Bribing Corporate Clients; was Billing Problems...

[Tom Johnson <johnsont -at- FREEWAY -dot- NET>]

Andrew Plato wrote in part:
>
> The other key is to befriend the money-man.  The money-man is that
> semi-upper management person that signs the contracts and approves the
> money.  That person actual has quite a bit of pull in most organizations.
> And if they like you, they'll fudge the rules for you.  This is how I get
> around the insurance crap at one client.  The money-man likes me and my work
> and vouches for me to the corporate pukes.
>

The befriending "key" makes me squirm. Getting to be friends with
someone in a power position can lead to temptations that may not be
beneficial in the long run. Some companies get touchy when it comes to
nuzzling up to people who can do you favors.

Andrew didn't say he was suggesting bribery and I want to make it clear
that I don't mean to imply that he was.

The fact is, there are people who resort to doing favors for, or
scratching the backs of, people in power positions. I read a policy
written by a CEO of one of the biggest corporations in the USA. His goal
was to run the business so there would be no chance anyone could accuse
his company of an unethical or unfair practice between vendors and his
corporation. It flatly denounced any exchange of gifts or favors between
the corporation and vendors. The CEO clearly stated that the
corporation's employees should not do anything that could be construed
as favortism or accepting bribes. As punishment, employees could be
dismissed for accepting fishing trips, dinners, tickets to sporting
events or any other "gratuity." Employees were to inform any vendor that
"offered" such benefits that these benefits were unacceptable and
further approaches could result in a cessation of business with the
vendor.

How well they enforce that, I'm not sure. But it makes a lot of sense
for a company to implement a policy like that. How can a corporation
trust a vendor who is willing to resort to bribery to get his foot in
the door? If I were a CEO, I would have serious doubts about any
relationship built on anything dishonest.

--
Tom Johnson
Technical Writer

business mailto:johnsont -at- starcutter -dot- com
personal mailto:tjohnson -at- grandtraverse -dot- com
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My opinions are still my own.