English

37/70

BRIDGESTONE INTEGRITY IN THE MARKETPLACEQ: I know it’s against the law to make payments to government officials, but everybody tells me that it’s the only way to get things done in this country. Can’t I get around this by hiring an agent who will pay the officials a commission?A: No. It’s against the law. The consequences of getting caught for you and the company could be severe. You can’t get around your legal responsibilities by hiring agents to do what you are not permitted to do.Q: I took a course on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.S. anti-bribery law, recently. I remember learning that sometimes “facilitating payments” (small payments to government officials to expedite routine transactions) were permitted under the law. What is our company’s position on facilitating payments?A: Facilitating payments are not permitted under company policy and are prohibited by law in most countries.Q: I have heard rumors that my manager recently offered a bribe to a prospective customer in order to secure their purchase of our products. I don’t know if they are true. What should I do?A: Contact the Law Department or the BridgeLine right away.Q: One of our oldest and most reliable suppliers has been struggling financially and has asked for a temporary price increase. One of the supplier’s competitors offers the same products cheaper but does not have the same track record for quality. Do we have to give the business to the supplier with the lowest prices?A: Not necessarily. Bridgestone looks for the best overall value. Price is an important factor but not the only one. We also must take into account quality, delivery, service and reputation, among other considerations.37Bribery and CorruptionOur Dealings with Suppliers