Morality Play Case Fetal Rights And The Fetus As Person

MSA #2: Mariah Neuhauser Morality Play Case: Fetal Rights and the Fetus as Person: The Case of J.D.S. In terms of the utilitarian moral theory, utilitarian moral theory considers human actions as being morally good if the end result or effect of the action is good regardless of whether or not the â€Å"means† of getting to the respective end result or effect of an action was good. In terms of the deontological moral theory, deontological moral theory considers human actions as being morally good if the some part of the action is morally good regardless of whether the effect or end result of the action is good. Question 1: â€Å"If a fetus is considered a â€Å"person,† does it follow that the fetus has the full range of â€Å"rights† to which an already-born person is entitled? (What makes any person entitled to rights?)† (Pierce 41). Mill: If the government decides to infringe upon a person’s right to happiness (in this case, it could be having a child or not having a child), then it does not matter whether a fetus is a person or not or whether abortion is viewed as moral or immoral. If the fetus will have a debilitating disease or the mother will not be happy with having a child, then abortion should be a legal option to make either the fetus or the mother happy. If the fetus is a person, then the fetus also has a right to happiness, but it is arguable about when that right to happiness begins. I would argue that the mother’s right to happiness overrules a fetus’s right to happiness becauseShow MoreRelatedJohnson Controls : A Voluntary Fetal Protection Policy890 Words   |  4 Pagesexposure to lead, can cause harm to a fetus† (DeGeorge 61). It is for this reason that Johnson Controls, as well as other manufacturers of lead based products, â€Å"hired no women in battery-productions facilities before the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act† (Cornell 72). Johnson Controls production jobs paid very well and were desired by both men and women. After Johnson Controls began hiring women for these production positions they implemented a voluntary fetal protection policy in 1977. This policyRead MoreThe Theory Of Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill2034 Words   |  9 PagesMill also argued that, â€Å"Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong in proportion as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness† (pg. 5). Each individual rate happiness in accordance to what its definition is or their interpretation of happiness. Globally, â€Å"happiness† can be defined as pleasure in the absence of pain. What brings about happiness and pleasure for any one person may not be the same for another individual. In the case of someone who uses illicit drugsRead MoreAbortion in the United States Essay1748 Words   |  7 PagesAbortion has been a controversial topic for many years. Some people favor adoption and some are against it. â€Å"In 2008 an estimated 1.21 million abortions were performed in the Unites States.†(Jones, and Kooistra). Many opinions collaborate in abortions rights or abortion legislation. â€Å"In 2008, 84,610 women obtained abortions in Texas, producing a rate of 16.5 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Some of these women were from other states, and some Texas residents had abortions in other statesRead MoreEthical Implications of Abortion2898 Words   |  12 Pageswould argue that every woman should have the right to terminate a pregnancy for whatever reason, because her body and the fetus are one entity. Since termination of a pregnancy or abor tion is the status quo within society, most would agree with this consensus. I, however, without properly acknowledging the rights of all the parties involved with abortion (the fetus and father), I do not believe it should be used so freely within society. Since the historic case of Roe v. Wade in 1973, abortion has beenRead MoreDebate Over The Issue Of Abortion2043 Words   |  9 Pagesacross the country as the issue is so complex, there are a variety of views and responses to its morality and legality. To understand the current debate over the issues concerning abortion we must not look at this issue from a black and white perspective of what is right and what is wrong , but rather we must take a comprehensive approach which analyzes the complex questions and factors tied to the morality of abortion. By looking at the responses to the question of abortion, as discussed by MaryRead MoreThe Ethical Concept Of Genetic Engineering1157 Words   |  5 Pagesassignment will discuss the ethical concept of genetic engineering and how it demonstrates its relevance to midwifery professional practice and maternity care. Before analysing genetic engineering and looking at the arguments as to whether it is ethically right, an understanding o f what the terms and lawful procedures mean should be determined. In order to construct this assignment, multiple resources were accessed. These resources included analysing books, both hard copies and electronically. Books areRead MoreThe Fetal Position: A Pro-Life Argument Essay2142 Words   |  9 Pagesthe termination of the fetus, or abortion in other terms. Mathematically, that is estimated to be 1.2 million babies that have no hope for a future outside the womb (American Pregnancy). Everyone has a right to life; this right is exercised in many parts of the American life, namely the Declaration of Independence (The Abortion Controversy 113-116). Therefore, the United States’ federal government should go to