How corporate gift-giving can be ethical (2024)

The ethics of giving and receiving corporate gifts can be confusing, and require care and attention to cultural sensitivities

The end of year festive season can have an impact on business life beyond office parties and time off work. Ethics and compliance specialists may dread this time of year, as the subject of gifts and hospitality bring up a number of ethical challenges. You may feel like the office Grinch dictating that gifts and hospitality cannot be given or accepted.

There is no doubt that the giving and accepting of gifts and hospitality has an important role in facilitating business relationships and practice. A meal out with a supplier can help build a relationship; a pen with your firm’s name on it can remind a customer of you when they need a quote.

At times however, the line between what constitutes a gift or hospitality and what constitutes a bribe, can be unclear and the acceptance of gifts, services and hospitality can leave an organisation vulnerable to accusations of unethical, or even unlawful conduct.

When is a gift not a gift? First, consider what the point of the gift or hospitality is. Is it to influence a relationship or induce improper conduct? Or is it simply a token of thanks?

What’s the expectation?

It goes without saying that if the aim is to create an expectation of a “favourable” act in return for the gift or hospitality, then it probably isn’t a gift.

Timing is also of key importance. Are you on the brink of closing a large deal with a customer that if secured, would increase your end of year bonus by a not insignificant amount? Or are you being offered a gift shortly before or during a tendering process? It is not just giving but also the accepting of gifts and hospitality that is punishable under the UK Bribery Act.

Consider the appropriateness of the gift and whether it is proportional to the level of the recipient. If a middle manager seeking a new job offers centre court Wimbledon tickets to a senior manager in another company, would that be considered appropriate or proportional? Common sense would suggest not.

What constitutes a “lavish” gift or hospitality can be difficult to judge. For example, the duties of senior staff may require them to attend or sponsor events where hospitality is generous. What may seem minor to a senior manager could be significantly more valuable to a junior employee. Sometimes, the exact value of a gift or hospitality can be hard to determine. There are also cross cultural considerations; a gift valued at £20 may be considered as low value in the UK, but could be considered as lavish in some less developed economies.

Pick the person

Who is the gift for? Giving gifts or hospitality to certain persons, for example public officials, is often construed as a facilitation payment and arouses suspicions. However, definitions of what constitutes a public official can vary. In many countries, it can be difficult to tell the difference between an employee in a state owned enterprise and a member of the government who is also working within the state owned company.

A principle sometimes applied to determine what is an appropriate level of gift giving or hospitality is that of reciprocity, ie if I accept an offer, am I able to offer the equivalent in value in return? For example: “If my supplier offers me tickets to the theatre, would I be able to reciprocate?” If the answer is “no”, then it may be seen as an attempt to buy favour and it is advisable not to accept.

How can companies support staff? Many companies take a zero tolerance approach to gift and hospitality giving and receiving. However, this isn’t always the most practical approach and can mean employees find themselves in awkward situations having to publically decline the gift or hospitality.

This is particularly true for employees of multinational companies operating in countries where gift giving is an important cultural tradition and instrumental in building professional relationships such as the giving of red envelopes for Chinese new year. Some companies have opted not to implement a global blanket ban, but rather they have set out locally determined limits for the value of gifts and hospitality that may be given or received.

Additional policies might be put in place when it comes to public officials, such as lowering the value limit on gifts/hospitality or requiring employees to obtain management approval, regardless of the value.

Clear policy

Employees need guidance on the company’s protocol on giving or accepting gifts or hospitality. This includes seeking approval from their line manager or someone more senior, recording it in a gifts and hospitality register. Sometimes gifts of a high value might be required be donated to charity or to the company. Gifts of high value can then be auctioned at the end of the year to raise funds for charity, for example.

Guidance is usually found in a company’s code of ethics or gift and hospitality policy. This will outline the company’s position on gifts and hospitality, what constitutes gift giving and hospitality and set out good practice for employees. A gifts and hospitality policy needs to be consistent with all other aspects of an organisation’s ethics programme in encouraging high standards of honesty and integrity in decision-making and behaviour.

So, there’s no need to be a Grinch. Communicate your gifts and hospitality policy to employees and others you do business with; encourage employees to consider the ethical implications before giving and receiving gifts; and offer additional support for those who work in cultures with different gift-giving norms.

This will save both sides embarrassment and, potentially, your organisation’s reputation.

Judith Irwin is a senior researcher at the Institute of Business Ethics. An IBE briefing, The Ethics of Gifts and Hospitality,is available as a free download.

