Gifts To Employees: The Don'ts and Do's

     Throughout the year, residents, family members and friends of the Home demonstrate their appreciation for the services and care provided by donating to the Annual Fund Campaign, the Resident Benevolent Fund or to specific projects for the betterment of the Home. Resident rates and fees would be higher or some services would not be possible if not for our generous donors.

     From time to time residents and family members wish to give a gift of cash or some other form of gratuity directly to an employee as a way to tell the employee thank you for their special efforts. As administrators we are very pleased to know that employees are providing loving care and we appreciate this expression of kindness.

     However, the State of Oklahoma recently passed the "Solicitation by a Caregiver" law which prohibits caregivers from both soliciting or accepting anything of value. The law defines "anything of value" as cash or any item with a value greater than $1.00. Employees charged and convicted of violating this law are guilty of a misdemeanor. Saint Simeon's instituted a policy regarding employee acceptance of a gift or gratuity in 1992. This new law just adds more weight to the existing policy.

     The intent of the Saint Simeon's policy and now the state law are to help protect residents. It is our intent that employees from every department work together to ensure residents live with the highest attainable level of independence, dignity and individuality. The policy and law is intended to offer comfort to residents and families in knowing that we will provide loving care because, and only because, the resident is a member of the Saint Simeon's family.

     How then can residents and family members express appreciation other than saying or writing thank you? Donations to the Employee Christmas Fund are still a great option. A few days before Christmas all the gifts to the Employee Christmas Fund received during the previous 12 months are divided and shared equally among all employees of the Home. Each employee receives a wonderful bonus at the end of the year when money for the holidays can be scarce. This is just one very special way to let the employee team know that you appreciate their work. Other options include making a donation to the Annual Fund Campaign or the Resident Benevolent Fund as a "Tribute" to an employee or group of employees. The employee is provided notice that a gift has been made to the Home in their honor.

     Again, we greatly appreciate the expressions of kindness but please help us make sure we do not put any employee in jeopardy of losing his or her job or facing state criminal charges. Please call Stephen Mason, Exec. Director, Saint Simeon's Foundation, at 425-3583, ext. 237 if you have any questions.