Companies can now help to protect themselves and their staff from falling foul of the new bribery laws by using cost-effective e-learning.

Cardinus Risk Management has launched a new e-learning course, Act Against Bribery and Corruption, to help to address the problems of ignorance around the new laws. Act Against Bribery and Corruption will help companies to understand the new laws and their responsibilities regarding corporate governance.

All organisations must have procedures in place to prevent the opportunities for bribery by their employees, yet according to a recent survey, a third of UK companies have not yet conducted an anti-bribery and corruption risk assessment. Failure to prevent illegal activity may lead to up to ten years in prison, unlimited fines and immeasurable reputational damage.

The new Bribery Act, which came into force on 1 July, made it illegal to offer or receive bribes, and to fail to prevent bribery. The penalties for being found guilty of bribery are substantial, both to employer and employee.

Jon Abbott, managing director – ergonomics and safety at Cardinus Risk Management said, “Many individuals are unclear what kinds of activity constitute bribery. Accepting a small gift or attending an event as a guest can have large repercussions if they fall into the circumstances judged by the new laws as corrupt. This lack of understanding could lead to big problems for employers and employees. Our e-learning provides all the information and advice companies need to protect themselves.”

Training for all employees on anti-bribery awareness must now form an integral part of every company’s policies and procedures.

Staff who undergo the cost-effective e-learning course will gain a deep understanding of the new act, how to recognise legal and illegal activities and what courses of action they should take as a result. This highly interactive course takes only 10-15 minutes to complete and covers:

• The principles of the UK Bribery Act 2010.
• The different types of bribery.
• The consequences for non-compliance as an individual or an organisation.
• What must be done if bribery is suspected or discovered.

Cardinus is offering a 20 per cent discount on Act Against Bribery and Corruption licences until April 30, 2012. For more information or contact Cardinus on 0207 469 0200, or email [email protected].