With school and friends, most students heavily rely on part-time jobs to pay for their daily expenses.  The part-time commitment, the small income, and the flexible hours are all reasons why it is ideal for students. A low hour workweek may be ideal to many of us, but what about for the people who depend on the work for a living?

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The reduction in hours and the increase in part-time jobs has accounted for the lack of full-time jobs.  People who prefer a full-time job are unable to locate one.  Part-time jobs and inconsistent income results in the lack of ability to save, and to even qualify for mortgages. Is it really ethical for businesses to reduces costs by reducing hours and focus on flexible staffing?  It is understandable for a business to reduce costs to gain more profit. But to do it in a way where it affects the workers in a negative manner? This could affect productivity and the willingness to work.  Companies that provide their workers with happiness will get more productive work in return.

Costco seems to be doing a great job at this, where they provide at least 25 hours for part-time workers, and they are also applicable for partial benefits.  This is an ethical decision that Costco has made, and I think it has had a great affect on their working community.  Compare this to Ikea, who currently has many protesters against their cut-back of hours and no guaranteed minimum hours.  They should be required to look back at their business ethics and reconstruct their employee-manager relationships.

So the social responsibility of a business is not to gain profits.  A business that succeeds needs profits, but more importantly, they require the right ethics to provide their employees with regulated hours and minimum benefits.  Companies like Costco will continue to flourish as long

as they act upon ethical business decisions.

Works Cited:

Grant, Tavia. “The 15-hour workweek: Canada’s part-time problem.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-15-hour-workweek-canadas-part-time-problem/article20926986/>.