Quick question: Tip / gift to staff, returned by employer

Hi all,
I'm interested in your opinions on this. In short, we received 2 thank you cards to work in person from a pleased client. One contained 20euro to be split amongst 'the girls' and the other an amount for the employer. Lovely gesture and never expected. Employer decides to return theirs as there really wasn't any need for it and the employees were directed to return theirs also. I know it was only a teeny sum of money - any opinions either way on whether this was fair?

Employer probably did not want you compromised, I could not accept gifts from happy customers ( not that I have many !!!)

Yes, some companies have policies that gifts are raffled or given to charity to avoid this.

Depending on the position it may be necessary, particularly if involved in purchasing decisions.

A number of years back the computer software company we used asked if I could assist them with a demo to a prospective client. I said I'd no problem and met with them and their client at our premises and spent a good bit of time showing the system to them which happened to coincide with my lunch hour. A few weeks later the computer compnay sent me a card and said the client had signed up and enclose £100 for me. I figured I'd better bring this to my employers attention before accepting. More fool me! My employer - who had never even met the prospective client - said the money should have come to him and he pocketed the £100! The £100 was only petty cash for him but at that time £100 was a small fortune for me. Funny thats the one thing I always remember about him.

I suppose the decision lies with the employer but if I gave a gift to someone for a job well done I would be embarassed to have it returned to me - I think it would have been more appropriate to have it given to a charity of 'the girls' choice and let the giver know that this is where it went.

They should have donated it to a charity, and then sent a nice letter to the client explaining this.

Bad decision by your employer IMO.

It depends on the area you work in. I work in financial services and we are not allowed to accept monetary gifts as it may be seen as someone bribing us to not be impartial. We got an email with the regulation about it and though it was more meant for the company not to take bribes it was vague enough that it could be applied to us.
So we can accept chocolates, wine, cards etc but no money, not even a fiver.

Are you sure he returned it -- maybe he pocketed the € 20 as well