For the following assignment, I decided to analyze the Apple company. This choice is primarily based on the fact that this organization is well-known all around the world and provides services to millions of contemporary individuals. In addition, there is a huge amount of controversial information about the real working conditions on Apple factories. Even though it is stated that the company has high ethical standards, statistical information shows that it does not follow them.
- In general, the Apple’s code of ethics is related to the company’s business and industry. The document claims that “Apple is committed to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility and ethical conduct” (“Apple supplier code of conduct,” n.d.). Thus, it desires to not only establish respectful and positive working conditions for its employees and ensure fair and equal treatment for them but also care for the environment by producing appropriate products and providing appropriate services. This goal matches with the modern ideas that exist in the industry making the code of ethics relevant and possible to implement.
- The code ethics developed by the Apple company is very much related to the principles of human morality. For instance, the document includes such essential points as anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and abuse, prevention of involuntary labor and trafficking, prevention of underage labor, health and safety, wages and benefits, and many more. All the points are related to the moral standards and fair treatment of individuals who are employed by specific companies. Consequently, by including all these details the Apple company claims that it deeply cares for the physical as well as emotional well-being of its staff and does everything to respect their rights and freedoms. However, if it is written on the paper, it does not necessarily mean that it is brought into reality.
- Being socially responsive means taking the responsibility in trying to meet the economical, legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations of stakeholders. It is believed that “adopting key social responsibility principles, such as accountability and transparency, can help ensure the long-term viability and success of any organization or system” (“What is social responsibility?” n.d.). It can be stated that, while the Apple company follows all the legal and economical expectations provided by stakeholders, there is a large amount of proof that ethical expectations are not being met. The company lacks transparency on the way it treats its employees which can have a bad influence on its reputation in the long-term perspective.
- In my opinion, social responsibility helps the organization’s economic performance. This is because by trying to be responsive and taking accountability for any action, companies show that they try to be respectful of society as a whole and contribute to the economy, public, and environment (Schooley, 2020). As a result, individuals see that the organization does not only want to receive profit but also works for the good of the world. The company’s reputation rises, more customers are being attracted, and, eventually, the economic performance improves. For this reason, in the contemporary environment many business are putting considerable effort into being socially responsible and contribute to creating a better life for the public.
References
Apple supplier code of conduct. (n.d.). Web.
What is corporate social responsibility? (2020). Business News Daily. Web.
What is social responsibility? (n.d.). Web.