Is it proper to dine with officials..
By sammy14
@sammy14 (834)
Philippines
February 27, 2013 2:56am CST
Is there something sinister if some government officials or employees from some regulatory agencies dine in together or drink a cup of of coffee with a client.. I am just asking this because I sometimes take a cup of coffee in a coffee shop and I often see employees from a tax company discussing tax matters... I am not insinuating something here but would it not be more prudent to discuss these matters inside the office which is the proper place for these.. Anybody seeing this cannot avoid thinking that something else is happening and will have a dirty mind and ask this question... Why do they have transact or talk about business outside the office...
How about you.. what's your take on this!
4 responses
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
27 Feb 13
Me , being in the office of the general manager always dines with government officials in some restaurants whenever there is something to discuss with our business with them. We foot the bill of course, because we are the clients.
I think we call it representation when we do this, and it's not a big deal since it's just okay with them on the first place.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
28 Feb 13
I agree with the opinion of simplyd. Sometimes, when officials who came from other places would visit our place, we need to show them around in order for them to experience the place also and while there, we can discuss about official matters.
Official are so busy, so we need make the most of the time. Besides if we are not hiding anything, we can freely talk about official matters in some places other than the office.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
28 Feb 13
That's true Aries. And doing this to them , they would in turn someday help us in whatever favor like facilitating some applications with regards to their agency that we may have. 
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
27 Feb 13
I guess where I come from this is not that big of a deal. It is very common to discuss business over dinner or coffee in a public setting. I think it puts both parties more at ease when outside of an office setting. It would not surprise me at all to see this or to be a part of a meeting outside of an office. Government Officals are still people. They too need to eat and they most probably enjoy a good cup of coffee.
@sammy14 (834)
• Philippines
4 Mar 13
I agree with you time has changed that public officials and clients transact business outside the confines of the office, be it in the coffee shop, in expensive hotels, in beaches and sometimes in golf ranges, sometimes abroad at the expense of the client and sometimes with accompanying gifts when they go back to their respective work places, and these are all legal! because big companies doing business with government agencies have in their budgets allocation for such purpose... Is there no undue influence being exercised here.. This is not for any particular individual but rather the system being practiced here.
I am not even talking here about morality..
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
28 Feb 13
Well that sometimes happen when talking something from different people. Of course it may smell fishy but unless you have some concrete proof that something else is happening in the conversation then you may call it inappropriate.
I guess like others are saying in here, there is nothing wrong if an official meets with other people outside of the office. it could be personal or business for as long as there is no bribery or anything like that happening during the coffee breaks/meetings.
1 person likes this
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
28 Feb 13
Most business transactions come to fruition not within the confines of the office but in restaurants while having some coffee or dinner. People often prefer an ambiance that is enjoyable while doing business and not the formality of conference rooms. If you are thinking are about those "clandestine deals" I suppose they would rather do it in privacy since media is quite good these days in capturing videos and images.
1 person likes this
