Gifts offered to academic support staff
The School has a policy and procedure that applies to members of academic-support staff who are offered gifts and invitations by manufacturers and School suppliers. These are set out below.
Policy and procedure
In the matter of gifts made by manufacturers and suppliers to members of the School's academic-support staff.
General statement
From time to time manufacturers and suppliers may offer gifts of equipment and/or consumables to members of the academic-support staff. It is considered that, in the best interests of those staff, the School should clarify its policy and procedure with regard to such gifts.
Policy
The School takes the view that any gift from a manufacturer or supplier to a member of academic-support staff is made because of that member's position at the School. The gift is therefore deemed to be School property. This understanding applies whether the gift be as much as a piece of equipment or as little as a bottle of whisky. Large gifts should be discouraged.
Procedure
1 |
Where the gift is a piece of equipment, the offer should be reported by the intended recipient to his/her senior officer and accepted only on behalf of the School. If the senior officer has any doubts about the implications of acceptance, the matter should be referred to the Secretary. |
1.1 |
If the member of staff wishes to acquire the piece of equipment on leaving the School, he or she may do so on the same conditions that any member of staff may acquire School property, ie that the item is surplus to requirements and that a charge is made for it. Alternatively, if the member wishes from the outset to retain the gift for his or her own personal use or consumption he or she may buy it from the School at the appropriate cost with the sum thus raised being paid into the School Benevolent Fund. |
1.2 |
Where the gift is a generous supply of consumables (eg multiple bottles of wine), the offer should be reported by the intended recipient to his/her senior officer and accepted only on behalf of the School. If the senior officer has any doubts about the implications of acceptance, the matter should be referred to the Secretary. |
1.2 |
The gift will be shared appropriately within the general School community; a crate of wine, for example, will be used at a School party. |
1.4 |
Where the gift consists of a single consumable item, the member of staff may accept it on his or her own behalf but it should be reported to the recipient's senior officer. The recipient may retain the gift for his or her own consumption or share it with office colleagues, as he or she considers appropriate. |
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