bribery

By making a gift of a good or service, with no expectation of anything in return, an organization may show its attachment to certain values and traditions. Gifts and hospitality may also be part of its promotional strategy. Such gifts and hospitality are part of the normal way of doing business. This generosity, in itself, is neither illegal nor immoral, but, under certain circumstances, may give rise to suspicions about hidden advantages received in return that could expose the organization to integrity risks. Indeed, when given or received with a view to creating an obligation and leading the recipient to betray the interests under their responsibility, such gifts may result in bribery or influence peddling. A corporate policy setting the official rules for offering and receiving gifts and hospitality (“gifts and hospitality policy”) constitutes a key tool for managing such risks. In this context, the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) published a guide that aims to help companies, whether public or private, and non-profits to design and effectively implement a gifts and hospitality policy.