Low score embargoes, review guides and $800 swag bags, oh my!

[kn]

As far as sending the stuff to the corporate address... That is the way it has to be or it IS a bribe. MOST companies have a policy where employees can't accept gifts over a certain amount -- $25 bucks or so. I've personally seen countless "promotion" campaigns where "stuff" was sent out that was of greater value than what is generally accepted in corporate america. By sending it to the corporate address, the "stuff", regardless of who it is addressed to, technically belongs to the company as the stuff is sent as a part of the normal course of the employees business role at the company. Ironically, as long as the "stuff" is sent to the corporate address and a specific set of instructions isn't there with the "take this stuff and you owe me a 10", there is nothing illegal about it. Usually, the onus is on the employee to tell their boss about the gift and let the company decide what to do with it. Sometimes they will give it to charity. Sometimes they will do something creative like give it out as an award for some kind of contest. Sometimes they will just let the employee keep it... It just comes down to corporate culture and their norms... I've worked in a handful of very large companies and stuff like this happens ALL THE TIME. Gift cards, nice pens, liquor, trips, you name it... It happens.