BUSINESS

Commentators have compared bribery to witchcraft in that it is known to be widely practiced yet no one admits to practicing it.  Nonetheless, recorded instances of bribery and government corruption date back 3,000 years to ancient Egypt and Rome. Around 1300 B.C., King Horemheb of ancient Egypt was the first leader in history to denounce corruption by enacting laws to combat graft.  Additionally, in 181 B.C., the ancient Romans instituted, Lex Baebia, the first law criminalizing elections bribery.

Despite continual and widespread governmental condemnation of bribery and corruption dating back to ancient times, the specific act of bribing foreign officials for commercial purposes was not deemed unlawful by any state until 1977 upon the passage of the U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  Therefore, should we conclude that the act of foreign official bribery didn’t exist until more recent times?

On the contrary, although not as well documented as domestic bribery matters, instances of foreign official bribery are chronicled in both ancient Greece and Rome. The first evidenced event involved the corruption of an official in ancient Greece. Themistocles was an Athenian military commander and statesman.  In the summer of 480 B.C., the Persians invaded parts of Ancient Greece. The local people bribed the Athenian military leader, Themistocles, for protection, and in turn, Themistocles used part of the sum to bribe his allied commander, Eurybiades (who wished to retreat), to remain and fight while pocketing the rest.

Another ancient instance of bribing a foreign official was memorialized by the Romans.  Jugurtha, was the King of Numidia (118 B.C. – 105 B.C.) The lands of Numidia now consist of mainly Algeria in northern Africa. Jugurtha was known to be proficient at bribery of Roman senators (and thus evading indictment for his crimes) and this resulted in the Jugurthine War between Rome and Numidia. Jugurtha enjoyed numerous battle wins against the Romans as a result of his bribes paid to Roman generals in consideration for moments of voluntary withdraw.

The FCPA of 1977 is the oldest law that prohibits and criminalizes corrupt payments to foreign public officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. For the first thirty years of the FCPA’s existence, it was infrequently enforced, but starting in the early 2000s due to various factors including rampant corporate corruption, greater global cooperation, the 9/11 attacks, and the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the U.S. government commenced an aggressive global campaign against foreign bribery facilitated by U.S. individuals and corporations.

Notwithstanding the introduction of domestic bribery laws in ancient times, why did it take another 2,000 years for the enactment of foreign bribery laws relating to commercial transactions?  The answer is two-fold.

First, and most notably, the wealthiest and most powerful nations are most often the cradles of foreign bribery culprits as these individuals and organizations hold the resources that allow them to expand their commercial operations abroad while using such resources to seek favorable terms in foreign lands. Consequently, the culprit’s own government may have historically viewed these efforts as economically and geo-politically constructive for the home nation.  Hence, since more recent times, foreign bribery was probably viewed by the public sector as a beneficial and self-serving activity for the bribor and its country of origin.

Second, for the last 2,000 years, first world nations such as the U.K. and the U.S. may have downplayed the harm resulting from foreign bribery.  We now know that activities that fall under such laws such as the FCPA harm both countries related to the dealing. Specifically, foreign corporate bribery leads to poverty as the ones who lose are the lower and middle classes that rely on governmental assistance. The world is slowly learning that ethics yields better consequences then corruption as corruption abolishes the moral and financial bases of a country and it consumes decades of education. Further, harms of foreign bribery include the expulsion of honest officials and the weakening of democratic society due to erosion of public trust.

Author Bio:

Shae Armstrong is a corporate finance attorney with the national law firm of Stinson LLP in Dallas, Texas. Shae is recognized for his work involving private funds, investment companies, and loan arrangements with a focus on cross border transactions.  Shae has advised U.S. House and Senate offices, committees of the U.S. Congress, and policy and industry trade groups on alternative and international investment and lending matters. Shae’s work has been cited in numerous publications including including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, The Guardian, and The Washington Times. Shae is also a Certified Financial Crime Specialist through the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) and he advises his clients on matters including anti-money laundering and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He earned a undergraduate degree in accounting from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, a  law degree from the University of Tulsa, and an executive global masters in management from the London School of Economics. Mr. Armstrong is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

While the idea of gaining from human resource consulting might differ for different companies, the concept is advised for business with considerable revenue margins and a substantial number of workers.