How corporate gift-giving can be ethical (2024)

FAQs

Why gift giving is ethical? ›

A benefit of gift giving is that it arguably contributes to social wellbeing; we feel good buying gifts for those we care about and we also value receiving them too. We just need to consider the dangers of overdoing the exchanging of presents.

Is gift giving in business ethical or unethical? ›

The acceptance of gifts, services and hospitality can leave an organisation vulnerable to accusations of unfairness, partiality or deceit, or even unlawful conduct. Commercial relationships may be subject to bias and an organisation's reputation for 'doing business ethically' will be put at risk.

Is gift giving an ethical dilemma? ›

The client may feel a sense of pride and satisfaction from being able to thank the worker with a gift. However, if the client feels exploited or manipulated—or if the client receives inappropriate services as a result of gift-giving—then encouraging or accepting the gift would be unethical.

Is it ethical to give gifts to clients? ›

Remember that, when coming from a pure place, gift giving is a wonderful way for your clients to express their sincere gratitude. As long as you don't suspect transference or other mental/ emotional issues, and the gift doesn't violate any other ethical boundaries, be open to the experience.

Is it ethical to accept gifts from employees? ›

Giving cash as a gift is considered unacceptable – unless, of course, the company provides it in the form of an employee bonus. On the other hand, gift cards and gift certificates can be acceptable gift choices. The gift card for a major retailer wrapped imaginatively can be a big hit with coworkers.

What does an ethical gift mean? ›

What are Ethical Gifts? Ethical gifts are products or services that are doing the morally right thing for society, the planet, and the people. As you might already know, many companies put their profits before the well-being of animals, people, and the environment.

What does the code of ethics say about accepting gifts? ›

You may accept a gift given under circ*mstances that make it clear that the gift is motivated by a family relationship or personal friendship rather than your official position.

What is best reason of gift-giving in a business? ›

Companies and marketers have long relied on the power of gifting to secure better relationships with potential and existing clients, to show appreciation for their business When used as part of your overall marketing or employee retention efforts, gifting can be highly effective in terms of ROI and satisfaction.

What are the ethical guidelines in regard to accepting gifts from patients? ›

A small gift such as baked goods is probably fine. But an extremely valuable gift should be declined, especially if it is likely to cause a financial hardship for the patient or the patient's family.

What are some ethical issues in the giver? ›

Throughout The Giver Lowry stresses that people must not blindly obey the rules that have been placed for them to follow. In doing this Lowry also addresses many moral and ethical issues such as: Lying, whether euthanasia is acceptable and whether sameness is more important than having a choice.

In what grounds can acceptance of gifts be ethical and unethical? ›

A principle sometimes used to decide what is a fitting level of gift giving is that of reciprocity, i.e. if I accept an offer, am I able to offer the equivalent in value in return? If the answer is “no”, then it may be seen as an attempt to buy favour and it is advisable not to accept.

Can businesses give gifts to clients? ›

Are business gifts deductible? If you give business gifts in the course of your trade or business, you can deduct all or part of the costs subject to the following limitations: You deduct no more than $25 of the cost of business gifts you give directly or indirectly to each person during your tax year.

Can a company give gifts to clients? ›

Gifts may be given to employees for holidays and professional achievements, or they could be given to clients and vendors in appreciation of their continued support. In any case, it's important for small businesses to know how to handle reporting corporate gifts to the Internal Revenue Service come tax time.

Is accepting gifts a violation of good governance? ›

In general, food items, food coupons, liquor and wine, and office-related items such as pen sets or other practical gifts are all safe bets. Even tickets to sporting and entertainment events make great gifts. Accepting bribes is a punishable offense.

Can companies give employees gifts? ›

Can I give gift cards to my employees? You can give gift cards to your employees as presents, but your employees must then list the amount of the gift card as income on their annual taxes. Any cash or cash equivalent given by an employer to an employee is considered income by the IRS and must be taxed that way.

Is gift giving a form of bribery? ›

When someone gives someone else a gift, it's given freely and with no expectations for getting something in return. If a gift is given with the intent of getting something in return, it's no longer a gift but a trade at best and a bribe at worst. Bribes, unlike gifts, come with strings attached.

Why is it unethical to accept gifts from vendors? ›

Are there any human resource policies that affect this kind of activity? Part of the problem with accepting gifts from vendors is that it can hamper your objectivity when either making purchasing decisions for your company or recommending products or services to clients.

