Department of Justice staff should not expect to receive gifts, benefits or hospitality for doing a job they are paid by the public to do. In most situations, ‘thanks’ is enough.
However, certain offers received from the public are not considered a gift, benefit or hospitality.
Acceptable types of gifts, benefits or hospitality
Token memento
Items valued less than $50 used to acknowledge appreciation for a speaking engagement, such as a card, pen, plaque/certificate, a scarf or tie, or a bottle of moderately priced wine.
Public discount
If a discount is publicly advertised or available (i.e., not offered solely to you), it’s not considered a gift.
Modest refreshment
Any food or drinks which generally are not considered a sit-down meal, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, biscuits, sandwiches, cake, hors d’oeuvres, fruit, or any other snack.
Random prize
Given in a contest which is open to the public or to a broadly defined class of government employees.
There is no requirement to declare token mementos or modest refreshments unless you have received mementos or refreshments from a single supplier that are valued in total at over $100 in an annual period or more than 3 times.
For more information, see the Department’s Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy.