Company Ethical Principles and Responsibilities

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Company Ethical Principles and Responsibilities Katie Schuerman Columbia Southern University PHI 6301, Business Ethics Victor Reppert November 21, 2023

Company Ethical Principles and Responsibilities Society should want to take care of the earth, each other, and most of all our children. We should have the desire to support businesses that try to keep the earth a cleaner and safer place. We should also want to keep the earth as pure as possible for our future children, grandchildren and so on. Let’s make the world a better place day by day by pulling together and focusing on these problems. Companies need to apply ethical principles and take responsibility for their actions and errors. Climate Change and Global Environmental Issues People should recycle anything that is able to be recycled to keep these things out of our landfills. If we continue to put trash and hazardous waste in landfills it continues to pollute the soil. “United States is the second only to China in overall carbon dioxide emissions.” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) Biodiversity loss is another environmental issue. “Biodiversity loss results from our destruction of natural habitats (AAAS2001) and the introduction of invasive species into habitats (UNEP2011).” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) While researching I came across an article that states “The health of the poor worldwide is at greater risk from global warming.” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) When I think about this statement, I think of how under privileged families that are unable to afford good health care for their children or struggling single parent households that do the best to provide a safe environment for their children. Adidas is a company that is trying to make good environmental decisions. Adidas products are made with polyester, polyester has a negative effect on the environment. “Currently, over 50% of Adidas products consist of polyester. Adidas is striving to rely on 100% recycled

polyester by 2021.” (Marsh, 2020) “Adidas most publicized initiatives is the Parley Ocean Plastic plan which uses plastic waste from our oceans to create recycled shoes.” (Marsh, 2020) “Adidas produced over eleven million shoes made of plastic gathered from beaches and shorelines in 2019.” (Marsh, 2020) My son is a big Adidas fan from shoes, clothing, and accessories. Climate change is defined by United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) Differing Global Labor Standards “The International Labor Organization estimates that around the world 250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen work, about 120 million of them full- time.” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) International Business and Child Labor list three dimensions of child labor, 1. Direct: when children are employed directly, 2. Indirect: when products and services are purchased by other firms but made by children, 3. “External: a firm or enterprise plays a part- beyond its direct business interests- in shaping opinions and policies concerning child labor in the local economy.” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) Consumers that see or find child labor can refuse to purchase products from the company, the more people that refuse to purchase these products the better chance of the company being forced into financial jeopardy. I am a firm believer that children need to be in school and be taught the basic things in life that are taught in school. Yes, they need to learn to work but not at such a young

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age. There is so much change in teachings just from when I was in middle and high school compared to what is taught to my children now days. We need to bring awareness to child labor and put an end to it. “The International Forced Labor Convention defines forced labor as work performed against a persons will, under the threat of some form of penalty.” (Bureau of International Labor Affairs, 2018) Adidas is a company that upholds the company standards. Adidas has “a team of 30 people, reporting directly to the company’s board, conducts more than 1,000 plant visits annually and 400 training sessions for factory managers and workers.” (Read Monitoring International Labor Standards: Summary of Domestic Forums at NAP.edu,” n.d.) I am not saying that Adidas does not have its flaws, but I am saying that I like that they put forth an effort to put into play training sessions and go around observing their factories. If only more companies would do this there would be a better chance of less child labor. Working in countries with known human rights issues “The State Department defines “acceptable conditions of work” as, : the establishment and maintenance of mechanisms, adapted to national conditions, that provide for minimum working standards that is : wages that provide a decent living for workers and their families; working hours that do not exceed 48 hours per week, with a full 24-hour day of rest; a specified number of annual paid leave days; and minimum conditions for the protection of the safety and health of workers.” (Bureau of International Labor Affairs, 2018) Coca-Cola is an example of a company that “leads in the abuse of workers’ rights, assassinations, water privatization, and workers discrimination.” (International Labor Rights Forum, 2019)

Reporting cultural diversity and host country values, norms, and customs Cultural diversity “may include differences in race, ethics, age, gender, religion and cultural background through the list of factors reflecting diversity could, in fact be wider.” (Columbia Southern University, 2023) I have personally worked under leadership that did not uphold the company’s ethical policies, religion, and diversity policies. Knowing the standards that are taught in the company, it made the work environment and unhealthy atmosphere even making it feel as though it was a hostile work environment. I have seen leaders discriminate against race, sexuality, and people’s right of religion. I am sure at some point in all of our lives we have worked for a company that advertises that they believe and teach one thing and once you start to work for that company you find out that this is not necessarily true or at least for not all the leaders within the company. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna is a company that has products for all women. Rihanna stated that “It is important to me that every woman feel included in the brand.” (Cristhyan, 2021) Fenty Beauty currently has 50 different colors for all skin tones. I have always been a Rihanna fan and knowing that she is a supporter of different races and ethical backgrounds makes me like her so much more. In conclusion we have learned of different companies that make great effort to uphold ethical principles and incorporate social responsibility for their errors and companies that don’t. It is important that society understands these issues and makes a great effort to do our part in saving our earth and its atmosphere. The action of companies may not only lose their business but also their reputation in general. I plan to continue recycling in my home, choose to lean towards adidas when purchasing shoes and try Rihanna’s make up line.

References Columbia Southern University. (2023). CSU . Columbiasouthern.edu . https://research- ebscocom.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/c/iuzu2i/viewer/html/ksxe4px7qb Columbia Southern University. (2023). CSU . Columbiasouthern.edu. https://www-jstor- org.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/stable/20027718?seq=6 Columbia Southern University. (2023). CSU . Columbiasouthern.edu . https://research- ebscocom.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/c/iuzu2i/viewer/html/xs4luwdzsj Columbia Southern University. (2023). CSU . Columbiasouthern.edu. https://research- ebscocom.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/c/iuzu2i/viewer/html/gpr3ydabjv Bureau of International Labor Affairs. (2018, September 21). What Are Workers’ Rights? United States Department of Labor . https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/our-work/workers-rights Columbia Southern University. (2023). CSU . Columbiasouthern.edu . https://research- ebscocom.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/c/iuzu2i/viewer/pdf/4ue2b4ettv Marsh, J. (2020, April 13). 7 Companies Facing Environmental Issues | Environment.co . Environment Co . https://environment.co/companies-facing-environmental- issues/#:~:text=But%20the%20fossil%20fuel%20industry

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Read “Monitoring International Labor Standards: Summary of Domestic Forums” at NAP.edu. (n.d.). In nap.nationalacademies.org . Retrieved November 19, 2023, from https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10659/chapter/5 International Labor Rights Forum. (2019). 2005 List: the 14 Worst Corporate Evildoers | International Labor Rights Forum . Laborrights.org. https://laborrights.org/in-the- news/2005-list-14-worst-corporate-evildoers Cristhyan. (2021). 10 Multinational companies that are embracing multicultural clients . Codedesign.org. https://codedesign.org/10-multinational-companies-are-embracing- multicultural-clients

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Company Ethical Principles and Responsibilities

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