greater lengths to prohibit these so called ‘abortions’ in every case, regardless of the situationRead MorePermitting Abortion and Prohibiting Prenatal Harm Essay2987 Words   |  12 Pageswomans rights. Id like to elucidate that contradiction and examine three solutions which rise out of current literature; Id like the n to propose a somewhat new, fourth solution. The Contradiction Stated in terms of personhood, the contradiction is this: abortion is permitted or condoned because the fetus (2) is not a person, but prenatal harm is prohibited or condemned because the fetus is a person. (3) Obviously one cant have it both ways — either the fetus is or is not a person. StatedRead MoreWhy Pro Choice Is The Right Choice1879 Words   |  8 PagesNational Issues Paper Why Pro-Choice is the Right Choice Abortion is a hot topic in United States politics as of late, and rightly so. Though religion, costs, maternal psychological damage, and societal morality are often cited as reasons to oppose abortion, a woman’s right to make her own decisions should always prevail. Abortion should be nationally legalized during the first trimester of pregnancy because Roe V. Wade has declared abortion a â€Å"fundamental right† to women, fetuses are incapable of feelingRead MoreDr. Meserow Is A Mentally Competent Woman2587 Words   |  11 Pagesrecognize that Doe is a mentally competent woman carrying her first child, and the fetus is currently around 35 weeks. It also important to recognize that Dr. Meserow is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist. Dr. Meserow informs both Doe and her husband of the diagnosis and highly recommends either an immediate cesarean section or to induce labor in order to prevent any further potential damage to the fetus due to the lack of oxygen from the compromised placenta. Doe refuses both of the recommendations

Germany and its Economy Essays - 980 Words

Germany and its Economy Known as the fair capital, Germany lies in the center of Europe and in the center of the European home market. Approximately two thirds of the top international fairs take place in Germany. Germany is successful. A leader in world trade, Germany is the third largest economy in the world and the biggest market in Europe. It wasnt always this way though; European power struggles wounded the country in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country dominated by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. Germany has been through all of the phases of the business cycle many times. It even suffered immense depression after†¦show more content†¦In addition to this, an attempt is made to prevent restraints on competition resulting from monopolies and cartels. Since Germany is a market economy, the three economic questions are answered almost the same was as we in the United Statesanswer them. The consumers of Germany answer the three economic questions by what they buy and dont buy. Given that Germany is known as a large exporting nation, many kinds of goods are produced there. A large amount of what they export is made up of vehicles, chemicals, machinery, metals manufactures, foodstuffs and textiles. They also have a large agricultural industry with products such as potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages, cattle, pigs and poultry. Germany is also among the worlds largest and most technologically advanced produces of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages. They make an estimated 506 billion dollars every year in exports and spend 472 billion on imports. The current inflation rate in Germany is around 2.4% and the unemployment rate is 9.4%. Income is measured as the value of an economys gross domestic product divided by its population. The purchasing power parity was an estimated 2.2 trillion dollars with parity per capita of $26, 200; the growth rate of GDP was 3% from 2000 toShow MoreRelatedGermany And The Economy Of Germany1779 Words   |  8 PagesFortunately for us, Germany devotes 2.853% of its GDP to RD activities which is even higher than our home country of the United States which only devotes 2.806% of GDP (OECD II 1). Ultimately, after thoroughly assessing the economic situation in Germany we as a country firmly believe that we can be successful not just in Berlin, but the entirety of the country. Now that we have briefly examined what we will sell and who we will sell it to and analyzed the culture and economy of Germany. It becomes timeRead MoreGermany s Economy And The Economy Essay2104 Words   |  9 PagesGermany While looking at an overview of Germany’s economy and individual can tell, the country is very economically sound and efficient. Even though Germany’s economy is currently doing very well, the still deals with different fiscal policies, lags and deficits, like any other country. There are also a couple of other factors that play into Germany’s economy, including banking and financial institutions, and international trade. There are two kinds of fiscal policies; expansionaryRead MoreGermany Political and Economy1791 Words   |  8 PagesLinh Pham Germany – Political Structure and Economy HIS200 Dr. Joanne McKay November 24 2013 Germany – Political Structure and Economy After the World War II, the winner of the war divided Germany and its capital, Berlin, among themselves. East Germany, a brand new country that promised to show the world why socialism was the best political system, was occupied and controlled by The Soviet Union. 