Tanakoi Mindstab Thrull said: For two examples: People who don't have a large income such that $400 makes a big difference; and people who care more about doing the right thing rather than the dollar value. I'm sure there's more but that should be enough. Your second example is nonsense: the 'right thing' here is to give the card to your employer. If an employee has an unexpected expense as the result of a business trip, you'd expect the employer to cover that, wouldn't you? So why shouldn't they receive the benefit from the converse situation? What if the gift wasn't a video card, but a gift card to cover the costs of attending? Who should get that? As for the rationalization that $400 is a lot to some people — it's a lot to some small businesses also. And that the same excuse that people have used to justify appropriation of goods since time immemorial — "I need it more than they do". Reply
Elrabin call101010 said: What kind of a company that makes all the fuss for $400 ??? If a company is that petty and willing to disrespect me in such a manner, I don't trust them about anything. Not bonuses, not commissions and not any other compensation. This is a bad company. And if you're siding with them, I fervently hope you don't have your own business, because I bet you're a terrible boss. Reply
Elrabin Tanakoi said: Your second example is nonsense: the 'right thing' here is to give the card to your employer. If an employee has an unexpected expense as the result of a business trip, you'd expect the employer to cover that, wouldn't you? So why shouldn't they receive the benefit from the converse situation? What if the gift wasn't a video card, but a gift card to cover the costs of attending? Who should get that? As for the rationalization that $400 is a lot to some people — it's a lot to some small businesses also. And that the same excuse that people have used to justify appropriation of goods since time immemorial — "I need it more than they do". Ridiculous logic. If the intern entered any raffle as an individual and not as a representative of the company, there's no expectation of it going to the company. I've been going to tech trade shows for decades and never heard of raffle prizes going to the company and not the employee. If the COMPANY entered the raffle you'd have a point. As far as unexpected expenses go, I'd expect them to get approved and run on a company card. "My flight was canceled" "I had to change my booked rental car" Etc Reply
valthuer This story is a surprisingly revealing snapshot of modern corporate culture. What should have been a light-hearted moment — an intern getting lucky in a raffle — instantly turned into a power struggle over a $400 GPU. The company’s reaction feels disproportionate, driven less by principle and more by entitlement and office politics. What stands out most is how quickly a workplace can turn hostile when hierarchy and ego get involved. Instead of celebrating an employee’s good fortune, the firm tried to claim ownership of something won by chance, outside the scope of any actual work duties. The legal consensus makes the situation even clearer: the prize belongs to the person who won it, not the institution that paid for the train ticket. In the end, the intern’s decision to walk away says a lot about the value of dignity over a paycheck. If a company is willing to pressure an employee this hard over a raffle prize, imagine what happens when real stakes are involved. It’s a small story with a big takeaway: sometimes standing your ground is the only way to preserve your self-respect — and to dodge a toxic workplace before it gets worse. Reply
SkyNetRising Tanakoi said: If an employee has an unexpected expense as the result of a business trip, you'd expect the employer to cover that, wouldn't you? So why shouldn't they receive the benefit from the converse situation? What if the gift wasn't a video card, but a gift card to cover the costs of attending? Who should get that? It's not that company cares about employee getting a graphics card. It's about receiving gifts as company employee from another company, if those companies do any business together. It's quite common, you're not allowed to receive ANY gifts over certain symbolic value. This is done to prevent conflict of interests and to prevent preferential treatment (or accusations of preferential treatment), when business deals are getting signed. Reply
Elrabin SkyNetRising said: It's not that company cares about employee getting a graphics card. It's about receiving gifts as company employee from another company, if those companies do any business together. It's quite common, you're not allowed to receive ANY gifts over certain symbolic value. This is done to prevent conflict of interests and to prevent preferential treatment, when business deals are getting signed. I'm well aware of those types of restrictions, but if it were a company paid event, you'd think that would have been made clear to the intern. An an engineer, I'm not subject to those restrictions at my company. I have no deal making capability in my role at all. I can't buy or sell things nor sign contracts of any kind. Our account executives and sales reps are restricted though. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/employee-quits-job-over-an-nvidia-rtx-5060-intern-asked-to-hand-in-gpu-won-on-an-all-expense-paid-business-trip-refused#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.