What are 4 examples of ethical behavior? ›

Examples of ethical behaviors in the workplace includes; obeying the company's rules, effective communication, taking responsibility, accountability, professionalism, trust and mutual respect for your colleagues at work.

What are the 5 ethical values? ›

Moral Principles

The five principles, autonomy, justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and fidelity are each absolute truths in and of themselves. By exploring the dilemma in regards to these principles one may come to a better understanding of the conflicting issues.

What are the 4 ethical values? ›

The Fundamental Principles of Ethics. Beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice constitute the 4 principles of ethics.

How do you respectfully accept gifts? ›

Politely accepting a gift
  1. Oh, that's so kind/nice of you.
  2. Oh, you didn't have to do that.
  3. Wow! What a thoughtful present.
  4. That's so thoughtful of you. Thank you so much.
  5. It's lovely / wonderful / fantastic.
  6. It's something I have always wanted. Thank you!
12 Sept 2022

Is receiving a gifts a conflict of interest? ›

Offering or accepting personal gifts may influence an individual's decisions and thus may constitute a conflict of interest. Employees and covered individuals are deemed to have received a “gift” when an item of value is given to them personally, to their designee or to their family member for their benefit.

Why do some companies want to give the free gift to people? ›

Makes people feel appreciated: Giving a gift is a great way to say thank you and let customers and clients know they're appreciated. Giving away a free item, however small, also creates a great impression for potential new customers. Offers value: A small token provides you with a big bang for your buck.

Who is responsible for corporate gifting in a company? ›

Human Resources managers can launch corporate gifting campaigns by: Sending gifts to welcome new team members. Using gifts as incentives for new employee referrals. Sending gifts to celebrate company milestones with staff.

Is corporate gifting a good business? ›

94% of top business executives believe that gifting can impact a business relationship. ➼ 53% of employees stayed at their company due to the recognition and reward. ➼ 27% of organizations say that external gift-giving resulted in their clients referring their business to new customers.

What are the 7 ethical guidelines? ›

WHAT ARE THE 7 MAIN ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN NURSING AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT? There are seven primary ethical principles of nursing: accountability, justice, nonmaleficence, autonomy, beneficence, fidelity, and veracity.

What are the 8 ethical guidelines? ›

This analysis focuses on whether and how the statements in these eight codes specify core moral norms (Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, and Justice), core behavioral norms (Veracity, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Fidelity), and other norms that are empirically derived from the code statements.

What are the ethical issues raised regarding the donor or recipient? ›

1) Autonomy, 2)Benevolence, 3) Non-maleficence, 4)Free and informed consent, 5) Respecting the dignity, integrity and equality of human beings, fairness, and the common good.

What are the 10 basic ethical communication? ›

Ten Basics of Ethical Communication

Listen when others speak. Speak non-judgmentally. Speak from your own experience and perspective, expressing your own thoughts, needs, and feelings. Seek to understand others (rather than to be “right” or “more ethical than thou”).

Why do gifts create conflicts of interest? ›

Why do gifts create conflicts of interest? (or would it be a conflict of interest to accept this gift) Giving gifts create conflict(s) of interest because it, either explicitly or implicitly, encourages the recipient of the gift to 'return the favor.

Should employees accept gifts from clients? ›

Gifts are allowed but “significantly expensive ones” must be reported to HR. Guidelines say no gifts can be solicited, and only gifts of minimal value, such as inexpensive cups or pens, can be accepted. Gifts such as fruit baskets are to be shared with a work group or donated.

What are 3 ways to be ethical? ›

Core Principles of Ethical Behavior

Think before you act. Weigh the good and bad outcomes and select the act that brings the most happiness and meaning to ourselves and others. Follow the Golden Rule. Think about how you would want those potentially affected by your actions to act if the 'shoe was on the other foot.

What are 3 ethical values? ›

Recommended Core Ethical Values
  • Integrity, including. Exercising good judgment in professional practice; and. ...
  • Honesty, including. Truthfulness; ...
  • Fidelity, including. Faithfulness to clients; ...
  • Charity, including. Kindness; ...
  • Responsibility, including. Reliability/dependability; ...
  • Self-Discipline, including.

What are 3 ethical guidelines? ›

Three basic ethical principles are outlined in The Belmont Report to serve as a guide for research involving human subjects. These are respect for persons, beneficence and justice.

Can a company give a gift to a non employee? ›

If a gift provided to a non-employee is deemed taxable as per the above guidelines, then the value of the gift provided must be reported to the individual as taxable income.

