Pascoe Vale woman angry Moreland Council wouldn't allow her to give staff a gift Residents are angry Moreland Council doesn't allow them to give cleaners a gift. Photo: File pic. A PASCOE Vale resident says Moreland Council's ruling that doesn't allow her to give her cleaner a gift is an unfair intrusion. May Cunningham, 82, is among about 4000 Moreland residents receiving support from home and community care, but she said she was angered when a recent newsletter revealed council policy did not allow staff to accept gifts from residents. Should small gifts be allowed? "I was very angry because I think that's intruding into people's lives," Ms Cunningham said. Just because people are senior citizens does not make it OK to treat them like recalcitrant children. Ms Cunningham said she had received home help for about 10 years after her husband become ill and later died, with a care employee helping clean once a fortnight. "She comes on time, does a good job and we have a friendship," she said. There is a bond that forms between you and them out of respect and you want to give them a little gift. Ms Cunningham said as a person of Christian faith she was taught to give and ­receive gifts as "acts of love and respect," and to ­exchange gifts at Christmas "has always been the Australian way." I will not be dictated to by Moreland Council to whom I shall give a gift. Moreland social development acting director Chris Leivers said council understood residents' desire to thank support workers, but discouraged gifts of monetary value because they could put "the worker, the client and their family in a difficult position." "While we understand that gifts are given with the best intent, council is conscious that accepting some gifts can lead to suggestions of impropriety," Mr Leivers said. Where staff receive gifts of low monetary value, such as a tin of biscuits or chocolates, these are declared and then shared by the staff in the workplace. Workers are not permitted to accept money as gifts. Mr Leivers said the council understood close bonds were often formed between residents and support staff and suggested residents "provide a personal message in a card to the staff member or a phone call or note to the staff member's supervisor."