COMPLIANCE CHATTER

Manager Series

Providing monthly compliance reminders and resources for managers and supervisors.

This is a companion series to our Compliance Chatter, providing managers and supervisors guidance and resources to support our workforce.

This month’s topic: The Gift Rules

Last week, employees received a Compliance Chatter about the Gift Rules under the University's Guide to the State Code of Ethics. As a manager or supervisor, you are in a position to support your staff in complying with this policy.

Review the Compliance Chatter from last week here!

Keep In Mind the Definition of a Gift

A gift is anything of value, that is directly and personally received by a UConn or UConn Health employee.

A gift can take the form of discounts, gratuities, tickets to an event, meals, giveaways from vendors, and even reimbursement or payment for attendance at an event.

Provide Reminders to Your Staff

Find Opportunities to Talk About the Gift Rules

Engage your staff in conversations about the Gift Rules and encourage them to ask questions to ensure they understand the policy. Department meetings are a great time to do this. The Gift Rules can sometimes be tricky – encourage staff to reach out to University Compliance for guidance on specific circumstances and scenarios.

Our Ethics Liaison

For questions on the Gift Rules, contact the Ethics Liaison for UConn and UConn Health, Kimberly Fearney.

Share Information About the Gift Rules

Sharing information with your staff about the gift rules can signal the importance of complying with them. Here are some easy ways you can share information with your team.

Print and post this Gift Rules poster in a shared office space.
Send your staff an email with the Gift Rules Compliance Chatter from last week.
Send your staff this Gift Rules Compliance Clip.

Scenarios to Consider

Gifts Between Supervisors and Supervisees

If an employee that you supervise gives you a gift, the value of the gift must not exceed $99.99, and vice versa.

What if your staff pool their money together to purchase you a gift? The gift limit remains the same regardless of whether the gift giver is one person or multiple people.

Holiday Parties Hosted by Vendors

Attendance at a vendor’s holiday party may be permissible, as long as employees are mindful that gifts of food and beverage must not exceed $50 in a calendar year, and items given as gifts from a vendor must be less than $10 in value with an annual total less than $50.

Receiving Gift Baskets

A fruit or gift basket (valued at more than $10), while not acceptable if given to one person alone, may be accepted on behalf of an entire department or office if the per-person cost is less than $10.This makes the gift fall within the gift exception for items of $10 or less per-person. The gift basket can also be donated to charity, provided no personal tax benefit is derived from the donation.

Receiving Gifts from Vendors or Patients

Medical staff may have additional regulations related to gifts offered by vendors or patients. Remind your staff about any departmental gift policies before they accept gifts from vendors or patients.

Encourage Your Staff to Attend Our Event!

If possible, provide time for your staff to register for this event and encourage their participation by sending them the registration link. You could also invite your staff to join you in a conference room and stream the event live as a team.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY • INSTITUTIONAL SUCCESS

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