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Despite the challenging economic setting within the European Union, Germany continues to be one of the world’s most influential and dynamic economies. Business and investment freedom are robust. Long-term competitiveness and entrepreneurial growth are supported by openness to global commerce, well-protected property rights, andRead MoreA Look Into Germany s Economy Essay2559 Words   |  11 PagesGermany Natalie Retzlaff, Blake Otte, Cameron Bancroft, Claudia Navarro Economics 2110 CRN 10232 A Look into Germany’s Economy When looking at a map of Europe and asked to identify a country with one of the best economically sound counties, many people would say Germany. According to the UK – German connection Voyage, â€Å"Germany is a republic with a parliamentary democracy and a bicameral system of government. The Federal Government consists of the Chancellor and his or her ministers who are drawnRead MoreWest Berlin : The Economy Of West Germany1760 Words   |  8 Pages In contrast to the desolate picture life in East Berlin painted, the economy of West Germany, which also included West Berlin, was rebounding and becoming quite strong. West Berlin’s businesses were booming, and their industry products were readily and rapidly bought by its resident who were eager to obtain the products and goods they had so long been deprived of previously, as a result of World War II.10 This new and heightening demand for goods pushed wages up quickly, and many new jobs wereRead MoreGermany Is One O f The Most Advanced Economies In The World.1427 Words   |  6 PagesGermany is one of the most advanced economies in the world. It is a leading exporter of a wide range of products: †¢ Machinery †¢ Chemicals †¢ Consumer electronics †¢ Foodstuffs It is also a stew of ethnicity and the epitome of a heterogeneous nation. It is thus a great place for an ambitious entrepreneur to establish their businesses. Below, we are going to delve into the processes of establishing various forms of companies in Germany, together with the costs that go along with them. The costs ofRead MoreThe Effect Of Optical Fiber On The Growth Of The Economy Of Germany1774 Words   |  8 Pagesof optical fiber in Germany. In addition, Independent research has proven that investments in future-proof infrastructure have a significant positive influence on the growth of the economy of Germany. During most recent 10 years, Germany has put over â‚ ¬80 billion in telecommunications infrastructure, yet to the extent ultra-fast broadband accessibility is concerned, the nation is still a sleeping giant. However, Interests in future-proof infrastructure won t just help Germany to become out of theRead MoreEssay on Germany – A Leading Economy with an Arguable life Quality1130 Words   |  5 Pagespublished online in the â€Å"Economist† on Feb 3rd 2011 from their print edition. The author who is not named concentrates on the economic performance of the G7 member countries, mainly on Germany. Compared to the other countries of the G7, Germany is the best performer of the last decade. With a GDP expansion rate of 3.6% Germany put itself ahead of most other rich countries, including the United States. Furthermore, the author covers the growth of Germany’s GDP per person compared to that of the United States

Wal-Mart Free Essays

It predicts higher performance from a diverse organization and view diversity as a business necessity’. [4] As a result, diversity is a concept celebrated by many organizations [4]. Yet, in spite of the amount of attention diversity receives, the concept is neither clearly defined nor well understood by the general public. We will write a custom essay sample on Wal-Mart or any similar topic only for you Order Now [4] Given diversity ambiguous meaning, people may interpret the concept of diversity in a manner consistent with their desire to preserve inequality along socially important dimensions, such as race. In our report, we will explore whether diversity s, in fact, a changeable concept capable of serving opposing social agendas. Diversity: Definition In simple terms, diversity can be defined as a point of reference. According to Coffey, â€Å"diversity is a term for valuing and promoting differences, similarities, and unique characteristics of groups and individuals in different areas in the world. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. † [1] In today’s world, we can all agree that everybody is unique and different as each has different characteristics and ideas. So, in general, it can be said that â€Å"diversity is no ore than Just tolerating differences†. [1] Diversity: Past Over 25 years ago, what we now dub diversity was often referred to as pluralism. [6] This Journey began when we wanted to recognize that there was more than one culture present in the workplace. We could continue to be different, yet be part of the same firm. We believed that co-existence was better than trying to help people to become culturally assimilated into one larger culture. 