Within business there is an application of ethics for the issues and situations that arise which require their own unique resolutions.
Ethics in Current Events
Within business there is an application of ethics for the issues and situations that arise which require their own unique resolutions. Having an understanding of what is right and what is wrong in business can help guide our decision-making. In addition to ethics is the concept of social responsibility. The communities where businesses operate have their own expectations. Firms are expected to abide by certain standards, and when they do not issues may arise (Kubasek et al., 2023).
A particular situation in the news most recently is surrounding the company Shein and where they fall within that concept of social responsibility. Shein is a company that was started in China in 2012, who functions primarily in e-commerce with clothing retail. They have ultra-low prices with what appears to be an endless variety of clothing. This has allowed the company to steadily rise in popularity. They have also tapped into the resources of influencers on social media platforms to aggressively market to young shoppers. What has recently come to light are the allegations surrounding inhumane conditions and forced labor for their workers (Bangalore, 2023).
The challenge in this case is that business practices within other countries are outside the direct control of the United States. Shein is a Chinese company that is governed by rules and regulations that differ from those within the United States. China in particular denies human rights abuse and truly understanding whether there is an element of forced labor or not can be difficult to determine. As a country, their view on international law varies depending on the circumstances and there is difficulty in how this is shaped and reinforced (Williams, 2020).
The idea of forced labor within the Chinese company Shein violates numerous ethical standards. They are not transparent with their work, they are not being honest, and by using forced labor they are not being respectful or compassionate to their citizens adan employees. This situation is an example of the golden rule which can be found in Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Forced labor or being required to work against their will, possibly by use of force would be directly against the golden rule. We should always treat others as we want to be treated ( King James Bible Online, 2023).
The situation with Shein is trickier because the company is based out of China. As soon as the issue was brought to light, the pressure needed to start with investors and support of a company who is tied to unethical conduct. Human rights issues are becoming a top priority of many and monitoring the situations such as these in foreign countries, and then exposing them is important. Issues such as this are likely to be handled over the course of many years. Shein also operates an office in Los Angeles, California which should also be facing the tough questions regarding workers’ rights in China (Appell, 2021).
Another area to explore is identifying other companies within the United States that do business with Shein. Looking into where they source their materials, who markets their products, and which platforms are they running on. With Sheins growing number on influencers, ensuring they understand what the company is doing and showing them that they are supporting unethical behavior. Once those areas are identified, putting pressure on those entities and making the ethical concerns known in order to have them addressed. Research has shown that individuals do not want to purchase from companies where there are ethical concerns. They may feel cheated and share the bad experience or negative information. As a company, having an understanding of your consumers and their beliefs is important if they want to be in good standing and maintain positive relationships. Both individuals and businesses do not want to be tied to unethical behavior (Cheung & To, 2020).
References
Appell, D. (2021). Focus on human rights a challenge in China: Retailers highlighting issue of forced labor face backlash from Chinese consumers. Pensions & Investments, Chicago, 49(8), 2. https://doi.org/https://www.proquest.com/docview/2516307059/abstract/1E6DF3BD645A4156PQ/1?accountid=12085Links to an external site.
Bangalore, S. (2023, August 11). Shein’s mounting ethical concerns may be pushing some Gen Z shoppers to look elsewhere. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shein-controversy-why-is-it-so-popular/Links to an external site.
Cheung, M. Y., & To, W. M. (2020). The effect of consumer perceptions of the ethics of retailers on purchase behavior and word-of-mouth: The moderating role of ethical beliefs. Journal of Business Ethics, 171(4), 771–788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04431-6Links to an external site.
King James Bible Online. (2023). https://doi.org/https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.orgLinks to an external site.
Kubasek, N. K., Browne, M. N., Herron, D. J., Dhooge, L. J., Barkacs, L. L., Kubasek, N. K., & Kubasek, N. K. (2023). Dynamic business law (5th ed.). Mcgraw Education,.
Williams, R. D. (2020). International law with chinese characteristics: Beijing and the rules-based global order [PDF]. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FP_20201012_international_law_china_williams.pdf
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