12/12/2025
Holiday cheer, without the ethical fear!
It’s that time of year when gift-giving is everywhere! As providers, it’s important to be sensitive to cultural norms in the communities you serve. Some families may place a strong emphasis on gifts as a sign of gratitude, and we want to ensure we respond appropriately.
According to the BACB Ethics Code (Standard 1.12), behavior analysts should not give or accept gifts from clients, stakeholders, supervisees, or trainees with a monetary value over $10 USD. Gifts are acceptable only if they are infrequent expressions of gratitude that do not result in financial benefit to the recipient. Letting families know this policy early in the professional relationship is a helpful antecedent strategy to prevent misunderstandings during the holidays.
Did you know PBS has an Ethics Committee? Its mission is to foster an organizational culture that teaches, supports, and ensures all team members consistently uphold the highest ethical standards in our field.
Send us a message with your ethics question today!
