Ethics and honesty - WWYD?

[The Captain]

Ok, so it has always been my personal policy no matter where I work that when gifts are sent to me by vendors I share them with the entire floor. Always. Without fail.

Today I've already put out a very nice package from Worlds Finest Chocolate and a fruit box from Harry and David.

I just received a box from edible arrangements. Perfect, chocolate covered strawberries. They are DD's absolute favorite. I would not keep them for myself but for DD, well I'm wavering.

(BTW company has a gift giving policy, but no policy on getting gifts. I've notified my supervisor of higher prices gifts that I can't share (like a coffee gift-card) and they've confirmed gifts are mine to do with as I please.

So, WWYD?

[milee]

Can you take a few of the strawberries home to DD and leave the rest out on the floor?

[Deleted]

good policy

i would suggest you not sway from it

i do the exact same thing....

as soon as you make an exception, things slide down the slope

[andi9899]

Take it home if you want. If you share everything else, who's to call you stingy for not sharing this one time?

[Deleted]

I say bring some home for your DD...It's not as if you're taking a big ticket item home and by the sounds of it you share more times than not...

Besides, you have already been given approval to keep gifts on other occasions...

Dec 10, 2012 16:31:37 GMT -5 The Captain said:

(BTW company has a gift giving policy, but no policy on getting gifts. I've notified my supervisor of higher prices gifts that I can't share (like a coffee gift-card) and they've confirmed gifts are mine to do with as I please.

[kittypuppymom]

If I was in your office, it would not bother me that you took it home. Its a cool gift. Your sharing the rest.
Even if someone said something tell them these are your DD's favorite and she called dibs.

[wyouser]

ask yourself.....what would my representatives in Congress do in the same situation?

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 16:33:58 GMT -5 milee said:

Can you take a few of the strawberries home to DD and leave the rest out on the floor?

[The Captain]

Dec 10, 2012 18:02:52 GMT -5 @tbird said:

I don't see anything ethical or honesty related about this at all. You are free to share or take home.


I really don't get it.

Rukh - it's about keeping to the set of standards I've set for myself to live by. I personally believe my entire team contributes to the success of our group, and so the entire team should share in the little extras we get from vendors.

Just my own personal golden rule.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 18:33:34 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Dec 10, 2012 18:02:52 GMT -5 @tbird said:

I don't see anything ethical or honesty related about this at all. You are free to share or take home.


I really don't get it.

Rukh - it's about keeping to the set of standards I've set for myself to live by. I personally believe my entire team contributes to the success of our group, and so the entire team should share in the little extras we get from vendors.

Just my own personal golden rule.

then you've answered your own question - take a few of the strawberries to take home to DD and share the rest with your team.

[Deleted]

Are you a government employee or private?

When I worked for a government agency we could only accept food gifts worth $50 or less (I left in 2003, the limit may be higher now) and had to share with everyone. The concern always was about the "appearence of a conflict of interest".

When I was a real estate agent (1981-1985) I would alway pass any "bonus to the selling agent" through to the customer. I always figured someone would find out about it at some point and question whether I was serving their best interest or mine.

I like the idea of taking a few strawberries home to your daughter and leaving the rest for everyone else.

[Tiny]

Dec 10, 2012 18:33:34 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Dec 10, 2012 18:02:52 GMT -5 @tbird said:

I don't see anything ethical or honesty related about this at all. You are free to share or take home.


I really don't get it.

Rukh - it's about keeping to the set of standards I've set for myself to live by. I personally believe my entire team contributes to the success of our group, and so the entire team should share in the little extras we get from vendors.

Just my own personal golden rule.

So, if there was a celebration at work and chocolate covered strawberries were served - would you feel OK with taking some home to your DD?

If you have a 'what happens at the office stays at the office' kind of personal policy then no, even though your DD would love the strawberries they stay at the office.

It can be a slippery slope otherwise - if you need to make alot of personal copies (maybe a booklet of songs for each of the 40 members of the choir you belong to) or need a couple reams of paper for home use - what's to keep you from taking those home from the office?

I, personally, would be comfortable with taking a couple of the strawberries home for DD (this would be the 2 I would have eaten) and then sharing the rest. After all, does you DD really need more than couple of chocolate covered strawberries? They don't have a really long shelf life (if I remember correctly - I guess you can freeze them).

[The Captain]

I frequently take leftover goodies home to DD AFTER the work celebration is over.

FWIW - I set three aside (there were 20 in the box) took none for myself and set the box out. At the end of the day there was one left. That, plus the three I saved, are on their way home to DD right now. ;D

[Sum Dum Gai]

ask yourself.....what would my representatives in Congress do in the same situation?

Demand much more lavish gifts, preferably in the form of envelopes full of cash, insider stock tips, or lucrative paid positions when you leave your current one. I fail to see how that solves the strawberry conundrum.

[Regis]

I'd share with the company and then stop by the grocery store and pick up a container of strawberries and a chocolate bar.

[Tiny]

Dec 10, 2012 18:53:53 GMT -5 The Captain said:

I frequently take leftover goodies home to DD AFTER the work celebration is over.

FWIW - I set three aside (there were 20 in the box) took none for myself and set the box out. At the end of the day there was one left. That, plus the three I saved, are on their way home to DD right now. ;D

No problem,then! Sounds like a win-win for everyone.

[thyme4change]

You wouldn't feel bad about eating a couple of strawberries while everyone else was standing around eating one - so go ahead and take 2 or 3 home to your kid. It is fine. You have my permission.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Dec 10, 2012 21:21:35 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Dec 10, 2012 18:53:53 GMT -5 The Captain said:

I frequently take leftover goodies home to DD AFTER the work celebration is over.

FWIW - I set three aside (there were 20 in the box) took none for myself and set the box out. At the end of the day there was one left. That, plus the three I saved, are on their way home to DD right now. ;D

No problem,then! Sounds like a win-win for everyone.

Yep. I hope she enjoyed them.

[The Captain]

She did!