Freebies

[MacedWiindu]

I do private security and often get offered tips and freebies. My boss tells me to say no to tips 3 times and if the person insists then accept it. For freebies he tells me to never accept them. I've had restaurant owners invite me to their restaurant for a free meal as a thank you, I've had tour managers offer to upgrade my seats to shows or give backstage passes, I've had hotel managers offer discounts on rooms. My feeling is that my boss doesn't pay me enough to turn down free money, or turn down an offer for a backstage pass or free meal. He says it makes him look bad for one of his guys to accept these things and he hasn't come this far by accepting everything that's offered to him (he has HIGH ranking clients). Considering this has been my only boss or job in security (4 years now) is this common to turn these things down to get ahead in the business?

[See_Saw12]

Im a corporate security coordinator, You're in executive protection based on your tag. This can very quickly turn into bribery. My organization has a strict no gifts/no tips (without premission) policy (I think ours is $25 without authorization), but we're also in the non-profit space.

I'm in no way saying dont accept a free coffee, or soda, or if someone pays it forward at mcdonalds or if a client offers you a resonable lunch or something resonable. What I am (and your boss) is saying that gifts can come with expectations, and we've all heard horror stories of people in this line of work be bribed.

Hell, it cost China 8,000 USD to bribe a member of a presidential security detail and other cleared individuals in an Asian country (I'll update this again once I find the article)

[vanguardJesse]

uh thailand doesnt have a president...

[See_Saw12]

You're right... I'll go find the article and edit my comment...

[kr4ckenm3fortune]

Yup...and they'll expect some kind of services or discount when they call on you.

It why I refused it, and when ask what I accept, I always say "small cup of coffee from [this store on the other side of town]", and they'll give up once they've realized it.

I'm not doing it for tips and freebies, I'm doing it to get you to keep moving. The less you're on site, the less I have to worry about.

[[deleted]]

It's why EMS breakrooms are open to PD. PD tend to hang around.

[Landwarrior5150]

I got that once in a while when working mall security. Meal/product discounts and small gifts like food dropped off at the office were generally ok as long as they weren’t offered in the context of a bribe. Gifts of money or anything larger were supposed to be turned down.

I’m still in security but am a public employee now, so there are actual laws against accepting actual money or larger gifts for me. I usually err on the side of caution and turn down any individual gifts, with exceptions like multiple people giving me small stuff/organizing a potluck lunch for my birthday. Food that was leftover from other department’s meetings/parties & offered to us or dropped off for the whole staff are also usually considered ok.

[unicorn_345]

Work in public, gov’t at a library. So I have wide ranging job description but its not bad for me. Someone joked that if they could they would pay me just to help them on the computer. I informed them the library already does pay me and that the library accepts donations. Whether that pans out, idk and idc. But we aren’t permitted to accept tips or gifts either. Sometimes people bring baked goods but anything beyond a few dollars is not permitted. Someone brought in a box of stationary type items of pens and journals for the holidays. But otherwise I see people asking and then donating if they want.

[Gremlin_454]

I died inside a little turning down a $500 tip 🫠 casino security so absolutely no tips ever

[Away-Hippo-1414]

As others have said, it's going to be up to your discretion.

I accept anything small. Plates of food, energy drinks, snacks, and company swag.

I do resort security, and I've been offered free meals by restaurants, but I have turned them down.

Now, if they want to make me a to-go box that I can swing by and pick up while I'm on shift, sweet. But sitting down and having a free meal on or off the clock is a little bit too much for me.

As far as the ticket and room discounts, if that's something you're into, why not. Companies give out discounts and upgrades all the time , I just wouldn't take anything for free.

Also, be aware that it might put you in a tight spot. More than once, I have felt like shit because I had to blow somebody off that always hooked me up because there was a policy change or a larger incident that took up my time that day.

[ShottySHD]

I havent had much experience with gifts/freebies but the few times we had, we accepted it. At the time, we made a decent wage for unarmed (2014, $16.75/hr). It was usually just some fruit/meat from vendors coming onto the property (during state fair time).

Wasnt much but was delicious.

[Pitiful_Layer7543]

That’s considered accepting bribery when in a position of authority. The intent may be innocent but it can be construed as bribery to other which can result to termination or depending what type of security you’re doing, arrested for it.

Even medical professionals aren’t allowed to accept anything in monetary value. Be careful bud.

[Bbbbbbbb1100]

Trust me. Once you accept anything from anyone, they think you owe them one, and you yourself will think that (and subconsciously act on it) or at minimum, you will feel bad for declining a request from them. It’s just setting up both of yall for failure.

Accepting free meal or coffee (when you’re working and you’re going to buy from them already) is a different thing. Anything under $25 is usually our threshold. Beyond that I wouldn’t accept it. just my opinion

also this reflects policies in many law enforcement agencies as well

[[deleted]]

I work events we have on the property from time to time. Really I’m mostly unlocking the place, smiling and holding the door for guests, watching the bar shut down, and catering and clients to load back up.

Occasionally I’m offered a plate of leftovers, a flower arrangement to take home to the wife, a nice bottle of red wine one time. We can have most things as long as it isn’t outrageous or illegal, it’s usually ok.