6] For some companies, the story of diversity started after the civil rights movement of the ass’s. It was about beginning to appreciate each other for who we are. In the ginning, we appreciated pluralism in an attempt to move beyond anti- discriminating laws. Pluralism encouraged people to be authentic – who they really are rather than who others want them to be. â€Å"Think of the bilingual employee who is challenged to hide his/her accent while at work but speaks on ly Spanish with his/her family. Or the white employee who works in a multi-ethnic work environment but worships in an all-white environment and has no friends or family of color. † [6] Following pluralism, diversity was the first attempt to move away from race and gender by adding other attributes to the equation. In order that society progresses award the ultimate goal of diversity, it was important to have a foundation of balanced race and gender. Diversity’s main purpose is that it â€Å"should help everyone assume that everyone is included and that there is no underestimations of any group in any given situation, team, group, etc. [6] Diversity: Present Discussions on diversity have evolved from consisting of advancement in race-based civil rights employment legislation to including a broad range of demographic dimensions not protected by law [4]. For example, in present-days research on organizational behavior, diversity has been defined as â€Å"the distribution of differences mongo the members of a unit with respect to a common attribute X, such as tenure, ethnicity, conscientiousness, task attitude, or pay’ [4]. It has also been defined more simply as â€Å"heterogeneity in personality attributes, personal values, work attitudes, education, and life-style† [4]. Thus, diversity now seems to encompass heterogeneity in a wide range of dimensions – not Just racial composition, as was originally intended when the term came into common use [4]. Research on laypeople understanding of diversity also suggests the term may be not be clearly understood. For example, Unguent found that people define diversity n broad terms that include a wide range of demographic dimensions (e. . , race, religion, parenting style, age and education). [4] Yet, other research shows that even when diversity is construed in racial terms, people disagree about which particular groups are most associated with diversity. Specifically, Unguent found that members of minority groups (I. E. , Asians, Latino, and African Americans) perceive diversity as primarily entailing the representation of their in-group. [4] Tod ay, many organizations are attempting to move closer to intellectual diversity or diversity of thought. [6] Diversity: In The Future To ensure future success, â€Å"diversity must be authentic and honest†. [6] â€Å"To keep diversity authentic in corporations, it will be vital that we create environments that allow for authentic contributions of all†. [6] It may not mean training that comes at the expense of only one group, but it does mean asking questions and listening and learning from those around us. If we are sincere about our intentions as well as respectful of our differences, â€Å"organizations have the potential for growth and the possibility of reaping the rich benefits that diversity has to offer†. 6] This means an all-inclusive organization with the richest of profits. Diversity: What you Want It To Be Research reported by Unguent suggests that when people are exposed to vague information concerning an organization’s diversity, they interpret diversity in a manner consistent with their social-dominance motives. [4] Specifically, anti- egalitarian individuals broaden their interpretation of diversity to include nonracial (I. E. , occupational) differences when an organization’s racial differences are low. By contrast, egalitarian individuals broaden their understanding of diversity to include nonracial heterogeneity when an organization’s racial differences are high. [4] The inclusion of occupational differences in perceptions of diversity allows people across the spectrum of social-dominance orientation to Justify their support for or opposition to affirmative-action policies. Nausea’s findings suggest that diversity may not have a fixed meaning and that, without a specific sketch of what the concept means in particular contexts, people may interpret diversity in a manner consistent with their social motivations. 4] Factors that Affect Diversity There are several factors that affect diversity among people and in organizations across the world. Such factors include, but are not limited to the following: â€Å"giving errors a chance to be trained, long-term evaluation of training results, awarding successes among people and managerial rewards for increasing diversity, an d believing the power of inclusion in the organization†. [1] Different characteristics are other factors that affect diversity and diversity management. Examples of such characteristics include but are not limited to are: â€Å"age, culture, cognitive style, disability (mental and physical), background (economic, geographic, and psychological), ethnicity, race, education, gender identity, language(s) spoken, partnered status, physical appearance, political affiliation, religious affiliation ND so on†. [1] Advantages and Disadvantages of Diversity Management Workforce diversity can generate both advantages and disadvantages for organizations. The advantages include mainly enabling access too changing marketplace by mirroring increasing diverse markets, better-quality solutions to brainstorming tasks and displaying more cooperative behaviors, among others†. [3] The disadvantages are the existence of segregated ethnic communities within the organization, increased conflict, increased training costs, communication breakdown, low cohesion, and high turnover. [3] According to Jaguars, the key to capitalizing on the advantages and minimizing disadvantages of workforce diversity is to effectively manage diversity [3]. Main business benefits of focusing on diversity management are â€Å"the ability to recruit from a wider selection of people and retain better workers for longer, broader market intelligence and internationalization, greater creativity and innovation, diverse perspectives on business issues, and improved problem solving and decision making, improved marketing, improved community relations and an enhanced company image, increased productivity, reduced costs linked to turnover and absenteeism, and increased resilience and flexibility’. 