What should a project manager do if he/she is asked to pay a bribe? It is a common practice in some territories to pay bribes while doing business. Sometimes government officials have to be paid in order to issue a license or permit. Sometimes customers ask for certain money back in case of tender winning. Unfortunately, in some territories it's a common way of doing business. What should a project manager do if he is asked to pay a bribe?

It's not even a question of ethics, actually.

I'm working for my employer for a living. No matter how many (s)he's paying me, it will **never** be enough for me to accept to go to jail. And that's what is very likely to happen if I accept to pay a bribe.

So it's just not going to happen. No matter what the consequences could be, for example being fired, I'm not going to let myself getting involved in illegal activities for my employer.