In our regular segment of Things the MLS Did Not Prepare Us For, a coworker came to me with the following question. She is the Teen Librarian at Small Town Library and she devotedly manages and supports a cadre of teen volunteers/fans.
I wrote some scholarship recommendation letters for one of the teen volunteers and she gave me a handwritten thank you note with a $40 gift card enclosed. I haven't touched the gift card. I can't even really look at it. I know she spent her own money on it and she doesn't have forty dollars. I feel like writing those recommendations was a way to say thank you to her for all her volunteer work, and also sort of part of my job. What can I do with this card? Can I give it back? I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I don't feel like it's right to use it either.
Any thoughts, readers?
Gee, maybe your coworker could tell her or at least hint that she wasn't even allowed to keep it, and give it back and say "you should give it to someone else" But hoping she would just keep it?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't this show how much we should have a written policy? It'd be easiest if she could just say, honestly, that she wasn't allowed to keep it.
Deleteare there employees who would get mad if there was a policy?
DeleteI don't think so. Only the employee who would have to find the time to write the policy, maybe.
DeleteThis is an awkward situation. I wouldn't keep the card either. My ideas, perhaps inadequate, are:
ReplyDelete1. Give the card back, telling the volunteer that the recommendation was thanks for her hard work, and that she should use the card to get something nice for herself.
2. Use the card to buy a gift for the volunteer. Although maybe that would initiate an endless cycle of retaliatory gift-giving?
3. Donate the card to the library in the volunteers name.
It's a tough situation. Good luck.
I'll pass on your various suggestions. Thank you!
Deletecan she explain just what she says here? " I feel like writing those recommendations was a way to say thank you to her for all her volunteer work, and also sort of part of my job." and then try to give it back? Or if it's for food could she take the volunteer out with her?
ReplyDeleteI think this is what she wishes she had done at the time, and she's now wondering if it's sort of too late for that. That is definitely what both she and I will plan for in the future, though!
DeleteIt's really hard to give gifts back, almost more when you don't know them very well. She could try?
ReplyDelete