3] Managing Diversity Managing diversity involves understanding that there are differences among employees and that these differences, if properly managed, are an asset to work being done more efficiently and effectively [3] â€Å"Diversity management initiatives are specific activities, programs, policies, and any other formal processes or efforts designed to promote organizational culture change†. 3] Its objective for organizations is to â€Å"raise awareness of cultural differences; develop the ability to recognize, accept, and value diversity through organizational intervention to minimize patterns of inequality, modify organizational culture and leadership practices so that members of all socio-cultural backgrounds can contribute and achieve their full potential†. [3] Some examples of diversity management initiatives include flexible work arrangements, work-life balance initiatives, education and training programs to raise cultural awareness, and equal opportunity policies and practices. 3] Conclusion As the world becomes global, the managers’ Job is changing. In broad terms, â€Å"diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups, workers, and people from others†. 1] That means people should respect and appreciate differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education, and religion. [1] â€Å"But no one can deny that it’s more than this. Diversity management has an important role for the organizations. It is significant to understand diversity in diversity management to manage people†. [l] Other research may suggest that diversity may be in the eye of the beholder. It is a concept that is widely discussed yet poorly understood. It seems that diversity meaning can shift in accordance with people’s social motivations. Rather than reading a more welcoming environment for underrepresented minorities, attempting to achieve equal racial representation for example, may inadvertently allow people to turn diversity into whatever they want it to be. How to cite Wal-Mart, Papers Wal-Mart Free Essays It will describe Wal-Mart as a non-union employer, paying lower wages to heir employees than other retail and grocery stores. They do not offer benefits to all employees and most are unable to afford them. Between Wal-Mart’s business practices in increasing their profits and the need to recognize their social and ethical responsibilities, Wal-Mart needs to find a comfortable balance of profitability and responsibility in order to improve their reputation. We will write a custom essay sample on Wal-Mart or any similar topic only for you Order Now During the process of writing this report, we found that there was much more Information to be discussed about Wal-Mart’s unethical business practice than what was reported. We also wanted to point out that although all companies do everything ossible to lower their costs and maintain high production rates, Wal-Mart has crossed the line over the years by managing their profits In unethical ways compared to otner large corporatlons wno nave Deen etnlcally ana successTully managlng tnelr business practices. Information that can be found on Wal-Mart is changing everyday and it was sometimes difficult to keep up. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Wal-Mart has been recognized as the leader in its industry and the largest company in the nation. With its powerful profit making abilities, Wal-Mart has grown from a local corner store to the money making â€Å"monster† it is today. The company has amaged its reputation over the years due to unethical choices made by its top executives. As a result, its anti-union stance has been singled out on issues concerning benefits, wages, and overall business practices. When reviewing Wal- Mart’s financial statements, one would be overwhelmed to see such high performances; but when you are a Wal-Mart employee, it is no surprise why that is true. Employees have been denied opportunities of advancement and pay raises. Lawsuits have been pending against the company with employees claiming they have been denied promotion opportunities in the company due to their gender, and some mployees have sued for being over-worked and under paid. Wal-Mart has become so big in its industry, that it has lowered the wages through out the country and has influenced economic change. Since most of Wal-Mart’s employees live below the poverty line, it is difficult for them to afford health insurance when deductions out of their paychecks are sometimes as high as 33%. A Wal-Mart employee who obtains health insurance would have a very difficult time raising a family with this kind of premium. Wal-Mart employees are unable to receive healthcare benefits because the cost is too high and their wages are low. As a result, employees face a difficult time deciding whether to sacrifice such a large portion of their pay to obtain health insurance; in most cases Wal-Mart employees persist without health coverage. Deductions for health insurance are higher for Wal-Mart employees than other national retail employees. A Wal-Mart employee pays about 25% more for health insurance than the average retail worker. Wal-Mart has also been opposed by its female employees, who make up two- thirds