Apple Business Ethics

Submitted By google42
Words: 2218
Pages: 9
Open Document
Business Ethics: Apple Apple today is continuing to be a leader in the technological field, with its new innovations of various electronics, along with its ability to make other competitors want to follow in their shoes. With over 408 retail stores in 14 different countries, a company this large is forced to have certain morals and social responsibilities in order to make sure they are functioning as a whole and achieving that one common goal specified by the corporation (Forbes.com). Apple’s ethics recently though have came into question, through the attacks that they are facing regarding work within Chinese factories to produce their products and the child labor laws that they are breaking to make that one iPhone or MacBook. Though, one might argue that Apple has a stronger bond and promise with its consumers because they are the ones providing the profit rather than those that they employ within the manufacturing Countries of their products like China. I believe though that treating each person with respect and acting ethical has its advantages in the long run even if that iPhone they are making might be made in six hours instead of four. In addition, the government has began to crack down on social responsibilities of corporations, helping with societies overall perception of large corporations, such as Apple, promoting the idea that there is more to business than just making a profit and being at the top of your industry. The ethical issues at hand that I will be investigating at Apple are the attacks that they are facing in their factories in China regarding child labor laws, along with the tax violations that are occurring within European countries. Not only in Apple are we seeing labor laws being broken in order to guarantee production of a product and cheap labor, but also in Victoria Secret and Nestle. Apple being hit with allegations of having ethical issues is mainly because of their reliance on children to produce the products in Chinese factories. In February, Apple even announced that they found 91 children working at their suppliers in 2012, which is even an increase from the previous year (Huffington Post). The only good out of this was Apple did express responsibility for these actions and acknowledged that they in fact hadn’t been complying with their own companies working code. This issue is interesting because it focuses on the differences between countries and their child labor laws, with the U.S. having specific rules that must be followed when someone under the age of 18 is working (Labor Laws Wikipedia). Where as, China’s labor laws are less strict compared to those in the U.S. due to not enough enforcement by the Government to make workplaces obey them, because without young Chinese labor you wouldn’t see many products on the shelves of stores. In result, China and other countries are forced to break the labor laws in order to make sure they are breaking-even and staying a-float as a business. In addition, it is said that more than half of the suppliers audited by Apple have broken at least one part of the code of conduct since 2007 and if someone were to observe how and where their iPhone came from one would be disturbed. They would most likely see an 11 to 13 year old Chinese male or female working in the factory and working over 40 hours a week, well over the hour limits of the Chinese labor law. According to Mr. Van Heerden, the president of the FLA, he stated that “if you are a 16-year-old girl in a developing country, your best chance of enjoying proper rights is if you get to work at a multinational company”. He also says “the power of their contract is more powerful than the power of law”. This touches on how big corporations have difficulties maintaining their standards particularly in an increasingly global environment. This is mainly because over 8,000 people apply to work in the factories due to not getting the proper education they need in order to have higher paying jobs; in result,
Show More

Related Documents: Apple Business Ethics

Business Ethics In Business

INTRODUCTION Business ethics is a study of moral standards and how these apply to the systems and organizations through which modern societies produce and distribute goods and services, and to the people who work within these organizations. Business ethics, in other words, is a form of applied ethics. It includes not only the analysis of moral norms and moral values, but also attempts to apply the conclusions of this analysis to that assortment of institutions, technologies, transactions, activities…

Words 1543 - Pages 7

Business Ethics

Ghazaleh Tavakolishanjani Business Ethics Professor Peter Sebhatu National University 1. No. The ability to act with rectitude, to refer their policies and plans to a culture of ethics that embraces the most fundamental moral principles of humankind, which serves to legitimize the maximization of shareholder wealth. 2. Yes. These resources may be both tangible and intangible. Shareholders, for ex- ample, supply capital; suppliers offer material resources or intangible knowledge; employees…

Words 314 - Pages 2

Business Ethics

Business Ethics Karl Claudio Composition GE-117 Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations. The economy these days is at a low point for many consumers in United States. Due to the economy, prices are getting higher, many people’s income is decreasing…

Words 555 - Pages 3

The Importance Of Business Ethics In Business

purpose of business practices that are put in place is to provide the company with approval and favorable expert position among merchants, consumers, and prospective collaborations. These characteristics and having well-known business ethics allow room for the business to grow in many areas such as building working relationships. The positive outcome of these relationships can consist of merchandise prices being lower, consumers being loyal with returning their business, and the business growing from…

Words 727 - Pages 3

Business Ethics: Ethics And Moral Reasoning

HEADER: BUSINESS ETHICS Business Ethics Kimberly Lindsey PHI 208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning Instructor John Ludes June 16, 2014 BUSINESS ETHICS 2 Introduction In this paper we will be discussing how businesses and management should and do show superior business ethics in doing what is right for the company as well as the employees. The reason for there to be business ethics, is to choose and know what is right and what is wrong in the business and with…

Words 1584 - Pages 7

Enron Business Ethics

one of the biggest energy companies in America, was reviewed by Paul Healy, the James R. Williston Professor of Business Administration at Harvard, and Krisha G. Palepu, the Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration at Harvard, who state that “despite the elaborate corporate governance network, Enron was able to attract large sums of capital to fund questionable business model, conceal its true performance through a series of accounting and financing maneuvers, and hype its stock to…

Words 2133 - Pages 9

Essay on Business Ethics

What is ethics? Ethics can be defined as a set of principles used by an individual to govern his or her decisions in an effort to ensure fairness and equality. Business ethics, as defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is the applied ethics discipline that addresses the moral features of commercial activity. The same source also gives a history of business ethics which states that the concept as an academic principle is relatively young-only about forty years old; but in general is as…

Words 1442 - Pages 6

Business Ethics Essay

Business ethics refers to those values, standards and principles that operate within business (McGraw-Hill Irwin). Business ethics can also be defined as written and unwritten codes of principles and values that govern decisions and actions within a company. In the business world, the company’s culture sets standards for determining the difference between good and bad decision making and behavior. In today's modern business world, the road to success requires more than merely technical skills, practical…

Words 645 - Pages 3

Essay on Business Ethics

Business Ethics MGMT-1125 6/5/2013 Rhonda Ledbetter | Business Ethics Business ethics are forms of applied ethics or professional ethics that examine ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It can also be defined as the moral values and principles set forth for a company or market. Proper business ethics are vital for a business to be successful, providing quality care and honesty to consumers. Business ethics are important because how a business…

Words 527 - Pages 3

Essay On Business Ethics

Business Ethics Papa James Ethics and Moral Reasoning: PHI 208 Instructor David A. Smith March 10, 2014 Business Ethics The issues behind business ethics has expand over times. Sometimes companies do not treat their employee’s right and follow their code of ethics. This could cause troubles for the company. Business ethics is a format of professional ethics that examines moral and ethical problems that come about in a business environment. The heart of any company is their employees. The policies…

Words 783 - Pages 4