Unethical practices by employees

Employees, whether of government or of the private sector, are able to exploit such a position to their personal advantage or to that of others they may favour. Such practices may range from borrowing equipment, pilferage of office materials, sloppy workmanship, to systematic diversion of materials or funds. Such a position may be used to facilitate acquisition of a job by a relative, friend or stranger, possibly against suitable compensation for the favour. Privileged access to information may be exploited by making it available to other interested parties, either commercial or governmental, possibly to a degree amounting to espionage, whether industrial or otherwise. Access to files may allow the employee to modify their content, whether by adding or removing information, either to further the interests of other bodies against appropriate compensation or purely to create mischief. Where the employee is in direct contact with outsiders requesting services (processing documents, supplying licenses, approving applications, etc.), such services may only be provided (rapidly) following "under-the-table" payments.