A present from a customer..

platypus · 7 Sep 2011 at 08:53

Not a customer to me as such but a contract for my company. I fixed a bug, they sent me this (unprompted):

Would you have accepted? Should I have told my boss? I'm sure there are no conflicts of interest as far as I'm concerned but I know companies get funny about this kind of thing.

Other than that though, its nice for a customer to actually do this, I don't think any have ever bothered to say thanks before

.

Oh, and its nice to know that even F&M do it:

.

psd99 · 7 Sep 2011 at 08:54

what is it?

yer companies get get a bit weird when it comes to gifts etc

GravyMonster · 7 Sep 2011 at 08:54

What is the present? Unless the straw/paper filling is the present, and you're some variety of intelligent hamster.

I'd also tell your company, they can get very funny over personal gifts to staff.

Edrof · 7 Sep 2011 at 08:55

Did it arrive in a huge brown envelope?

vanandjuanunited · 7 Sep 2011 at 08:55

Do you have a gifts and hospitality policy?

Once given two bottles of whiskey and a tin of sweets....for prosecuting the donating company :-)

Hagar · 7 Sep 2011 at 08:59

You should clarify with your manager, at one time in construction, gifts were common, now almost unheard of except for the odd bottle at christmas.

Just to make sure that there are no conflicts and that the donor cannot hold it over you at some stage.

Cosimo · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:02

psd99 said:
what is it?

yer companies get get a bit weird when it comes to gifts etc

A Fortnum & Mason hamper.

psd99 · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:03

simulatorman said:
A Fortnum & Mason hamper.

might as well send it back then!

still never look a gifthorse in the mouth

Cosimo · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:07

I'd have had word with my boss just make sure there weren't any problems with accepting the gift. You never know what kind of conflict of interest might could be.

platypus · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:08

vanandjuanunited said:
Do you have a gifts and hospitality policy?

Nope. I'll still tell 'em.

Cosimo · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:13

platypus said:
Nope. I'll still tell 'em.

What was in the hamper?

platypus · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:16

Few bottles of wine, some cheeses, some meats, some sweets. A bottle of whisky..

stoofa · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:27

There are new anti-bribery laws in the UK - have been for about a month or so.
We have a register here at work and we have to detail any gifts we are sent etc.

The US has had such laws for a long time, we're just catching up.
Individual policy will depend on the company in question.
I know one London company (however with a US parent) that won't accept things like free calendars etc.

Check with your management. They can't take it off you, but it's their call if you need to register it, keep it or return it.

wordy · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:37

Never heard of Fortnum & Mason, the dumb northern heathen that I am

I'd let my manager know, better to check to be honest.

Pawnless Endgame · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:39

For the last 3 people I've worked for: if you receive a gift, it has to be auctioned.

bhavv · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:39

I have no idea what that is.

Cosimo · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:41

bhavv said:
I have no idea what that is.

http://www.fortnumandmason.com/hampers,233.aspx

Now you know.

Edrof · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:42

My wife'd love that basket it comes in!

TheDean · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:44

Monserrat said:
For the last 3 people I've worked for: if you receive a gift, it has to be auctioned.

How on earch would you auction that? And what would you do with the proceeds?

Edrof · 7 Sep 2011 at 09:45

Auction it off to employees & charitable donation?