Throughout the year, UAB employees should be mindful that Alabama law restricts items they may receive from vendors. As public employees with expectations of appropriate stewardship, UAB employees may not use their position to reap private gains or receive special benefits as a result of purchasing decisions. This includes personal use of promotional rebates on supplies purchased for UAB.
However, items of minimal value — such as greeting cards, plaques or other items intended solely for presentation, promotional items commonly distributed to the general public and items that have no resale value or value to others — are permissible under state law. The statute defines minimal as a value of $25 or less per occasion with an aggregate of $50 or less in a calendar year from a single provider. Other amounts may be prescribed by the Ethics Commission. These statutory amounts will be adjusted every four years to allow for cost-of-living increases.
Before you accept a personal gift from a business partner, determine whether it is allowed by state ethics law and follow the school or unit policy on receipt of gifts.
If it is not permissible, you should decline it and return it to the donor, pay the donor market value for it or give it to an appropriate charity through the UAB Development Office.
Learn more at uab.edu/compliance.
