What risk may increase when public servants are offered Gratuities?

Offering gratuities to public servants can create significant risks primarily related to potential conflicts of interest or ethical breaches. When public servants receive gratuities, it may influence their decision-making processes or lead to favoritism, where they may feel obligated to return favors or act in the interest of the gratuity giver rather than the public they are meant to serve.

This situation undermines the integrity of public service and erodes trust in government institutions. Ethical codes and standards for public servants typically emphasize the importance of impartiality and objectivity, making it clear that accepting gratuities can compromise these principles.

In contrast, other options like enhanced community relations, greater efficiency in service delivery, and stronger legal protections typically arise from transparent and ethical interactions between public servants and the community, rather than the acceptance of gratuities, which often leads to scrutiny and a questioning of ethical integrity. Thus, the acceptance of gratuities is fundamentally at odds with the ethical standards expected from public service roles.