Effective: April 1, 2018
Applicable FAM Policies: 765 – Hospitality and Gifts
Applicability: GNWT Departments and Public Agencies

INTERPRETATION

Alcoholic Beverages

An employee may accept an alcoholic beverage if paid for by others or at personal expense while attending an event on behalf of the Government or the Public Agencies.

Accepting Hospitality and Gifts

Public officers shall not accept any gift or hospitality that could be perceived as influencing or rewarding their public function other than the pay and benefits accruing to their position. They shall not, in relation to their public function, accept personal gifts from parties outside the Government or Public Agencies, except as permitted by the Human Resource Manual.

In relation to their public function, only Ministers and Deputy Ministers and their duly authorized delegates and service contractors may accept gifts on behalf of the Government or Public Agencies.

Parties outside the Government or Public Agencies might offer hospitality and gifts to public officers in order to promote their products, services and interests. Public officers should not accept hospitality in relation to their public duty unless it is provided equally to all interested parties (e.g., all participants in a conference).

Accepting Gifts

Public officers offered or accepting token gifts (as defined within the Human Resource Manual) from parties outside the Government or Public Agencies for special appreciation or recognition in relation to their public duties should inform their supervisors of their acceptance or intention to accept.  They should not allow a gift to influence or reward the performance of their duty to purchase economically on behalf of the Government or Public Agencies. Officers responsible to recommend or award contracts should be especially careful of public perception.

Accepting Personal Benefits Offered as Purchase Incentives

Public officers should not accept personal benefits offered as purchase incentives.

Meals and Refreshments Provided to Staff within Regular Employment

This Guideline does not apply to duty travel meals or to the strict definition of hospitality as set out in this policy.

Meals should only be provided to staff within regular employment when it is practical and economical to require staff to work through meal times (e.g., at "working lunches"). Refreshments (non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, etc.) should only be provided to staff within regular employment when the work is performed outside the normal work location of the majority of participants (e.g. at staff conferences).