The Daily Bulletin

As the holidays approach, keep in mind that as a state employee, you must comply with the gift rules enforced by the Public Officers Law (POL). Please review the Holiday Gift Exchange Rules on our Ethics website.

In a nutshell, when state employees exchange gifts, the key factor in determining if a gift is allowed is whether it could appear as an attempt to influence the recipient of the gift in the performance of their state job or is intended as a reward for the employee’s official action. Gift giving among employees during the holidays is generally permissible as long as participation is optional (with that option communicated clearly) and there is no intent to influence decision-making. Supervisors should be especially careful not to create an expectation that gifts are expected or required. When in doubt, please contact your agency Ethics Officer, Jamie Warnes or Erika Grande at Human Resource Management or a COELIG Attorney of the Day for guidance.