Training and Awareness in the ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System
One of the most pivotal steps in uprooting bribery and corruption from an organization is spreading awareness regarding the cause. The anti-bribery management system ISO 37001 acknowledges this through clause 7.3 of the standard.
This clause highlights the requirements of providing training and awareness sessions to your employees to ensure they don’t fall into the bribery trap.
Today’s blog highlights these requirements and offers explanations to help you comply with the clause.
So, if your organization is pursuing the ISO 37001 certification, keep reading!
Training and Awareness Requirements in the ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System
ISO 37001 requires organizations to provide adequate anti-bribery training and awareness programs personnel based on the results of their bribery risk assessment.
The standard also suggests addressing the following subjects through bribery training and awareness sessions:
• The anti-bribery policy, management system, duty to comply, and related procedures of the organization
• The organization’s bribery risk and the damages that can result from bribery
• The situations where bribery can occur and how to recognize them
• How to identify and respond to solicitations or offers of bribes
• How the personnel can prevent and avoid the risk of bribery and detect key bribery risk indicators
• The contribution of your stakeholders to the effectiveness, improved performance, and reporting of the anti-bribery management system ISO 37001
• The consequences and implications of not conforming with the ISO anti-bribery management system requirements
• How and to whom do your stakeholders report any concerns regarding bribery
• Information on available resources and training
ISO 37001 requests organizations to provide anti-bribery awareness training routinely at planned intervals. When planning the training sessions, businesses shall consider the level of bribery risk they are exposed to. Also, the training materials should be updated as necessary.
Furthermore, organizations shall consider the identified bribery risks to implement procedures that address anti-bribery training for associates acting on its behalf.
The intention of your anti-bribery training programs shall be to ensure that your stakeholders understand:
• The bribery risks faced by your organization
• Your anti-bribery policy
• Their role in the anti-bribery management system and its relevant aspects
• Necessary reporting and preventive actions they shall take for suspected bribery
Additionally, the anti-bribery management system ISO 37001 states that the extent of your anti-bribery management training programs should depend on the size of the organization and its bribery risks.
You can conduct the training online or in person via classroom sessions, roundtable discussions, or workshops.
ISO 37001 recommends in-person training for governing bodies, personnel, and business associates involved in processes and operations containing more than low bribery risks.
Furthermore, organizations shall provide necessary training to relevant individuals responsible for overlooking anti-bribery compliance functions.
Your training programs can be stand-alone anti-bribery training or a part of the overall compliance training of the organization.
The anti-bribery management system standard also offers the flexibility to tailor the content of the training programs to the role of the personnel. Hence, the employees at your organization who don’t face any significant bribery risk can receive a simpler or shorter training program.
However, all your relevant stakeholders should be aware of the organization’s anti-bribery policy and what actions they shall take in case they face bribery risk or witness it.
The anti-bribery training programs shall be repeated as necessary to ensure the stakeholders are up to date with the company’s bribery procedures, regulations, changes, and policies.
Final Thoughts
According to the anti-bribery management system ISO 37001, your organization’s anti-bribery training and awareness programs should be tailored to individual processes and operations. It means the higher the risk of bribery, the more intense the training should be.

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