Companies love to spell out what workers can & can’t take. And that includes gifts. Sometimes it’s obvious, like no stacks of cash, but other times the rules are a little strange. Here are fourteen gift items that companies refuse to allow employees to accept. Have you ever received any of these?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Walmart bars free supplier tickets
Walmart doesn’t allow employees to pocket sports or concert tickets from vendors. Sure, they could swear that they’re going to “just pay face value.” But the fine print says no. This is mostly because resale prices often push the value higher. As a result, employees will have to pass on getting a couple of free NFL seats from a supplier. What a shame.
FedEx blocks Visa gift cards
FedEx has a simple rule of no cash & nothing that acts like it. Such a ban also includes prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift cards, no matter how small the balance on these cards. A customer mailing over a $25 “thank you” card isn’t doing anyone a favor. The employee receiving it has to decline or return it, unless they want to lose their job.
Microsoft bans cash equivalents
Microsoft treats all store gift cards in the same way as cash, meaning that employees aren’t allowed to hold onto them. The company claims that these cards are too close to real money. As a result, Microsoft workers aren’t allowed to accept Amazon cards from grateful customers. It doesn’t matter how thankful they may truly be.
Google forbids prepaid gift cards
Like Microsoft, Google staff also have to keep it clean over their perks. The guidelines specifically state that all prepaid cards are off-limits. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Starbucks card or a prepaid Visa. It also doesn’t matter if the gift cards come from a long-time ad partner, as the answer’s the same. No can do.
FedEx rejects vendor-paid weekend lodging
FedEx workers aren’t allowed to enjoy any free weekends at a mountain resort. At least, if they’re coming from a supplier. The employee rules state that they may only accept travel & lodging as long as they’re directly related to a work event. This includes formal conferences. Essentially, pure leisure trips on someone else’s dime aren’t allowed.
Target blocks vendor-funded travel during deals
Target has a similar approach. They tell vendors that they can’t pay for employee travel when there are any business decisions on the line. These restrictions include flight & hotels, as well as expenses tied to ongoing deals or evaluations. Employees can’t accept an airfare upgrade slipped in by a supplier during an RFP (Request for Proposal).
Bank of America limits supplier gifts to $100 per year
The rules for Bank of America staff depend more on the amount & the calendar than anything. They’re only allowed to receive supplier gifts up to $100 in a single year. As a result, employees may not keep a vendor’s holiday basket priced at $150. It doesn’t matter if it’s the only gift they get that year.
IBM bars partner-paid trips that could sway decisions
IBM’s code of conduct states employees can’t take trips or outings from partners if they could influence a business call in any way at all. That might not sound so bad. But these limitations include golf weekends & resort getaways. They’re not allowed to accept these when contracts are in play. The rule is that if it looks like it might sway a decision, IBM folks have to say no.
Wells Fargo bars cannabis-related gifts and cash equivalents
Wells Fargo has the usual “no cash, no cards” rule over gifts. It also takes things one step further by banning gifts tied to cannabis. Because of this, an employee can’t accept a dispensary voucher or related merchandise. And that’s the case even if it’s legally sold where they live.
U.S. federal workers can’t accept airline upgrades
Government employees have a long list of ethics rules, and rightly so. But one that surprises most people is the airline upgrade ban. Any time that a contractor or lobbyist tries to bump them into business class, federal workers legally can’t take it. The only option is to decline or cover the cost themselves.
Disney staff can’t accept free hotel stays
Disney’s policy makes it quite clear that hotel rooms from external partners aren’t freebies. In fact, they’re not allowed. Vendors sometimes offer complimentary nights at resorts to keep a good relationship. Cast Members who want to stay at the resort must pay the normal rate. It may seem small, but even a heavily discounted stay violates company rules. Who knew?
Amazon employees can’t take free electronics samples
Sometimes, products arrive at Amazon labeled as “samples.” Earbuds & tablets, for example, are sometimes given for testing or shipped back. But employees can’t accept these. They’re not allowed to accept personal electronics from sellers. This is meant to stop them from personally benefiting from items that could create a conflict with vendors.
Deloitte consultants can’t keep personal tech gadgets
Deloitte follows a similar rule & draws a hard line over freebies from clients. Some companies will send over gifts like a smartwatch or a tablet when they’re being audited. But consultants can’t just pocket it, due to independence rules. These state that the item has to go back.
JPMorgan Chase blocks luxury meals
Grabbing a casual bite with a client is fine at JPMorgan Chase. As for having a luxury meal? That’s against the rules. Steakhouse dinners with multiple bottles of wine or multi-course tastings need to be cleared first. Instead, the company encourages employees to stick with more modest meals. They also need to be tied directly to work conversations.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
