Deni Elliott , Ethics Officer
	Jeff Cable , Ethics Educator

Etiquette and Ethics of Holiday Gifts

‘'Tis the season for showing appreciation, saying ‘thank you’ for a job well done, and celebrating the successes of the year. It’s also the time for misunderstandings, and varying degrees of discomfort with the different cultural, religious, and family traditions that friends and co-workers bring to holiday gift giving.

Some people don’t give or accept gifts. They may refrain for religious reasons or simply because they prefer to express their appreciation in various ways throughout the year. Respecting their choices is, in itself, a gift.

In-house, co-workers may exchange gifts. Some of that gift-giving is formal and inclusive, like holiday lunches or parties, with costs handled by supervisors. Some of the gift-giving is informal and acknowledges special friendships within the workplace. What’s important is that those exchanging gifts understand what the exchange means to each of the parties. Exchanging gifts is a nice way of expressing mutual camaraderie; it is not a good way to tell someone that you would like to be friends.

Gifts of money can be problematic. In some cultures, money is an appropriate gift; in others, it can be seen as an attempt to “buy” influence. With a workforce as diverse as Metropolitan’s, it is better to stick to token items.

Gifts from vendors and contractors can be problematic. While lavish gift giving may be common in the corporate world, California’s Political Reform Act and Fair Political Practices Commission, along with Metropolitan’s own rules, govern what employees may accept. Gift baskets, floral arrangements, and candies that can be shared throughout the section are allowed. Employees who are required to file Form 700s should check with the Legal or Ethics Department before accepting gifts of value from those who do business with Metropolitan.

A gift is an expression from the giver, freely given with no expectation of the receiver. Perhaps the best gift is time filled with expressions of caring, compassion, and kindness – the values that are reflected in all religious and ethnic traditions this time of year.

Questions about the standards relevant to your position? Ask the Ethics Office.