Soliciting bribes

Gifts

Sometimes a customer or supplier who is particularly pleased with an employee's performance will offer him or her a gift, whether financial or in kind. When it is a customary gift, such as a bottle of wine or a gift basket, it is not a problem. However, if the gift has a higher value, it may be problematic from a criminal standpoint.

Passive bribery

A customer offers a certain amount of money or a meal in a gourmet restaurant to an executive in order to get a discount on products sold by the company. Such a situation may harm the company's interests and violate the employee's duty of loyalty.

If the employee accepts or solicits such gifts, he or she may also be guilty of a criminal offense. Under certain conditions, the employee will be found guilty of accepting or soliciting bribes or even of passive bribery.