“They expect workers to do too much: your eyes have to be scanning, your hands grabbing and your feet moving—all at the same time.” -Former GM employee

While sweatshops and child labour have become common words in most developing countries, can such rigorous labour conditions be found in American companies?

An ex-employee of America’s automaker- General Motors (GM) stated that the company “expects workers to do too much”. As the physical work and health risks are increased, employee lunches have been reduced by ten minutes, and the two 15-minute breaks have changed to 10 minutes each- in correspondence to the terms issued by Obama’s administration Auto Task Force in 2009.

The insecurity produced by the current economic times has pushed GM to discuss a policy of “pay-for-performance”. This scheme will allow the company to push their employees to extremes to get the most efficient results. Even though, the GM website claims that “[their] mission is to create a culture and a business environment based upon inclusion, mutual respect, responsibility, and understanding”.

This is an unethical approach to tackle the economic dilemma because GM is abusing its employees and risking their health by providing wages at an unfair demand of physical efficiency. Such treatment for the people, who make their product, raises serious concerns about how they value their consumers and their community.