Exploitation of workers in Nike’s sweatshops
“There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits.” – Milton Friedman
Nike Inc. is one of the many notorious corporations to have played a part in a “sweat shop” scandal. Faced with campaigns and criticism from its consumers, Nike was forced to reevaluate its situation and rise above its fatal aftermath, reshaping its foreign policies to fit a set of appropriate work standards and conditions. However, as stated in this article, the company simply worked its way around the loopholes of the system. Despite civil rights groups petitioning demands against Nike, many of the complaints pressed were overlooked and neglected, such as worker-confidentiality agreements, livable wages and work hours and a safer working environment. This ultimately raises questions of human ethics versus maximized profit for large corporations. 
In today’s society, many wonder whether business and ethics are an oxymoron. Indeed Nike Inc. is a prime example of how business and ethics candidly do not blend when in the hands of a firm looking to maximize its profit. These are primarily known as self-interested choices, that do not in this case promote the social interest. The fundamental goal of many companies, such as Nike, is the optimization of their profits. They do not work to satisfy their social responsibilities, but rather their corporation’s prestige and acquisition.