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Compliance Overreaction: How Common Sense Gets Lost in Corporate Gift Rules
Compliance overreaction is killing common sense in corporate gift-giving. Here is an example of how rules meant to prevent bribery harm relations
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Recently, I heard a story about a small professional gift that had to be returned due to compliance rules.
Somebody gave a presentation about his company’s activities, followed by a tour of the company’s facilities. The presentation and tour were offered to colleagues from another organization operating in the same industry.
At the end, the tour guide was offered a small present — a plaque and a small food basket. Everybody clapped, and kind words and thanks were exchanged.
End of the story? Not at all.
In the heat of the battle, the tour guide accepted the present. But after the event, he wasn’t sure if his company’s compliance rules would have allowed him to take the present.
So, he wrote to the compliance office about the case, only to be instructed to return…
