the ladder, for accepting large gifts, particularly from vendors trying to get our business.

My company pretty much follows this policy too.

Accepting gifts like you described creates a conflict of interest where the best interests of the company are not served first. You end up choosing a vendor, not because he/she is the best one for the company but because you personally stand to gain from the transaction.

 

[rcpratt]

Nobody is going to care about gifts of that low of a value. If this were a habitual thing or the benefits were larger, maybe it'd be an issue.

 

[sactoking]

Ethically, I'd say that if the vendor offered the lowest price regardless of gifts, then you could use them and not be harangued for receiving gifts. If the vendor is not low bidder and you use them then it will give the appearance that you did so for personal gain.

If the vendor is low and offers gifts you might try picking names out of a hat to see who gets it. That way you're not accused of unethically keeping them for yourself and you ensure that management does not do so either. That builds goodwill throughout the rest of the company.

 

[Texashiker]

We hand the gifts over the the management, which are later given out at company parties.

The gifts are used for door prizes and raffles at the company parties.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Nobody is going to care about gifts of that low of a value. If this were a habitual thing or the benefits were larger, maybe it'd be an issue.

You'd be surprised what people might care about. All it takes is one manager with a Napoleon complex to turn things into a fiasco. Is your job worth a $15 gift card? If any gifts come with a purchase like that you have to turn them into somebody higher up the food chain or get a company policy on the matter in writing. If you don't it's going to come back to bite you on the ass.

 

[FoBoT]

it happens all the time
large companies generally have Business Ethics Policies that exclude accepting gifts from vendors. Smaller companies tend to ignore the ethics and take the stuff.

 

[Perknose]

My Dad had contractors bidding for work at his hospital offer him all sorts of upgrades and free work on our house. The conversation always ended right there.