What is considered a corporate gift? ›

A corporate gift is any gift given by a corporate body to its staff or clients. Corporate gifts can be in-house gifts or out-of-house gifts, but they always observe professional etiquette which differs based on the relationship between the giver and the recipient.

Why can't customers accept gifts? ›

The new code states: 1.12 Giving and Receiving Gifts – Because the exchange of gifts can invite conflicts of interest and multiple relationships, behavior analysts do not give gifts to or accept gifts from clients, stakeholders, supervisees, or trainees with a monetary value of more than $10 U.S. dollars (or the ...

Do you think gift giving is unethical in business? ›

The acceptance of gifts, services and hospitality can leave an organisation vulnerable to accusations of unfairness, partiality or deceit, or even unlawful conduct. Commercial relationships may be subject to bias and an organisation's reputation for 'doing business ethically' will be put at risk.

Are corporate gifts legal? ›

Confirm you have a legitimate business purpose

You should only give corporate gifts if there is a legitimate business purpose. Examples of gift-giving that would be considered legitimate include those associated with building goodwill or enhancing relationships with customers or suppliers.

Is accepting gifts from clients are truly unethical? ›

Clearly, it is unethical and in some instances illegal to accept gifts or invitations to any event where the intent is to buy favour.

Is it an ethical matter to accept gifts from patients? ›

The doctor who accepts a gift from a patient is being beneficent towards that patient, i.e., acting in that patient's best interests. Accepting the gift implies recognition of the giver; declining the gift may imply rejection of the giver.

Why is gift-giving so important to humans? ›

Gift-giving as a human behavior actually serves a specific evolutionary purpose: helping people form connections and build communities. This explains how prevalent it is across cultures, getting people closer together and strengthening personal and professional relationships.

Why is gift etiquette important? ›

It is a good way of strengthening relationships. If you are in a friendship or a relationship, you should always show the other person how much you care for him or her. You don't need to wait for as special occasion to give a gift, give one to show how much you love someone anytime.

Why gift-giving is better than receiving? ›

Giving cultivates self-worth.

Giving makes you happy. Seeing the smiles, gratitude and expressions of hope on the faces of those you are kind to makes the act of giving worthwhile. Even research suggests that giving leads to greater happiness for the giver.

What is the true essence of gift-giving? ›

As you might have noted throughout the article, gift-giving is an important part of human interactions. It's a way to express your feelings when words aren't enough. Additionally, you can also choose to give someone a present for no other reason than to make that person happy – the true essence of gift-giving.

Does Gift of the Givers have a positive impact? ›

Gift of the Givers strives to uplift the most vulnerable and marginalised communities through various humanitarian initiatives. Your contribution goes a long way in helping us to benefit mankind and give back for the greater good.

Why is it important to give gifts to employees? ›

Many managers and companies use gift-giving to help show their appreciation for their team members and employees. This can help employees understand their importance to the company and improve their performance.

What are some cultural differences in gift-giving practices? ›

In India and the Middle East, the left hand is considered unclean so use your right hand to give and receive gifts (unless they're so heavy two hands are required). In East Asia (China, Thailand, Vietnam), always offer or accept a gift with both hands, palms up.

What are the three requirements for an effective gift? ›

To make an effective gift inter vivos or causa mortis, the law imposes three requirements: (1) the donor must deliver a deed or object to the donee; (2) the donor must actually intend to make a gift, and (3) the donee must accept (see Figure 36.1 "Gift Requirements").

Why is gift giving inefficient? ›

Buying gifts typically destroys value and can only, in the unlikely best special case, be as good as giving cash.” Waldfogel's conclusion: “We value items we receive as gifts 20 percent less, per dollar spent, than items we buy for ourselves.”

How is gift giving different from bribery? ›

When someone gives someone else a gift, it's given freely and with no expectations for getting something in return. If a gift is given with the intent of getting something in return, it's no longer a gift but a trade at best and a bribe at worst. Bribes, unlike gifts, come with strings attached.

Why Giving is not always good? ›

Giving too much depletes the giver both emotionally and physically. Greater Good explains that sacrificing one's own needs and wants day after day causes a “loss of personal resources” in the giver. These lost “personal resources” can be physical, such as when the giver is robbed of energy, sleep, or acts of self-care.

Why is it important to give than to receive? ›

You have probably heard the familiar adage, “It is better to give than to receive.” It would be difficult to find someone who would say otherwise. The act of giving elicits positive feelings and emotions for both the giver and the receiver, making it one of the most important exchanges you can have with someone.

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