Conduct, Rules, Ethics & Professional Practice L2 Gifts & Hospitality Flashcards
Explain how your actions in respect of the offer of gifts and hospitality align with RICS Rules of conduct
Under rule 1, members and firms must be honest and act with integrity. Under example behaviour 1.2, members and firms must not be influenced improperly by others for example giving work as a result of receiving a gift.
Outline what you consider a low value gift
A cup of coffee purchased during a business meeting, a low value bottle of wine or similar at Christmas, a low cost lunch if the length and timing of a business meeting justified it.
At what level do you decline a gift as you consider its value to great?
My employer’s policy allows gifts up to a value of £50, mainly if it falls under a tradition or convention such as Christmas when a supplier may distribute low-value bottles of wine to all existing customers.
On a personal level, I generally refuse anything more than a cup of coffee during a work meeting because I wish to avoid creating a perception with colleagues or others of accepting gifts or hospitality from preferred suppliers.
Give an example of the above.
In a previous role, I declined tickets to an England v Australia rugby match with hospitality at Twickenham.
Explain how this protects you and your organisation.
In my experience, it avoids a perception of bias due to personal gain when awarding contracts to certain suppliers who may receive regular work. It also allows me to challenge and hold to account freely contractors who have not performed or when there is an issue, I can also bring in new suppliers without feeling I owe an existing supplier loyalty despite issues around cost, quality or performance. On a personal level, I am also unconcerned if someone maliciously submits an accusation of wrongdoing or bias because I know there will be no basis for the complaint.
The organisation benefits because I act impartially and in the interest of my employer, free of any influence as a result of accepting gifts. The company can also trade on its integrity and impartiality.
