Yesterday’s Ethics Question of the Day

by

Thank you for participating in the ethics questions challenge as we CELEBRATE Our ETHICAL CULTURE. Yesterday’s answer is shown below. Participate each day this week to test your ethics policy awareness.

Yesterday’s question was about allowable gifts from USG vendors.

Q:          Which of the following statements is NOT true. 

  1. Board policy generally prohibits employees from accepting “gifts” from vendors or lobbyists.
  2. Board policy excludes from the definition of a “gift” promotional items generally available to the public, such as a pen or stress ball.
  3. Employees can accept gift cards, tickets to Broadway shows, and professional sporting events if obtained from a vendor during a professional conference related to the employee’s official duties.
  4. Employees are not required to accept gifts from vendors but if they do, they should familiarize themselves with the BOR policy regarding Gratuities.
  5. All of the above are true.

Correct Answer: C. BOR 8.2.18.4 Gratuities explicitly prohibits USG employees from accepting gifts from vendors. The policy makes certain exceptions to what can be accepted to include an occasional meal or promotional items generally available to the general public.  Gift cards and tickets to Broadway shows are not exceptions.  Accepting the items at a work conference does not change the analysis.  Additionally, accepting those types of gifts are likely to constitute a conflict of interest and might be evidence of a criminal violation.  A University System of Georgia (USG) employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit, receive, accept, or agree to receive a thing of value by inducing the reasonable belief that the giving of the thing will influence his or her performance or failure to perform any official action. The acceptance of a benefit, reward, or consideration, where the purpose of the gift is to influence an employee in the performance of his or her official functions, is a felony under Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-2).  If you have any questions about the appropriateness of accepting something of value from a vendor you should feel free to ask your supervisor or the USG Office of Ethics and Compliance.