Ethics Examples Flashcards
A client takes you out for lunch after a meeting where they continue to discuss business. The bill is £200. What should you do
The lunch had legitimate business purpose so it’s fine to accept the hospitality
The client should have considered how a £200 lunch bill could be perceived and could have chosen a more modest restaurant
Given the size of the bill it needs to be declared on the hospitality register and I’d make my line manager immediately aware
I would offer to reciprocate but in a more modest manner
You receive an invite to attend the theatre with some member of your project team but they drop out due to illness. What do you do
I would firstly declare this hospitality on my companies gift and hospitality register
Assuming the invite was approved and I was authorised to attend, I would need to decline the invite due to the team dropping out
since they won’t be present this won’t be a genuine business event
You are attending a main contractor organised business conference where it’s announced you’ve won a random prize of an IPAD. How would you act
I would be extremely uncomfortable accepting the prize as it’s of significant value and could be interpreted as a bribe
Due to working on a project with the contractor, accepting the prize would be inappropriate.
I would respectfully decline the prize and suggest that it’s donated to charity.
What do you need to be aware of with regards to random prize draws
They are commonly used to distribute bribes
You’re bidding for a project and the client advises that if you reduce your fee by £3k you will win the tender.
How do you advise the client
I’d decline and say it’s unfair competition and wouldn’t be treating others with respect.
I would need to reduce the scope which may not provide the required level of service
It could be interpreted as a bribe
What case law, show the importance of run off cover
Merret vs Babb case law
Explain the Merrett and bab case law
Babb carried out a valuation as an employee of a company for a house purchased by Merret
The valuation was found to be negligent but the company no longer existed
The court ruled that Merret could pursue babb for the losses
How would you deal with a situation such as a friend asking you to provide them with QS advice
I couldn’t offer advice without my own PI
If I did have my own PI I would conduct myself the same way I would with a client I didn’t know
If I’m not comfortable acting for then I’d refer them to the RICS find a surveyor scheme
I’d adhere to the rules of conduct
A tender is in progress for which you’ve submitted a bid. You get a call from the client who asks you to donate to their child’s junior theatre group after reading your firms community initiatives. They say they’re short of funds and have donated themselves.
How do you advise
I would advise that this may constitute as a bribe and decline to make a donation
I would report the request to my line manager
Depending on advise from senior management it may be appropriate to escalate to our firms whistleblowing policy
A contractor invites you to a posh restaurant. They say they’re keen to discuss the details of their proposed tender.
How would you respond
I would advise it’s against company policy and could be an offence under the bribery act
Decline the invite and notify my line manager
A client wants to pay you in advance for services you were providing. How would you deal with this
Set up a separate client holding account
Provide the client with a statement of account
Inform and agree drawdowns
Prior to drawing money, send a statement of how much is to be drawn, what the services and fees are made up of and then an updated statement of account
Once complete, show a final statement.