There are lots of benefits to working with an HR consulting firm, particularly:

1. Outsourcing Benefits

HR consulting firms use a number of outsourcing services, varying from the fundamental company process of preparing payrolls to advanced aspects such as recruitment and the administration of staff member health and benefits, which are hard to set up at first and takes in a great deal of time. Utilizing an HR specialist for this obligation alone may not be as affordable as outsourcing the process to a company that concentrates on this aspect of HR. Outsourcing saves time and expenses, ensuring that the work is done precisely, therefore removing possible dangers and penalties related to human resource mistakes. Recruitment procedure outsourcing can result in more qualified candidates for uninhabited positions in a set timeframe.

2. Innovation Advantages

Your business’s Human Resources Department will require innovation for them to enhance their jobs. By hiring a personnel consulting firm, you need not worry about purchasing or upgrading such technology as they will be able to supply you with the required technology. These firms can assist in setting them up and even in training your workers on how to utilize them. Needs to the requirement arise, these firms will help keep and upgrade the tech as well.

3. Worker Management

Starting with an effective talent acquisition process, the implementation of benefits programs for employees, and tactical HR consulting on employee management, HR consulting firms can improve your employee swimming pool. By evaluating your workers’ mindsets, fulfillment, and happiness, you’ll find out more about your staff members and your company. You can find much better methods to address employee concerns to benefit your service goals. Your organization will not just enjoy the benefits of having quality brand-new hires however likewise enjoy the benefits of satisfied and loyal workers.

Why not employ a human resource specialist?

HR consulting companies offer a number of outsourcing options, varying from the basic business procedure of preparing payrolls to more innovative elements such as recruitment and the administration of staff member health and benefits, which are challenging to set up at first and takes in a lot of time. Beginning with an efficient talent acquisition process, the implementation of rewards programs for workers, and strategic HR consulting on staff member management, HR consulting companies can improve your worker pool. By evaluating your staff members’ mindsets, fulfillment, and joy, you’ll learn more about your staff members and your company. Your organization will not just delight in the benefits of having quality new hires however likewise reap the rewards of satisfied and loyal staff members.

Author Bio:

This Article is contributed by Avensure Limited, UK leading Consultancy providing HR & Employment services. To know more about this consultancy, you can check Avensure reviews online to know more about the Company work culture.

While the concept of taking advantage of personnel consulting may differ for various companies, the concept is suggested for business with large revenue margins and a substantial number of employees.

There are plenty of benefits to employing an HR consulting firm, namely:

1. Outsourcing Advantages

HR consulting companies use a variety of outsourcing solutions, ranging from the standard service process of preparing payrolls to more innovative aspects such as recruitment and the administration of employee health and advantages, which are difficult to establish at first and takes in a lot of time. Utilizing an HR professional for this responsibility alone may not be as affordable as outsourcing the procedure to a company that focuses on this element of HR. Outsourcing saves time and expenses, ensuring that the work is done properly, consequently getting rid of possible risks and penalties associated with personnel errors. For instance, recruitment procedure outsourcing can result in more certified candidates for vacant positions in a set timeframe.

2. Innovation Benefits

Your company’s Human Resources Department will require technology for them to enhance their jobs. By hiring a personnel consulting company, you need not stress over buying or upgrading such technology as they will have the ability to provide you with the required innovation. These companies can assist in setting them up and even in training your workers on how to use them. Needs to the requirement occur, these firms will assist keep and upgrade the tech too.

3. Employee Management

Beginning with an efficient talent acquisition procedure, the execution of benefits programs for workers, and tactical HR consulting on employee management, HR consulting firms can improve your worker swimming pool. By evaluating your staff members’ mindsets, fulfillment, and joy, you’ll learn more about your employees and your business. You can find better methods to resolve worker concerns to benefit your business objectives. Your organization will not simply delight in the advantages of having quality brand-new hires however likewise reap the benefits of pleased and loyal workers.

Why not hire a human resource expert?

HR consulting companies offer a number of outsourcing services, varying from the fundamental service procedure of preparing payrolls to more innovative aspects such as recruitment and the administration of employee health and advantages, which are tough to set up at first and consumes a lot of time. Starting with an efficient talent acquisition process, the application of rewards programs for employees, and tactical HR consulting on staff member management, HR consulting firms can improve your worker pool. By assessing your staff members’ mindsets, fulfillment, and happiness, you’ll find out more about your staff members and your company. Your company will not merely take pleasure in the benefits of having quality new hires however also enjoy the benefits of pleased and faithful workers.

Author Bio:

This Article is contributed by Avensure Limited, UK leading Consultancy providing HR & Employment services. To know more about this consultancy, you can check Avensure reviews online to know more about the Company work culture.