Juana Bazan

03/12/2023

Business 100 – Ethics Writing Assignment

While reading the assignment, the company that came to my mind was Target. Target has a storewide of products from clothes, school/office supplies, kitchen products, groceries, produce, furniture beauty supplies, etc. You can easily drive or walk to a target. Target is located almost anywhere in the U.S. I can easily order online any product I need now; target offers same-day delivery, scheduled delivery, or pick-up options.

Target is a general merchandise retailer with stores in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Target’s tagline is “Expect More, Pay Less”. However, there can be some controversies. The company’s policies regarding environmental sustainability, supply chain transparency, and employee rights can have some interesting findings and can be a topic of discussion. I will go over the steps toward sustainability and employee relations.

Target works to bring solutions that better serve the community and environment from their inclusive and sustainable product assortments and the increasing renewal energy footprint in their operations, social justice commitments, and philanthropic support. Target also has inadequate hiring practices which is one of the most common challenges encountered in the industry. Facilities that do not have a formal hiring process and controls have a higher risk of using unethical practices.

Target enforces the policy that no candidate can be hired until approved by Human Resources. During the responsible audit, personnel records are reviewed. Throughout the process, verification of established formal procedures ensuring reviews of age documentation, vetting of labor brokers, and safeguarding of high-risk candidates are undertaken. Additionally, Target closely monitors and collaborates with NGOs and other brands to identify and mitigate forced labor. Prioritizing the well-being of workers, according to the 2022 California Transparency in Supply Chains Act disclosure. Target explicitly articulates a zero-tolerance policy for underage labor. Target partners with Better Work and GoodWave which addresses underage labor and remediate cases of underage labor when found in the apparel and rug industries, respectively.

In all, the supply chain labor and human rights policies cover hiring practices, forced labor, underage labor, migrant labor, discipline, discrimination, working hours and time off, payment wages, grievance mechanisms, and training governance programs.

According to glassdoor, target employees’ reviews confirm that the wage is good, and the working environment is great too. “Genuinely want to see you grow and succeed in your career at Target. However, some state that Target had “poor management” creating more work and longer hours. Most employees identify the lack of management as a big con, not being able to get the appropriate training develops controversy between managers, leaders, and staff.

Overall, I feel that to become a more socially responsible and sustainable business, the company must focus on developing better management, and increasing training meetings for leaders, and managers supervisors. Implement bi-weekly meetings with staff to encourage and congratulate outstanding employees. The application of the general ethical principle will give Target a more sustainable business.

While reading the assignment, the first company that I thought of was the LEGO company. As an older sister with 3 younger siblings, I know how LEGO has a pretty big impact on children lives. Children use and play with LEGOs in their everyday lives and it’s one of the leading toy brands out there.  That being said, because of its popularity, it is massed produced and can have a significant impact on the planet. In fact, it is so huge, that there are over 400 billion LEGO pieces in the entire world. You can imagine to produce this amount that the company in order to responsible, some careful decision would have to be made. Factories can have huge impacts on the environment and if not careful, can contribute to climate change.

In regards to social corporate responsibility, Lego has already made significant impacts in order to become a more sustainable brand. Lego was the first and only toy company to be named a World Wildlife Fund Climate Savers Partner. Lego promised to reduce carbon impact. On top of this, in their website they actually have a section for sustainability specifically with reports that you can download that show exact metrics of how they are impacting different areas. For example, in the 2022 report, zero waste from their factories have gone to landfill, which means that it is either reused, recycled, or composted. They also opened 2 new factories both of which are carbon-neutral. These are great efforts to help with sustainability.

One of the best parts about LEGO is that they treat their employees very well. Even part time employees at their retail stores can see very generous benefits like discounts, health benefits, and more vacation days than other companies.

After doing some research on the LEGO company and reading about their efforts towards sustainability as well as their treatment on employees, I think they are headed in the right direction. In order to continue to be socially responsible and sustainable, I believe they need to keep doing what they are doing. Some recent examples they did recently is introducing a renewable material, bio-PE to be used in 200 Lego elements. As for the employees, all of them were eligible to receive a minimum of 26 weeks or 8 weeks for secondary caregivers for paid childcare leave. 41 percent of positions at Director level and above were held by females. This shows me that this company is headed in the right direction and will be a highly valued company to work at with the likes of Google and Airbnb.

A business that I interact on a daily basis is Dunkin Donuts. They are my favorite coffee company. Every morning I wake up early and I go faithfully each and everyday. Let’s start off with with their core beliefs. Dunkin Donuts core beliefs are one thing, their customers. Their goal is to make sure their customers have the same experience they have been receiving for almost 70 years. According to Rogercote.medium.com. The customers are what makes them great. Also to always provide the highest quality of customer service.

Now onto their ethical standards. According to medium Dunkin Donuts holds three ethical standards they live by. Accountability. All Dunkin Donut workers are expected to adhere to the code of accountability. If an employee notices any situation where accountability is not being followed they should let a manager know. Next ethical standard is honesty. Dunkin Donuts believes in honest marketing with no exceptions. Including conducting open and honest conversations with their customers. Their third ethical standard is brand standards. For all 12,400 of its stores , they all have the same quality food and drinks. They believe in consistency being the key into their success.

