You Should Use Common Sense in Deciding whether or not to Socialize with People from another Company

Station ID

Functioning in Business, FIB 8F-6

Saly: Lao Opening

FIB Opening

FIB

Culture Tips: Socializing

Larry: Culture Tips

Saly: Exlanations in Lao about this section

a gray area(Lao translation)

· an ethical problem (Lao translation)

It’s important to use common sense. (Lao translation)

You should be careful to avoid a conflict of interests. (Lao translation)

Eliz: Welcome once again to “Culture Tips” with Gary Engleton.

Today, our e-mail question is “In America, is it appropriate to socialize with people from other companies?”

Gary: Well, I would call that a gray area.

Eliz: What’s a gray area?

Gary: It’s where the rules are not always completely clear.

If the two companies have a good relationship, it may be OK.

For example, maybe the other company sells supplies to your company.

But if they give you gifts or money to get more business, then it can be a problem.

Eliz: It sounds like an ethical problem.

Gary: Exactly. And if the company is a competitor, your managers may not like it if you socialize with people from that company.

Eliz: Why not?

Gary: Well, they may worry that you might give away technical secrets.

Eliz: That sounds like a reasonable concern.

Gary: So it’s important to use common sense.

It’s also usually all right to socialize to keep in touch with friends.

Eliz: Like networking?

Gary: Exactly. But you should be careful to avoid a conflict of interests.

Eliz: Thanks for your information, Gary.

MUSIC

Saly: Explanations of the words and appropriate in

Lao.

Today, our e-mail question is “In America, is it appropriate to socialize with people from other companies?”

Saly:

Eliz: What’s a gray area?

Gary: It’s where the rules are not always completely clear.

Saly: Explanations of the expression ethical and problem the words ethics in Lao.

If the two companies have a good relationship, it may be OK.

For example, maybe the other company sells supplies to your company.

But if they give you gifts or money to get more business, then it can be a problem.

Eliz: It sounds like an ethical problem.

Gary: Exactly. And if the company is a competitor, your managers may not like it if you socialize with people from that company.

Eliz: Why not?

FIB Closing