According to the United Nations Global Compact, “Corruption can take many forms that vary in degree, from the minor use of influence to institutionalized bribery. Transparency International's definition of corruption is ‘the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.’ This can mean not only financial gain but also non-financial advantages.”

Bribery, according to Transparency International, is “an offer or receipt of any gift, loan, fee, reward or other advantage to or from any person as an inducement to do something which is dishonest, illegal, or a breach of trust, in the conduct of the enterprise's business."

Symantec’s policies align with these definitions. Because corruption can take place in any market and in any situation, all Symantec employees, wherever in the world they work, must abide by Symantec’s policies, which require more than what is required by law. Laws applicable include the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which “prohibits giving or offering to give anything of value, any payment, gift, entertainment, or service to foreign government officials, their employees, foreign political parties or public international organizations such as the United Nations or the Red Cross for the corrupt purpose of obtaining or retaining business or to secure an improper advantage.” Symantec employees and agents also need to be aware of, and abide by, local laws addressing corruption and bribery. Symantec's Office of Ethics and Compliance acts as a resource for employees to navigate these obligations.

While these definitions and policies are straightforward, the situations in which corruption can occur are often complex and might seem innocuous or even commonplace (see our survey question, below). Symantec’s Code of Conduct and Global Anticorruption Policy provide examples to guide employees in identifying and avoiding prohibited activities. In addition, Symantec encourages employees to consult with their manager or a representative from Ethics and Compliance any time they are uncertain whether a particular activity is prohibited. 

A company's approach to preventing corruption plays an important role in third parties' evaluation of corporate responsibility. Over the past several years, Symantec has been recognized by a number of organizations and indices that evaluate companies based in part on whether they have policies and procedures in place to address corruption. These include: