London, Dec 4 (ANI): UK's postal service, Royal Mail has warned postmen against accepting Christmas tips valued at more than 30 pounds, lest they will be imposed bribery charges.
Customers who tip more than the permitted value have been cautioned that they could be drawn into an investigation if there is a complaint about the payment being corrupt.
Legal experts have also asserted that Royal Mail staff, which includes 170,000 postmen and postwomen, committing a breach could also face internal discipline.
The warnings follow the introduction earlier this year of the Bribery Act, widely described as the most stringent anti-corruption legislation in the world, the Daily Mail reported.
The warning has been put on view on 'My Royal Mail' website, which has been designed for staff, under the headline Christmas And The Bribery Act.
"It's the season of goodwill. But it's important to be careful about accepting gifts so you don't fall foul of the Bribery Act," the website states.
"They should never be accepted in return for favours, for example, earlier delivery, enhanced collection etc."
The guidelines states that any gifts over 30 pounds must be 'politely declined'.
The warning has sparked anger among postmen at Royal Mail's Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell, Central London.
"To say a normal hard-working postman is only taking a few quid at Christmas as a bribe for the rest of the year is crazy.There's never any favouritism - I just do my job and that's it," a postman said.
"If I was to tell someone I couldn't accept a tip, they'd think I was mad," he added.
Under the law, both those who pay bribes and those who receive them are liable.
"As has been the case for many years, postmen and women are able to accept Christmas tips," a spokesman for the Royal Mail said.
"They cannot, however, be accepted in return for favours or preferential treatment. It is entirely up to customers if they wish to give a tip to postmen and women at Christmas and to what value."
"Like all other major companies, we take the Bribery Act very seriously and have a duty to clearly communicate to all of our staff what it means for them," the spokesman added. (ANI)
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