Federal leaders - paying for staff perks out of pocket?

[Anonymous]

Gs-14, gs-15, and SES (or equivalents): in what circumstances do you pay for things out of pocket for your staff?

I am a newer GS-15 and am just curious how others handle this as I have often found myself questioning what is appropriate. In my federal experience, I’ve had leaders who give a small token gift around end of year holidays (think mug etc) and would take their direct reports out to lunch at end of year. This would include feds and contractors.

As a supervisor, I have always had a combination of local and non local staff. So instead of a lunch, I typically have given a small gift card or similar at end of year ($10-20). I’ve also often done a small gift card at Public Service Recognition Week to cover a cup of coffee, which is something I picked up from my leadership. I coordinate baby and wedding showers, and give gifts for that as well as for first time home purchases. I do these things for both feds and contractors. I also occasionally buy lunch - maybe 1-2x year, typically in a situation where lunch may be $10-15 per person. I budget a few hundred dollars for this sort of thing from my personal funds throughout the year.

[Anonymous]

I take my staff out to happy hour

[Anonymous]

My first year as a manager. I gave my staff little succulent plants for holiday gifts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gs-14, gs-15, and SES (or equivalents): in what circumstances do you pay for things out of pocket for your staff?

I am a newer GS-15 and am just curious how others handle this as I have often found myself questioning what is appropriate. In my federal experience, I’ve had leaders who give a small token gift around end of year holidays (think mug etc) and would take their direct reports out to lunch at end of year. This would include feds and contractors.

As a supervisor, I have always had a combination of local and non local staff. So instead of a lunch, I typically have given a small gift card or similar at end of year ($10-20). I’ve also often done a small gift card at Public Service Recognition Week to cover a cup of coffee, which is something I picked up from my leadership. I coordinate baby and wedding showers, and give gifts for that as well as for first time home purchases. I do these things for both feds and contractors. I also occasionally buy lunch - maybe 1-2x year, typically in a situation where lunch may be $10-15 per person. I budget a few hundred dollars for this sort of thing from my personal funds throughout the year.

Too high risk from ethics perspective. Is your ethics lawyer ok with all of these?

[Anonymous]

I take admins out to lunch on Admin Professionals Day. I also pay for retirement plaques myself. If we have a baby shower I pay for the cake. I don't do holiday gifts.

Senior leaders (SES) will occasionally spring for pizza for the division, or take a small group to lunch.

When we have a division event like a picnic or party, the cost to attend is higher for more senior people (sliding scale).

[Anonymous]

It’s as if the SES get paid more substantially more than the GS14s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gs-14, gs-15, and SES (or equivalents): in what circumstances do you pay for things out of pocket for your staff?

I am a newer GS-15 and am just curious how others handle this as I have often found myself questioning what is appropriate. In my federal experience, I’ve had leaders who give a small token gift around end of year holidays (think mug etc) and would take their direct reports out to lunch at end of year. This would include feds and contractors.

As a supervisor, I have always had a combination of local and non local staff. So instead of a lunch, I typically have given a small gift card or similar at end of year ($10-20). I’ve also often done a small gift card at Public Service Recognition Week to cover a cup of coffee, which is something I picked up from my leadership. I coordinate baby and wedding showers, and give gifts for that as well as for first time home purchases. I do these things for both feds and contractors. I also occasionally buy lunch - maybe 1-2x year, typically in a situation where lunch may be $10-15 per person. I budget a few hundred dollars for this sort of thing from my personal funds throughout the year.

Too high risk from ethics perspective. Is your ethics lawyer ok with all of these?

nothing in ethics rules prohibits this and it is common practice

[Anonymous]

FinReg here: managers and officers will pay the tab at an annual happy hour and annual luncheon.

No gifts at holiday time (too many people don’t celebrate Christmas).

That seems reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gs-14, gs-15, and SES (or equivalents): in what circumstances do you pay for things out of pocket for your staff?

I am a newer GS-15 and am just curious how others handle this as I have often found myself questioning what is appropriate. In my federal experience, I’ve had leaders who give a small token gift around end of year holidays (think mug etc) and would take their direct reports out to lunch at end of year. This would include feds and contractors.

