Corporate Gifts Rules In Accepting

By Patricia Campbell


Gift giving is very normal in the Singapore trade industry. Shops give their customers small items, employers give their staff incentives, and firms give their business partners gift packages. The act of gift giving strengthens trade relationships and aims to gain allegiance from recipients. But not everything about it is positive. There are times when it can also turn into a problem when others misinterpret the act or they have a hidden agenda.

Mass-produced corporate gift items, like ballpoint pens, notepads, paperweights, and fridge magnets, are commonly given by companies to their staff and to their customers. But for their stockholders and client partners, businesses usually offer more expensive items, such as gadgets, gift baskets, wine baskets, and collector's item pens.

Expensive gift giving Singapore products have repercussions, though. They might be deemed a bribe, and therefore inappropriate, especially if they are really expensive. Even though the act is in good faith, others might think that it's a bribe in certain situations, such as when the giver and the recipient's respective firms are in the brink of signing a new deal together. They would think that the agreement happened because of the gift although it's not.

To avoid talk about corruption, some firms ban their employees to accept any gift from clients or other companies. They ban their staff to accept even a seemingly petty and inexpensive gift, such as a coffee or lunch treat, because it may still be read as accepting a business favour, whether it is true or not.

Some Singapore firms, meanwhile, are more relaxed in their rules about accepting gifts. They allow their staff to accept Singapore corporate gifts if the presents don't exceed a certain value. As for extravagant presents, some organisations allow their employees to accept them provided the recipients would put it on record.

There is nothing wrong with giving Singapore corporate gifts when done in good faith. Actually, gift giving reinforces the relationship between firms. But there are also times that it can attract negative attention. It's recommended to research about the other firm's gift receiving rules before purchasing a gift for one of their employees.




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