Gifts to permitting staff

[Eric]

Have any permitting staff out there ever received gifts, e.g., from appreciative permittees? How does your office handle this situation?

Me and a coworker recently each received anonymous $50 Visa gift cards with unsigned thank you/greeting cards. Our Office of Counsel thinks we might be able to accept them as an organization and use the money for our annual Engineer Day (i.e., company picnic) but has been slow to research the issue and advise us. We know we can't personally keep the money but would prefer the funds be put to some general beneficial use rather than destroyed.

What happens with gifts in your office? Would the fact that a gift is anonymous affect how your office deals with it?

 

[Jeff]

Any food items must be shared with all staff. Alcohol gifts are not allowed at all. If a gift card was given anonymously, we would most likely raffle it off to the everyone at City Hall. I do like the idea of using it for a staff function. Heck a couple boxes of donuts nowadays would equal $50 if not more If we knew who sent the gift card we would return it with a thank you note.

 

[Eric]

Any food items must be shared with all staff. Alcohol gifts are not allowed at all. If a gift card was given anonymously, we would most likely raffle it off to the everyone at City Hall. I do like the idea of using it for a staff function. Heck a couple boxes of donuts nowadays would equal $50 if not more If we knew who sent the gift card we would return it with a thank you note.

Thanks for sharing. We always share food items too. I like the idea of raffling off the anonymous gift card. I think making the recipient completely random should be enough to eliminate potential appearances of influence peddling. Might take the staff who originally received the money out of the raffle pool, though, just to be safe.

Got word this morning that the gift cards are going to be donated to our MWR committee (i.e., "morale, welfare, and recreation" committee). MWR is officially designated to manage non-appropriated funds for social functions, so transferring the money to them seems reasonable.

 

[Emily C]

All food is shared. One of my clients gave me a plant when her permit was under plan review because she was super appreciative of all the help I gave her.. it stays at the office though for everyone to enjoy.

 

[Inspector Parker]

Our department allows for $500 a year to be accepted by any inspector. It must be reported to your supervisor, but they will let you keep it. Any food items we just share amongst everyone so it doesn't count towards that $500.