Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

BriberyEmployment lawLatest NewsEconomics, government & business

Bribery Act facing delay

by John Eccleston 31 Jan 2011
by John Eccleston 31 Jan 2011

The implementation of the Bribery Act is set to be delayed, following government confirmation that guidance surrounding the Act is to be reviewed.

The delay follows the Government’s earlier confirmation that it was reviewing the Act prior to its launch.

The Ministry of Justice had said that it would reassess the Act as part of the Growth Review, which will look at the how the Government can create the best conditions for private sector growth.

However, today’s (Monday) announcement means that the Act will now not come into force in April as planned, due to a three-month notice period that will be put in place before its implementation.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said today: “We are working on the guidance to make it practical and comprehensive for business. We will come forward with further details in due course.

“When the guidance is published it will be followed by a three-month notice period before implementation of the Act.”

Several new offences will be introduced under the Act, including a corporate offence for failing to prevent bribery by people working on behalf of a business, and a rise in the maximum penalty for individuals found guilty of bribery from seven to 10 years’ imprisonment, with an unlimited fine.

XpertHR senior employment law editor Stephen Simpson said: “The Bribery Act continues to have a tortuous route to implementation. It was one of the last pieces of legislation from the Labour Government and employers have been promised guidance from the Conservatives since the November consultation closed.

“Many employers will be breathing a sigh of relief that they have now been promised guidance three months in advance of the Act’s implementation. Judging by the large number of queries the XpertHR compliance team has had on this issue, employers will need this time to review their current policies and educate staff on the new rules.”

John Smart, partner at the fraud investigation and dispute services at Ernst and Young, said the delay would work against employers who have already done some of the groundwork in preparation for its implementation. He said: “Those companies which are taking the issue of bribery seriously and making changes to their culture and controls will be at the biggest disadvantage if the Bribery Act is delayed. In fact, delaying the Act will only serve to increase the time during which these forward-looking companies will be exposed to this disadvantage. 

“Continued uncertainty about how the Act will be enforced and when it will come into force will only serve to increase the disparity between the best and the worst companies. Responsible companies will want to stay within the law even if it is not enforced.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The critical factor is that companies need more certainty regarding the enforcement of the Act, rather than the current reliance on ‘the discretion of the prosecutor’,” Smart added. 








XpertHR resources on the Bribery Act 2010



  • What criminal offences are created by the Bribery Act 2010?
  • What are “adequate procedures” to prevent bribery under the Bribery Act 2010?
  • Information on the corporate offence of failing to prevent bribery
  • Company rules: Policy on accepting gifts (subscription required)

John Eccleston

previous post
Absence increase has negative impact across businesses
next post
Lone Worker Safety 2011 Conference & Exhibition Olympia Conference Centre, London, Tuesday 10th May 2011

You may also like

Government publishes ‘roadmap’ for Employment Rights Bill

1 Jul 2025

Ethnicity and disability pay gaps: Ready to report?...

1 Jul 2025

Government moves swiftly on immigration reform

1 Jul 2025

One in eight senior NHS managers from black...

1 Jul 2025

Government launches ‘landmark’ review of parental leave

1 Jul 2025

Clarks cuts 1,200 jobs after ‘year of transition’

1 Jul 2025

How HR can support families with adoption

1 Jul 2025

Co-op equal pay claims move onto next stage

30 Jun 2025

‘Be direct’ to avoid escalating conflict, advises Acas

30 Jun 2025

Reforming paternity leave could benefit UK by £13bn...

30 Jun 2025

  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+