As the holiday season approaches, those who remain active as compensation consultants may find the following policy helpful, or at least amusing. Although it has been years since I last issued it, this policy, traditionally sent out in early Fall, was always extremely well received by consulting clients. Since I don’t do any consulting anymore, feel free to adapt it for your own use.
TO: BTA Clients and Friends
FROM: BTA Business Ethics Committee
RE: Reminder of Client Premiums/Business Gifts Policy
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, this is an appropriate time for a reminder regarding the long-standing policy of Brennan, Thomsen Associates, Inc., with regard to client premiums or business gifts.
It is the policy of Brennan, Thomsen Associates, Inc., to encourage employees of the Company to so impress clients that those clients will freely offer gifts or services of tangible value (in addition to their prompt payment of BTA invoices) as a demonstration of their esteem.
The BTA Business Ethics Committee views ingratiating attempts as sincere indications of honest appreciation for our expert professional services whose value so greatly exceeds the paltry fees we charge. While we do not need and do not solicit holiday gifts, we actively seek to so completely convince our clients of the exceptional cost effectiveness of our services that those clients are inspired to display overt signs of professional respect. We won't accept expensive gifts, but we really do appreciate the respect it indicates.
Of course, since it is our business to see that our clients have excellent pay systems, our contacts at client firms generally have no need for gifts from us to supplement their official compensation, which we endeavor to maintain at eminently fair and equitable levels. In other words, we do not send gifts. Client contacts have found that the quality of the services we provide are quite sufficient to assure their personal income growth and continued career success without the need for special supplements.
BTA is very proud of the relationships we have with our clients and others with whom we do business. Through your recognition of (and compliance with) our Business Gifts Policy, we can all look forward to many more years of mutual success and growth.
Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
Somewhat sincerely,
BUSINESS ETHICS COMMITTEE
E. James Brennan, President
Gloria M. Wall, Vice President
E. James (Jim) Brennan is Senior Associate of ERI Economic Research Institute, the premier publisher of interactive pay and living-cost surveys. Semi-retired after over 40 years in HR corporate and consulting roles throughout the U.S. and Canada, he’s pretty much been there done that (articles, books, speeches, seminars, radio/TV, advisory posts, in-trial expert witness stuff, etc.) and will express his opinion on almost anything.
Image courtesy of embroideredideas.com
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