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Do you accept gifts from reps?
I manage social media for a massive account in one of the big advertising agencies in the US.
My reps at the major platforms (Meta, TikTok, Snap, Pin, Reddit) will occasionally send me gift cards via email for random things. I usually ignore them and let them expire unless it’s explicitly tied to business (Uber gift card for an in-office meeting, DoorDash for a lunch meeting, etc).
I’m going on parental leave starting in January, and my reps have been hounding me for my registry link. I’ve told them all I couldn’t provide it, but 2 platforms circumvented by emailing me Amazon gift cards. Big ones.
I know what I need to do, but good lord. Now that it’s starting me in the face it’s really hard to let them rot in my inbox. Just looking for some reassurance that doing the right thing is worth it :/
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6 Replies
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I always accept gifts from the reps and so does everyone else at my agency. It’s encouraged by my boss as a perk. I would talk to your leadership and double check but it should be allowed.
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You’re definitely doing the right thing by keeping it professional. It’s tough, but setting boundaries now will pay off in the long run, especially with such a high-profile role. Stay strong!
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Germany has strict bribery laws so any gifts above a certain value have to be declared.
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Hey OP.
I’ve been in both sides (leading one of the largest agencies and leading the sales team of massive platforms).**Agencie side:**
* You likely have internal rules on what you can / can’t accept. You’re not the first. Talk to your skip.
* Personally: I often used reps gift cards to gift the broader team. Making this up – buying lunch for the team or buying swag with gift cards.
* I often encouraged reps to do team outings versus gift. Better for relationship, better for morale, tends to be a win-win.**Platform side:**
* There are MASSIVE policies in place to what, how, to whom and how much you can send. People do get fired over this or receive disciplinary actions. But yes… Is still a significant form of incentive.
* It surprises me that 2 platforms were able to send gift cards. It tends to be a really big red flag. I can only image are “newer” platforms where this happens with a bit less control.
***TL;DR;**
If you’re working with Fortune 100 Advertiser at a HoldCo is fair to assume you’re making $150K+ / $200K+ in the US pending level. Not worth risking your job and benefits for a $4K gift card. (And this $4K is me assuming here that folks sent you something outrageous and completely off any limit that I’ve have ever worked with).
Stay strong. Your reputation and actions are worth way more than any gift card.
Congrats on the baby.
May this be a blessed time for you and loved ones! -
well yes i accept gifts from reps and i also encourage everyone to do so
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