St. Jude Medical Case Study

Investigating Gifts, Gratuities, and Entertainment Limits
In the world of business, ethical behavior has become a priority. Companies are becoming more proactive, heading off unethical behavior before it happens. The best place for companies to share such beliefs in in their business’s code of conduct, where they can address their societal legal and ethical culture.
Medtronic, a worldwide industry leader in medical technology, believes that it is their “responsibility to ensure that their interactions with customers and patients are ethical and beyond reproach.” (Medtronic) Management leads by example and holds their employees and contractors to the same code of conduct. In the code of conduct, Medtronic forbids the use of inducements, offering
Employees are to only except gifts, entertainment, and hospitality of little financial value and are to never to accept cash or cash equivalent.
At St. Jude Medical, employees are not to accept gifts or business courtesies that are meant to persuade or influence current and future business with contractors or vendors. St. Jude further states, “Employees may not participate in any activities that could conflict with their responsibilities at St. Jude Medical Center.” (St. Jude Medical Hospital Administration)
All three organizations, fail to make it clear what “of little monetary value” means and leaves it up to the individual to decide. While gift giving, gratuities, entertainment, and/or bribery can be part of a region’s culture and are not always obvious, individual employees must decide, if not explicate in their company’s code of conduct, what kind of possible implications could be perceived by accepting them and use your best judgement. If you cannot decide what action to take you should always consult your manager. If you are presented with unethical behavior, report it though the appropriate