As a supervisor, I have always had a combination of local and non local staff. So instead of a lunch, I typically have given a small gift card or similar at end of year ($10-20). I’ve also often done a small gift card at Public Service Recognition Week to cover a cup of coffee, which is something I picked up from my leadership. I coordinate baby and wedding showers, and give gifts for that as well as for first time home purchases. I do these things for both feds and contractors. I also occasionally buy lunch - maybe 1-2x year, typically in a situation where lunch may be $10-15 per person. I budget a few hundred dollars for this sort of thing from my personal funds throughout the year.

Too high risk from ethics perspective. Is your ethics lawyer ok with all of these?

nothing in ethics rules prohibits this and it is common practice

says you or your ethics officer? def not common in my agency.

[Anonymous]

You are doing nice things.

I have found Federal Managers to be very cheap with these things. I have had one boss who took us out to lunch and that was the nicest and most generous thing any manager I’ve ever had had done. I greatly appreciated it. I’ve had other managers kick in for like hamburgers at a picnic event and the rest was potluck.

I have been on several party planning committees and had to collect the money also from SES….who might kick in $50-$100 each per year even at a higher paying agency. Then the people who plan things spend some good personal time making something out of nothing so it looks like they spent more.

As a 14, I would spend more on just bringing in treats for training sessions my team held. Maybe $25-$40 each session for 5-6 sessions per year.

[Anonymous]

I've never had a manager give me a personal gift. The managers in my division occasionally bring in bagels or donuts to an all hands meeting that I assume they purchased out of pocket. I know from planning our holiday party that they usually kick in more than the requested amount to help cover any overages. But that's it. I have never had a manager buy my lunch or drinks at happy hour and I've never been given a small (or large) gift card. Honestly, I would find it awkward but maybe I've just been conditioned to never expect anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a manager give me a personal gift. The managers in my division occasionally bring in bagels or donuts to an all hands meeting that I assume they purchased out of pocket. I know from planning our holiday party that they usually kick in more than the requested amount to help cover any overages. But that's it. I have never had a manager buy my lunch or drinks at happy hour and I've never been given a small (or large) gift card. Honestly, I would find it awkward but maybe I've just been conditioned to never expect anything.

I agree. One time our manager (a SES) ordered subs for lunch for everyone. We are all 15s/14s and I didn't feel comfortable.

[Anonymous]

It's a difficult issue. I'm a GS 14 and most of my direct reports make really similar money to me (they're high 13s), except I'm expected to buy them all lunches, give gifts at the holidays, bring in bagels often. I was glad when covid cut most of that out. I have 3 in daycare, so even $50 is a lot to me. At our annual BBQ, managers are expected to throw $100 in to purchase the room rental and food, plus make a dish.

Low level employees (GS7) get pretty angry when meetings roll into lunch and they can't really afford to order lunches in like everyone else.

Something that really annoys me are public meetings. We're expected to provide some sort of tray of food plus drinks. Where does that money come from? Yep, managers.

Gov is just kind of cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a difficult issue. I'm a GS 14 and most of my direct reports make really similar money to me (they're high 13s), except I'm expected to buy them all lunches, give gifts at the holidays, bring in bagels often. I was glad when covid cut most of that out. I have 3 in daycare, so even $50 is a lot to me. At our annual BBQ, managers are expected to throw $100 in to purchase the room rental and food, plus make a dish.

Low level employees (GS7) get pretty angry when meetings roll into lunch and they can't really afford to order lunches in like everyone else.

Something that really annoys me are public meetings. We're expected to provide some sort of tray of food plus drinks. Where does that money come from? Yep, managers.

Gov is just kind of cheap.

Who is "expecting" this? I don't think you should feel you need to do most of this. Adults don't need snacks at meetings, or gifts at work. Your meetings either need to end on time so people can eat, or state clearly it's a BYO situation. As the manager, you can set the tone.

I agree managers should kick in more (but not completely cover) for the annual picnic.

[Anonymous]

Managers (14 and up) contribute a few times a year for bagels or ??. Kind of ended with Covid though. When I teach a class I supply candy and treat out of pocket.