Publix has increased from a single store to over 1,077 supermarkets with over 160,000 associates. They are continuously hailed as the number one supermarket for customer satisfaction and one of Fortune’s 100 and 500 best companies to work for. With continuous growth, it is important to evaluate their legal and ethical policies (“We Are Publix”, n.d.). Publix values their employees and indicate their employees are the company. Their Human Resource Representatives ensure their ethical policy is monitored by assisting in defining standards for the delivery of phenomenal customer service.
Chipotle's commitment to sustainable sourcing and ethical business practices enhances its brand reputation and distinguishes it from competitors. By promoting its CSR initiatives, Chipotle strengthens its image as a socially responsible company that prioritizes the well-being of people and the planet. Chipotle's CSR messaging resonates with socially conscious consumers who prioritize environmental sustainability and ethical consumption. By highlighting its commitment to responsible sourcing and community engagement, Chipotle fosters deeper connections with its target audience and cultivates customer loyalty. Chipotle's CSR initiatives also contribute to its long-term financial performance and shareholder value.
As part of its social responsibility, the core of every organization is its employees. Publix has merged in areas of social, economic, and environments impact, and consideration of human rights, for business managers to remain productive on a moral-ethical scale, to linger employee turnover rate. Publix plans to install solar power at all locations and finding new ways to cut down on waste. Also, the company is starting to offer on-demand fast and quick services of grocery and liquor front door, same date pickup, and home delivery.
They believe that the solution to their problems is by laying off its employees, without taking into account that they are at a fault as a whole. This relates to the assumption “Production of data is not affected by organizational politics” from “Give the Kid a Number”. It is clear that the Whole Foods management is laying off their employees in order to make up for their mistakes. Indeed they haven’t stated this, which is basically showing that when people are in the position to be able to influence data whatever way they like in order to suite their own purposes (Garham, 1982). Through further research I found that Whole Foods is opening up 365 new stores, this is inconsistent with their conclusion to layoff employees.
The CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey is committed to the ethical treatment of their customers, employees, and the environment. Whole foods not only focus on their financial success but also emphasize a ‘multifaceted’ value creation. Mr. Mackey believed that by valuing employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders, and the environment, it would lead to a consistent growth in profits (Cheretis & Mujitaba, 2014). Whole foods take on the Philanthropic responsibility by taking a global approach to be a good corporate citizen (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2013).
I went to Whole Foods and I choose three sale items and I compared similar items. First item I choose was Kettle Chips. The Chips were on sale for 1.00 off any 2 Kettle Brand Products (4-oz or larger).These Kettle Chips are NON GMO verified. GMO is Genetically Modified Organism. The Kettle chips are natural and have about 120 calories.
Transparency can be defined as about being open, honest, and responsible in the way someone carries on their business. This mean sharing, to whatever extent possible, fact about the company on how it is set up, how it operates, what is salaries and bonuses are based on and how its workers are expected to treat customers and each other. Transparency important for the long-term health of a company because it is to avoid damage reputation of the business, attract and retain good employees, boost employee morale, trust and loyalty and for longer term business performance and sustainability. Transparency can be included trustworthiness of a company and company relations. It is important for a company to take into consideration and be responsible to the needs of all organization’s employees and other economic agents because it can give serious impact for the future of an organization.
The ethical success of Whole Foods Market and The Hilton Hotel was rooted from their similar contributions to the community and environment. Whole Foods Market is one of the most successful companies in the food industry, that is well known for their contributions to society. Furthermore, The Hilton Hotel is a worldwide company in the hospitality industry that is complemented on their contributions globally. In addition to being recognized for their corporate social responsibility. However these companies in different industries have many contributions in common, for ethical success beyond what's mentioned below.
Working for Whole Foods has many admirable factors. Many of qualities this company encompass would influence my decision to choose to work for them. Seeing how Whole Foods management team provides good work ethics and ensure that they hire dedicated individuals that are properly trained in line with the ongoing vision of the company makes it a great asset. They seek out to ensure the employees happiness is a guarantee, providing optimal working conditions and environments is greatly influenced.
Keeping consumers happy is the greatest challenge faced by industries in a capitalist market. In a social system where the means of production are based on the needs and wants of its consumers, it is detrimental for the corporations of a capitalist system to attentively listen, and comply, to the demands of their buyers. The demands of consumers have been perpetually transforming for centuries, and these changes can be seen in every industry today, such as the poultry production industry, for example. The majority of the poultry producers have used the same process to raise their Broiler chickens, a specific breed of chicken made to be fast-growing and feed efficient, since the 1960’s (Elfic). The chickens are raised in cages that meet the
Starbucks main attraction is the loyalty and the environment it creates for customers and followed by the ethical and social responsibility to improve margins. All are phases are important for rapid growth but as described by Bryant Simon, author of Everything But the Coffee states “Starbucks brand isn’t about the coffee, it’s never has been, it’s about us” (Horovitz, 2014, para.10). The Wall Street Journal researched the theory does being ethical pay? In the findings, consumers rewarded organizations with ethical standards and socially responsible.
The incident escalated on Twitter when a consumer tweeted a picture of pre-peeled oranges wrapped in plastic sold at Whole Foods, sarcastically criticizing the supermarket for wasting the plastic on the oranges that mother nature couldn’t “find a way to cover” otherwise, highlighting and condemning how a business can negatively influence society by deteriorating the environment. Although Whole Foods Market pulled the product down after apologizing and explaining that it was just an experiment with a seasonal product as “customers love the convenience that their cut product offers”, it didn’t stop a Twitter debate from happening, showcasing how society can positively influence a businesses’ behavior. Some people condemned it was unethical of
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY As we defined above that social responsibility is to protect and enhance well-being of living things. Every organization is socially responsible to protect the environment and they can do there much which is legally required for the organizations. The very first social responsibility of every business is that to earn enough profit to meet his expenses. If the firm cannot earn profit no social need and social responsibility can be met by the firm the firm fails.
In the recent years more and more companies in the retail and food industry are concerned about the environmental consequences of their action and also the social ethics for the people involved in the production process. This is a shift from the philanthropic actions companies used to take in 1970’s and by following basic international standards to a ‘business case’ perspective of CSR (Customer Social Responsibility). According to the World Business Council for Sustainability Develpoment ( WBCSD) CSR is: ‘’ the commitment of business to contribute to sustainable economic development, working with employees, theirfamilies, the local community and society at large to improve their quality of life’’ (World Bank, 2002)
McDonald’s has aligned its strategies in business, human resources, and staffing by putting people first, and making all people their most important asset. They offer competitive pay and benefits, in addition to rewards and recognition, to their employees. McDonald’s offers quality products and value to their customers from the workers they offer benefits to. Employees tend to reflect how they feel about their job to their services of the consumers. Thus, happy employees tend to lead to happy consumers.
