Intern quits after employer demands he hand over RTX 5060 won at Nvidia event

[midian182]

WTF?! Would you be willing to quit an internship over an RTX 5060? An intern who won one of the mid-range cards during a business trip to an Nvidia event was told he had to hand it over to his company. He refused, and ended up quitting over the constant pressure to give up his prize.

The incident began when a Shanghai intern was sent on an all-expenses-paid business trip to Suzhou on November 14 to take part in an Nvidia roadshow, MyDrivers reports.

During the show, a stamp-collecting raffle was held for the audience. The intern decided to take part in the lucky draw and ended up winning an RTX 5060, which was valued at around 3,000 yuan ($422).

Later that evening, a colleague informed him that the company's finance department had found out about the prize and, as the firm had paid for all aspects of the trip, he needed to hand over the card.

Better than an internship?

But the intern later confirmed that the finance department did not know that he'd won the GPU, suggesting the co-worker was simply being jealous.

The company eventually found out about the card – likely via the bitter co-worker – and wanted the intern to hand over his prize.

Senior management conducted multiple interviews with the worker, arguing that since the firm funded the trip, the GPU should be considered company property.

Despite the constant pressure, he never handed over the RTX 5060. While the intern wasn't forced to leave, the HR department reportedly suggested that he "look for other companies." He submitted his resignation on November 19.

According to lawyers analyzing the case, the ownership of an official prize lies in judging whether it was obtained by luck or as a result of performing official duties. Unless the company had clear rules in place regarding staff or interns taking part in competitions while on business trips, it could not have legally demanded the GPU be handed over.

It might seem like a lot of fuss over a $400 item, but for some companies – and co-workers – there's no lower limit to pettiness. The fact the winner was an intern likely played a big part in him choosing to leave the firm, and the incident should have convinced him there are better places to work. Plus, he got to keep his RTX 5060.

According to the latest Steam survey, the RTX 5060 was the third-best performing GPU in October by user-share growth, rising to 1.3%.

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Intern quits after employer demands he hand over RTX 5060 won at Nvidia event

 

[OortCloud]

Is this real? What company would demand a 5060 from an employee. If it's true (which I highly doubt) the company in questions needs naming and shaming.

 

[Thatsdisgusting]

Yeah, like if it was 5090, I would get it.

But 5060? LOLWTF, is it April 1st?

 

[user556]

Is this real? What company would demand a 5060 from an employee. If it's true (which I highly doubt) the company in questions needs naming and shaming.

Nvidia themselves. Does sound like classic internal politics, those are always full-on petty.

 

[Axeia]

Senior management conducted multiple interviews with the worker, arguing that since the firm funded the trip, the GPU should be considered company property.

Really?
Sounds like the amount of time sunk into this costs more than the card itself. What a colossal waste of time of everyone involved.

 

[Beerfloat]

Nvidia themselves. Does sound like classic internal politics, those are always full-on petty.

Wut?

 

[magoid]

This is a reminder to everyone that you have colleagues in a company, not friends. Obviously be educated, keep your conversations at a minimum, always try to make those company related and keep your personal life to yourself.

Hope you don't have to learn this the hard way. Lots of petty people out there that will screw you over for little things.

 

[Vulcanproject]

When you win anything, don't tell anyone that you don't already know what their reaction is going to be. Or anyone that will blurt it to everyone else.

I have won a few prizes with decent value: two $3000 holidays in the last seven years through low value prize draws. I hardly told anyone personally close to me about them. Only people that were pleased for me. It just engenders jealousy for a lot of people.

Instead I can be smug on the internet and you can be jealous about it while heeding my warning lol

 

[Theinsanegamer]

The company is run by dickbags. You do not belong to your employer. I hope the intern finds success elsewhere.

 

[arrowflash]

Of course I side with the intern. But since it was an all expenses-paid work trip, legally and technically speaking I'd say it's complicated... even if the company ARE being douchebags about it, technically speaking they might be in their right to demand the card. Really up to a judge for decide this one.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Of course I side with the intern. But since it was an all expenses-paid work trip, legally and technically speaking I'd say it's complicated... even if the company ARE being douchebags about it, technically speaking they might be in their right to demand the card. Really up to a judge for decide this one.

Only if the raffle was part of the package the business paid for. If not.....then the company has no claim on it, as the prize was given to the participating person involved, not the company. Most countries have pretty stringent laws for raffles, giveaways, ece.

In the US the company would be SOL.

 

[bviktor]

Is this real? What company would demand a 5060 from an employee. If it's true (which I highly doubt) the company in questions needs naming and shaming.

Yeah, no, in China the companies shame you, not the other way around.

 

[Alfonso Maruccia]

That's next-level bullying. I would have sued as well.

 

[DrSuess]

The employer had no business asking for the GPU, that they likely intended to keep for themselves. If there isn't anything in the employment/intern agreement about not accepting gifts then it is the interns GPU to keep.

 

[sreams]

Of course I side with the intern. But since it was an all expenses-paid work trip, legally and technically speaking I'd say it's complicated... even if the company ARE being douchebags about it, technically speaking they might be in their right to demand the card. Really up to a judge for decide this one.

If it was an accepted/understood practice that companies take any raffle prizes won by employees and interns, then who would be motivated to even enter a contest in the first place?

 

[Eldrach]

Luckily this wouldn't have happened in most companies. I go on paid business trips all the time - and they always involve alot of work. If there happens to be a lottery of some kind and you win, well - that's not something your company has paid for and it should be yours. It's not taxable either unless it was gifted to your company and not directly to you

 

[Lew Zealand]

As usual in similar circumstances, before acting on knee-jerk impulse many companies forget to ask the most important question first: Which is more important?

Value of bad PR?
Value of item?

Value of bad PR almost always outweighs everything else yet there's little chance that Finance and HR will ever become aware of these things. In this case $400 could have bought a huge amount of good PR but opportunity squandered.

 

[seeprime]

Of course I side with the intern. But since it was an all expenses-paid work trip, legally and technically speaking I'd say it's complicated... even if the company ARE being douchebags about it, technically speaking they might be in their right to demand the card. Really up to a judge for decide this one.

He won on his own time, after making his own decision to participate. The company did not direct him to take a chance, only show up. He keeps it.

 

[RudyBob]

A lose lose situation. The intern was probably thinking he maintained his integrity could have just been greedy too. What he did was put his name out there that other companies will see and evaluate, good or bad but it's the bad that is of concern. If he had just handed over the card he would have won but he didn't so he lost. The company lost also, many will see this as pure stupidity and that won't help them. If they had left well enough alone they would not have lost honor like they have. Of course all the suppositions need to be true. I would have handed it over. It's a video card valued at $400.

 

[daffy duck]

Company, did not pay for the tickets, I know of no company that would demand winnings of raffles when employee paid for the tickets.

I hope he handed in those free pens he got too.

 

[p51d007]

It's CHINA. You WILL do what THEY say...or else.

Shanghai intern

 

[m3diapers]

When I first read the title, I thought it was one of those shady things Chinese companies do… turns out it actually happened in China.

 

[bobstoys]

For anyone who's surprised, don't be.

This is just the PRC being the PRC.

Completely standard behaviour. Right down to the incredible pettiness of the whole thing.

 

[bobstoys]

It's CHINA. You WILL do what THEY say...or else.

Shanghai intern

This.

 

[bobstoys]

Is this real? What company would demand a 5060 from an employee. If it's true (which I highly doubt) the company in questions needs naming and shaming.

Is this real? What company would demand a 5060 from an employee. If it's true (which I highly doubt) the company in questions needs naming and shaming.

A Chinese company.