Are chocolates really a bribe?

Despite its introduction one month ago, almost three quarters of businesses do not understand what the new Bribery Act is or how it affects the way they do business, research finds.

According to a study by Sage UK of 1,050 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), while a third of businesses (33 per cent) knew the Act was coming into force, most werere uncertain how they should adapt to it, with 50 per cent indicating that they will simply operate as usual.

The UK Bribery Act has been described as ‘the toughest anti-corruption legislation in the world’. The penalties for committing a crime under the Act are a maximum of ten years' imprisonment, along with an unlimited fine for individuals successfully prosecuted under the Act. Organisations can receive an unlimited fine and there is also the potential for the confiscation of property.

“This is a particularly important Act for every PAs to understand,” said Gareth Osborne, “It is important they know how to protect their bosses, co-workers and themselves. The key thing is to be in a position where you can show you have taken adequate steps to prevent even the most minor act of bribery from taking place. They should be particularly aware of the rules governing the receipt of gifts; like flowers, chocolates and tickets to events – all common place in the PA world.”

APA members can visit the Knowledge Zone within the ‘Members Area’ of the website and find a draft ‘Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy’ document in the ‘PA’ Guides section.

APA