Dunkin Donuts is said to have a lot of social responsibility. From environment, workplace and community. For their workplace social responsibility, according to prezi.com their main objective to help their customers is to make their products healthy. The main affect they want is for customers to always be in the loop on any changes towards that cause impact on product. Next social responsibility is the environment. Dunkin Donuts raise money for hunger relief, children’s health, disaster relief and charities such as Toys for Tots according to prezi. And I really love that they do that. I feel some companies who claim to give back to the world, really don’t. So I love that Dunkin Donuts does that. Dunkin Donuts also have benefits towards their employees. They introduced flexible work time and things that can impact the employees professionally. Dunkin Donuts also has Energy and Environmental Design, also known as LEED. It is a certification for a green building. They work with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps to find a way to reduce their energy usage and utility costs. Lastly community. The Dunkin Brands created the Dunkin Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. They have raised over $2 million for organizations. American Red Cross for example.

After reading I personally wouldn’t change anything in their code of ethics. i really enjoyed reading the customer aspect of everything. Being a customer I expect high quality customer service. Easier way to navigate the app which is what I use to earn points and a faster way to order what I want. They actually updated their app and added so many features. I can say it’s a little pricey. But less pricy than Starbucks. I feel as if some things should be prices a little lower. But with inflation, everything is going up. Also involving more ways to become included in a green environment is such a impactful way to reach customers. Some people really pay attention to that. It’s so important to go green and protect our world. Be less surrounded by toxic things. Their main focus is customers and that’s what I respect. Customers are their source of income and revenue.

In today’s society, it is essential for companies to have a social responsibility and sustainable business practices to ensure that they are meeting the needs of society and the environment. Many companies have started to take initiatives to address these issues.

One such company that has been working towards sustainability and social responsibility is Patagonia, a popular outdoor clothing company. Patagonia has taken several steps to reduce its environmental impact, such as using eco-friendly materials in its clothing, implementing a recycling program, and reducing its carbon footprint.

Additionally, Patagonia has also taken steps towards social responsibility, such as offering fair trade products, providing safe and fair working conditions for its employees, and giving back to the community through philanthropic initiatives.

Based on my understanding of Patagonia’s goals, I would recommend that the company continue to pursue sustainable practices by investing in renewable energy sources and reducing waste. They could also look into implementing more fair trade practices throughout their supply chain, as well as increasing their community service and volunteerism efforts.

Overall, businesses must take responsibility for their actions and make efforts towards sustainability and social responsibility to ensure a better future for all.

ethics: what is right and wrong behavior. Ethics in business refers to the principles and values that guide the behavior of individuals and organizations in the business world. It involves making decisions and taking actions that are aligned with moral and social standards, and which promote fairness, honesty, integrity, and respect for various stakeholders such as customers, employees, shareholders, and the wider community. Ethics in business covers a range of issues such as corporate social responsibility, environmental stewardship, workplace safety, anti-corruption measures, and fair labor practices. It is essential for building trust and credibility with customers and other stakeholders, and for maintaining a positive reputation for the organization.

Patagonia is one of my favorite brands to wear – not only because they are great quality and design, but also due to their notoriety for being one of the most socially responsible companies on the market. One look at mission statement and it becomes clear that they put ethics at their forefront. For their 50th anniversary, they have renewed their core values and issued the following statement: “we’re looking forward, not back, to life on Earth. Together, we can prioritize purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home.”

The products are long-lasting, repairable, and recyclable. They source sustainable materials and hold their suppliers to the highest environmental and social standards in the industry. 86% of their products are Fair Trade Certified sewn and they are a a founding and accredited member of the Fair Labor Association. Here are some of the programs they have founded and/or are involved with:

• Regenerative Organic Certified: Initiative to grow food and fiber on farms using high organic standards that aim to rehabilitate soil, respect animal welfare, and improve lives of farmers.
• Migrant Workers: Establishes standards for supply chain and employment of workers that are over seas. Ensures that no one is paying to work with or for Patagonia.
• Working With Factories, Farms, and Mills: Promotes fair labor practices and good working conditions in factories, leads efforts to reduce environmental and social impact of farming.
• Living Wage: Supports Global Living Wage Coalition allowing for workers to afford a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.
• Responsible Purchasing Practices: Company wide initiative that focuses on ethical purchasing that is mutually benefits both the brand and supplier.
• Environmental Responsibility Programs: 89% of their fabrics this season are made with preferred materials, 100% of their down is responsibly sourced, 100% of the virgin cotton in their clothes is grown organically.

Lastly, in September of last year the owner of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, gave away the company in a move that made headlines. Valued at about $3 billion, Patagonia’s ownership was transferred to a specially designed trust and non profit organization that ensures its profits will be used to combat climate change and protect underdeveloped land around the globe. Their owner, the leader of the company, made ethics and sustainability a priority in his actions and example.

Of course, all of the above are data points from their corporate office so I thought it would be best to share a real world experience I had with the brand. This previous holiday season, I had stopped by the Patagonia shop in SoHo to purchase a winter coat for my father. As I was checking out, the employee went out of their way to show me how to fix any potential snags/rips that may happen with the jacket. He gave me some special tape for spot fixes and encouraged me to bring the coat back to the store for any major repairs. Their commitment to repairable and recyclable clothing is much more sustainable than cheap fast fashion and their willingness and proactiveness to assist with repairs shows that they stand by their core values. On my way out, the employee also reminded me that they would be closed from December 25th to January 1st to give their employees a much needed paid break. This practice is a RARITY in today’s retail world, but here they are staying true by their words of providing a standard and healthy work balance for their employees.

In truth, I do not have any recommendations on how the company could be more ethical, socially responsible, or sustainable for I feel they are the epitome of all those things. Their initiatives and programs have been leading example for retailers alike and they have proven that despite all these “expensive” measures, they can still be profitable!

All submissions for our Unit #6 Ethics Assignment will populate below.