Monthly Archives: November 2014

After reading Rachel’s blog post on child labour in the US, I was surprised to learn that child labour still exists in countries like the United States. One of the reasons why I was so surprised is because Western culture acts as if we are clear of these problems. I especially find this attitude because we continually point out how developing countries should learn how to set up ethical systems for employment. However, how can one direct others when they have not overcome these problems themselves?

The employment of children in tobacco farms is not under the radar, in fact it is actually legal. It is interesting to note that the US has kept this a secret, and not many people know about it. Had I not read Rachel’s post, I would not have been aware of this issue.

Outsourcing is sometimes seen as a dangerous move because companies do not always know about the quality and production of their products. But companies should also be aware of the negative consequences within their own country’s systems. In both cases, the production of products should play a big role in the company’s decisions of how they produce. Companies should avoid child labour as it is unethical, and has many negative consequences on the children.

Works Cited:

https://blogs.ubc.ca/rcheng/

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/05/14/us-child-workers-danger-tobacco-farms

Zappos is an online shoe store that is currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company has a very unique working environment, which differentiates it from other companies. In general, call centre employees tend to be stressed out at work because of the customers they are dealing with. Zappos creates a warm and friendly atmosphere through a variety of ways: employee orientations, free food, employee gatherings, medical benefits and healthy relationships. As a result, employees aren’t as tense at work.

Although Zappos is creating a warm environment, some of these initiatives are expensive. Is it worth it to spend money on employee benefits? Personally, I believe it is worthwhile. From my perspective, it is important that employees are happy in their working conditions. This helps a business run smoother, and customers are treated more positively. If customers have a good experience with the company, they are likely to return and spread the word to others. Consequently, the company is gaining and retaining customers, which increases its sales. From the video we watched in class, Zappos currently earns 5% profit from their revenue. This value could be increased if Zappos cut the expenses of employee benefits. Although this seems like a good idea, I believe it is better to enforce the company’s values, resulting in an overall positive experience for employees, management and customers.

Works Cited:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2012/12/26/americas-happiest-employee/

Toms Shoes is a company that designs and sells shoes throughout North America. The company is seen to be very socially aware because for every pair of shoes they sell, a pair of shoes is given to an impoverished child. This benefits the company in both social and economic ways. Consumers have an emotional connection to the shoes because of the good they do for the the less fortunate, which creates a desire to purchase the stylish shoes and help make a change. Although this seems to positively benefit the company and those in need, I believe there are some negative effects from this system.

“Tom’s Shoes”

In my opinion, Toms could be sending the wrong message to the developing countries they are helping. If a company continues to hand over a product repeatedly, the receiving party will become dependent on this action. As a result, the third party won’t try to start their own shoe business or create their own market because they are relying on Toms to do it for them. In addition, the long-term effects of Toms shoes are very poor. People in developing nations live under brutal circumstances, and they need high quality footwear in order to protect their feet. Although Toms shoes suffice our living conditions, they aren’t durable for the developing nations.

Not to be misunderstood, I believe Toms Shoes is doing a good thing; however, they should consider different ways of spending their expenditure on the developing nations. For instance, they could set up programs where they teach developing nations how to make shoes. As a result, these nations would learn how to function in this area independently.

Works Cited:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236326

“Toms Shoes.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.