Bribery

The issues

What is bribery?
What is wrong with bribery?
Are all purchasing enticements considered bribes?
What is the position of an employee who receives a bribe?

The Jewish Perspective

VeShochad lo Tikach: "You shall not take a bribe" relates to
1. The corruption of sound judgment
2. Turning an objective position into a subjective position
3. Favouritism
4. Being unduly influenced

Every office-holder must weigh his or her actions and ensure that they are for the benefit of those who employ him.

Judges and other public officials must take care that all their actions are entirely for the benefit of the public. Company officers and employees must be sure that their actions are completely for the benefit of their company.

Any official who has a personal interest in the outcome of an issue is disqualified from making decisions upon it. A judge who has a personal interest in the case is disqualified from deciding the matter. Accepting a bribe places the interests of the individual above the interests of the employer. The advice of one who has received a bribe and who is no longer a disinterested party would be considered tainted.

At the same time, it remains permissible to influence purchasing agents through gifts so long as the actual purchaser does not suffer any injury or loss because of the preference of an agent. Accordingly, if a company pays an employee's petrol expenses, he can prefer one petrol company over another because of the air miles or free offers it gives, so long as this does not mean paying more for the petrol than the employer would pay elsewhere. In the same way, one may accumulate air miles by flying on specific airlines, so long as this does not increase the cost to the employer (but if company policy is that air miles be handed over to the company for its benefit, one would be prohibited from accumulating points for one's own benefit by travelling on company business when the company was paying for the flight).