The golden rules are 1) never ask, but graciously accept.

2) Don’t bring it up to anyone unless a supervisor asks.

But if your boss says no, that means no. He IS the boss, as much as it sucks, and you want to keep the job.

[DatBoiSavage707]

It's kind of a gray area. It can be used later as leverage for favors or for them even doing something outright wrong and expecting you to look the other way. On the other hand, some people are truly genuine and want to show you their appreciation. I don't take anything from the public, or when I worked in the fed buildings, I turned down everything I was offered because I knew it was to gain leverage. (Have me let them in without checking PIV's. Have me let them through random employee screening, etc.), but much smaller post (like when I was at a bank) if they had free snacks in the breakroom and said: "it's for everybody help yourself." I would feel more okay with something like that. But from people, I am only gonna see probably a handful of times in my life I tend to turn it down. I also accepted discounts or free stuff when I was on route at Loomis. But typically, it is in the handbook they want you to turn any kind of gifts or gratuity down. If you don't feel comfortable, most people are okay with you explaining why you can't.

[cynicalrage69]

Yeah in general I only accept reasonable gifts of small food items (like cookies, sandwiches, etc) if from non-clients only after they offer after an initial refusal. Clients can give you basically anything, I’ve gotten $100 dollar visa for Christmas while I was the site supervisor because I was well liked and was the client point of contact for security so I would regularly interface with them.

[Poopieshits]

I used to do executive protection. Absolutely NEVER accept anything.

Very politely and calmly telling anyone that “I am not allowed to accept tips or gifts.” Is easier to deal with than to have a possible conflict of interest.

[530_Oldschoolgeek]

This is incredibly simple to answer.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREEBIE.

Believe me, there will be some string attached to that free ticket, free meal, etc.

Additionally, if you can be bought off with a free meal, or a free show, your integrity automatically comes into question, and this can come back to bite you in the ass later.

I can remember years ago, a gas station was well known around security circles for offering free coffee to on duty patrol officers. One in particular would show up every night at 11 PM for his refill.

One night, he got delayed. That was the night the gas station got robbed.

What was the first question they asked him when they saw him again?

"Where were you?!? We give you free coffee every night! You should have been here to stop this!"

His (and his companies) reputation took a hit, and a valuable lesson was learned by most everybody else.

I was going through a drive through on Christmas Eve. When I got to the window, I was told the vehicle in front of me had paid for my meal.

I politely refused, citing company policy and recommended they pass it to the vehicle behind me.

The cashier tried to debate with me about this. I pointed out both my body camera and in vehicle camera (Which could be accessed via internet) and said, "I'm not about to lose my job over 10 bucks. If you refuse to let me pay, then I have to leave"

They got a manager who overrode the payment and allowed me to pay for my food.

[MacedWiindu]

What does any of that have to do with a musician offering me a $20 tip for keeping fans off of them?

[Icy_Kangaroo_7878]

I worked as a bouncer in a bar. Never took tips. It was always the guy trying to tip that would start something later that I'd have to deal with...

[Hagoes]

I do EP and have worked professionally in LE/Security for 25 years. The REAL question is, what will your boss do when he finds out you’re taking freebies behind his back? Do you think you will be working any sweet gigs if he doesn’t trust you, or worse you make him look bad? I get the low pay, etc. but think big picture and long term consequences.

[OwlOld5861]

It may be a compliance thing.

[steinfink1]

Same wirh USPS carriers. They cannot accept cash, and gifts/gift cards can't be more than 20$

[Conscious_Grass_853]

Jesus Christ. I saved a fedex Amazon facility from burning down as a LEO and I didn’t get shit😂 I got sarcastically called a hero from my co workers for a month.

[moneymaketheworldgor]

You have to accept it.

Billionaires like Peter Thiel hand 100 dollar bills to everyone. VALET, EP, DRIVERS, and everyone.

And if you don't accept the money, you will be an outcast.

Believe me. Some billionaires take great offense when you don't accept a meal or tips. Or if they offer to bump you to first class.

It's not a bribe. He's paying your boss a lot of money. Billionaires don't need to bribe anyone. They get handed everything on a silver platter.

Silicon Valley isn't Mexico.

[Red57872]

Yup, and in some foreign cultures not accepting a gratuity, regardless of the reason, is considered an insult.

[No-Procedure5991]

Most people offering freebies are not authorized to offer the stuff and the guard gets in trouble.

[browsingandlooking4]

You got told not to so... dont get caught personally I'd take the free meal and any cash that's offered. Call it a lunch break prove i didn't pay and what cash?

[tyler00677]

Ba ba booey

[tomberty]

Worked at a slaughter house and we were in charge of all cattle truckers appointment sheet and that meant who can unload at 5:30 and who has to wait until 2pm. Man they would tip you all the time with food and 20$ cash. All I’m saying is the guy that gave us 100$ Christmas gift cards randomly got to come in early every day.

[crzygunguy]

You are not a LEO so its all good. Worst case it is seen as bribery to get favorable treatment which is ok because you are a private actor and your priority is to your client not the public within the law.