A. Acceptance Prohibited; Exception: Employees shall neither solicit nor accept any personal gifts as a consequence of their employment by Salt Lake City Corporation, except when reasonably necessary to, or helpful in, the performance of their duties.
B. Inappropriate Influence: No employee should solicit or accept anything that might be perceived as inappropriately influencing the way in which City business is conducted. Nor should employees tolerate gifts to their family members, friends or organizations with which they are associated, if such gifts are a consequence of the employee's employment by Salt Lake City Corporation.
C. Included Gifts; Exceptions: This chapter includes gifts given to City employees as "social hospitality", such as free meals, flowers and chocolates. This chapter is not dependent on the value of the gift; in other words, there is no blanket exception for gifts under fifty dollars ($50.00). Gifts exempted under this chapter include trophies, certificates, plaques and other commendatory or commemorative items, books and compact disks presenting performances by artists who have performed locally.
D. Gifts In Connection With Employment; Private Gifts: This chapter only applies to gifts given in connection with employment by the City; private gifts from family or friends are permitted if not given as a consequence of employment. We ought to ask ourselves, "Would I be getting this if I didn't work for Salt Lake City?". If the answer is "No", then the gift should be refused.
E. City Gifts Acceptable: City officials, as representatives of the City, may freely accept gifts for the City. Those are not "personal" gifts. For example, gifts presented as part of the "Sister Cities" Program should be graciously accepted and then become the property of the City.
F. Representation At Social Events: Employees invited to represent the City at a social, cultural, charitable, political, civic or business function should accept the hospitality of the occasion because such functions are a "reasonably necessary" or "helpful" part of doing the job for the taxpayers.
G. Food, Drinks In Certain Circumstances: City employees may accept food and drinks offered when working in emergency or charitable circumstances.
H. Group Gifts: Group gifts to classes of City employees are permitted under this chapter provided, that: 1) all the members of the class are provided with the same gift or gifts of approximately the same type and value; and 2) the gift does not give the appearance of or have the potential to influence the way in which City business is conducted. A group is understood as an employment class (e.g., police, teachers, sanitation workers) and may not single out policy making individuals within that group. Group gifts must be reported to the Mayor's Office and will be a matter of public record. (2019 Compilation)