Promotional Items, Promotional Products, Corporate Gifts & Corporate Promotional Items

The Ethics of Giving

Before giving any gift, you should know if either the giving or receiving company has policies regarding gifts. The most extreme are the no-gift policies that became popular in the late 1980s, partly as a result of scandals involving gifts and partly as a reaction to the perceived excesses of that decade.

More common are restrictions placed on the value of a gift or on situations in which gifts may be given. Ask the potential recipient if his or her company publishes an ethics handbook or has any policy on receiving gifts. If so, then follow it to the letter.

A few words of advice:

• Giving gifts during a bidding process is a definite no-no, even if a holiday happens to fall during this time.
• Lavish gifts, such as cars and luxury vacations, are suspect and should be used only after careful consideration.
• Even when there isn't a stated restriction, be careful not to create the wrong impression with a gift. Anything that might embarrass your recipient or lead to a reprimand can sabotage a valuable relationship.

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