TOPIC: Accepting Thank you Gift from customers

I've seen conflicting answers when it comes to accepting gifts from grateful customers at the ends of successful projects. Should the project manager accept the gift and then immediately report it to management or risk insulting the customer by declining the gift?

Ben,

There is no "one size fits all" answer to this. Most companies will have a policy that governs such situations. So the correct answer is: Know your company policy about receiving/accepting gifts and follow it. Even if that means rejecting a gift from a customer: "Look... I really appreciate your gift and I'd love to accept it, but unfortunately, my company forbids it. I'm sorry.".

If you need a general answer: Small gifts (say up to about $100) should be OK to accept. Above that... 'just say no'.