Dealing with corruption in the workplace

In our work over the years, we have encountered many global organizations that try to work in cultures where bribes are a common element of most business transactions. “Confronting Corruption,” a 2008 report from Pricewaterhouse Coopers, revealed just how rampant bribery and other forms of corruption really are. According to the report, 63% of respondents “indicated that they had experienced some form of actual or attempted corruption.” In addition, “Almost 45% of respondents have not entered a specific market or pursued a particular opportunity because of corruption risks.” Given the high rate of corruption in the business world, it’s no surprise that when we talk with star performers in an organization, there is much discussion of conflicting business, moral, and legal perspectives. Pay the bribe and win the business (and act potentially illegally and unethically)? Or don’t pay the bribe and risk losing the business? Fortunately, we have found that the star performers in an organization walk away from business that is tainted in this way. They have enough confidence in their own sense of purpose—including their ability to win business with integrity—that they don’t have to be corrupt in order to be successful.]]>