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Davran t1_isxxdp0 wrote

Reply to comment by KilroyLeges in Sheriffs Offered Caribbean Cruises and Florida Retreats as Part of Jail Telecom Contracts by 1angrylittlevoice

State government employee here. I am legally prohibited from accepting anything from anyone above a "nominal value" (usually about $5). There are exceptions, like for example if there's a coffee machine in the lobby that anyone can access it's fair game, or if they're handing out pens or something at a conference to anyone who asks.

If I'm asked to speak and offered a honorarium (which is standard for speakers in a lot of situations) it must be reviewed by our ethics attorney for any potential conflicts before I can accept.

If someone mails me a fruit basket or something for Christmas or whatever (it's never happened) I'm supposed to return it, or if they won't take it back it becomes community property in the break room.

They take this stuff very seriously, and we do too. Most of us won't even accept the free cup of coffee even though we legally could.

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Captain_Mazhar t1_isy0wba wrote

Yep, same here in Texas. There is an absolutely stupid legal loophole regarding personalized items, which the Texas penal code assigns a value of zero because somehow they have no resale value, thus no market rate, so our ethics board had to put an internal rule in place regarding that.

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TheGunshipLollipop t1_itlpfyv wrote

"Say, would you like this free football? It's signed by some guy named Aaron Rodgers, so it has zero resale value but I thought you might need an extra football even if it has been tragically defaced."

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KilroyLeges t1_isxxqit wrote

That’s my understanding of these rules. I had a client who I built a close relationship with as we put the contract together. The lawyers on both sides slowed it so it took like a year to sign the contracts which delayed their project. The couple of main staff I worked with there and their lead procurement person and I decided to grab some drinks and dinner to celebrate and because it was right at the holidays. They wouldn’t let me pay any of their tab because of the rules, not even a shared appetizer.

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Davran t1_it2bewt wrote

Haha yeah, there's no way I'd let any of the outside folks I work with pay for dinner. I've had a few folks offer me lunch because their company allows them to spring for sandwiches or whatever for visitors if the meeting is close to lunch. Those guys always seem so dejected because me declining usually means they don't get to order for the rest of the office.

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