of its workforce. Women have been discriminated in wage and have been denied any advancement to upper managerial positions – dominated my men. Men ake approximately more than women and have a higher chance of advancing to a better position. Dukes vs. Wal-Mart, filed in 2001, was the largest lawsuit against a private employer in the nation and represented 1. million female employees who were discriminated based on their sex. From lawsults to employee complalnts, Wal-Mart nas Deen Tacea wltn a great deal 0T difficulties that have developed through their own unethical business practices. Although every company’s goal is to lower costs and produce large numbers, Wal- Mart has made sky-rocketing profits by unethically hurting its employees and cutting down their wages. Many question why Wal-Mart, the rich est retailer in the world, chooses not to provide adequate wages or health benefits for its employees. If Wal-Mart were to reform its health benefits program, raise their product prices by as little as a penny, and create a bias free working environment for women, Wal- Mart would be in better terms with its employees and improve the reputation it sacrificed from the start. NOT ON WAL-MART WAGES INTRODUCTION Background Wal-Mart, the large international discount chain was founded by Sam Walton. On May 5, 1950, Walton purchased a store in Bentonville, Arkansas, and opened Walton’s 10. Little did the small town residents know that they would later become the headquarters for the world’s largest retailer store in the U. S. Through his sa’. n. y, and sometimes unusual, business practices, he and his associates led the company forward for thirty years. As Wal-Mart grew into a global corporation it is today, it has dealt with a great deal of criticism by outsiders. Wal-Mart’s ethical citizenship has been questioned numerous times and researched by many. There have been many doubts about Wal- Mart’s business integrity and questions whether their practices are ethical or not. Wal-Mart has faced, and is still facing, a significant amount of controversy over several different issues. Wal-Mart has been caught bribing its employees, discriminating against women, denying its employees of training or promotions, paying low wages, and providing high deductibles for health insurance. Wal-Mart is now paying the consequences and need to become socially responsible in order to maintain a better reputation with society. Although consumers are reeled in with the low prices Wal-Mart has to offer, others feel their ethical beliefs are more important than saving a quick buck. Purpose Statement of The purpose of this report is to examine Wal-Mart’s unethical business practices with a focus on employee wages and high health care deductibles. The report will question Wal-Mart’s aptitude to sell products cheaper than any of its leading competitors and yet maintain making a substantial amount of profit. The report will analyze the unethical practices that have developed through Wal-Mart’s history as a result of focusing on high productivity and profit making strategies. cope The report will describe Wal-Mart’s unethical business practices that affect its employees. It will examine Wal-Mart’s unethical behavior in conducting business with n overall focus on employee wages. Limitations Time constraints have limited the extent of the research. There is a vast amount of information regarding this issue and we are unable to report it all. In addition, no funds are available to conduct primary research. Methods of Research The meth od of research for this paper was secondary research through databases, internet websites, and books. The research databases of California State University, Los Angeles, will be used to locate articles in current and past publication. The databases used are Lexis/Nexis and Business Source Premiere. Also libraries, uch as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at California State University, Los Angeles and Los Angeles Public Library in Porter Ranch, California. The major findings of this study indicate that Wal-Mart being the world’s largest and richest retail chain is setting the standard on wages for retail workers and beyond. Because Wal-Mart has become so big, it has dragged down wages throughout the country. Wal-Mart has become what it is today by selling products at low prices and paying their â€Å"associates† even lower wages. Unhappy Wal-Mart workers complain as much about being over-worked as underpaid. Wal-Mart has its own stated policies at its employees’ expense. Wal-Mart pays it’s â€Å"associates† below basic living wage standards and even below poverty lines. Overworked and Underpaid Employees H. Lee Scott Jr. is the chief executive of the powerful corporation we call Wal-Mart. According to Mr. Scott, by selling vast quantities of goods at its trademark â€Å"Every Day Low Prices,† Wal-Mart has single-handedly raised America’s standard of living, saving consumers about $100 billion a year (Bianco 2). They feel that selling vast quantities of low price merchandise gives them the right to act as if they represent the American people. Scott states, â€Å"Wal-Mart also provides good Jobs for hundreds of thousands of equally deserving employees, offers even part-time workers generous health insurance and other benefits† (Bianco 2). He accuses greedy labor unions, inefficient supermarket chains, and other Wal-Mart opponents of distorting â€Å"the facts† to suit their own purposes. Wal-Mart insists on describing themselves as â€Å"pro-associate, not anti-union,† but is quick to suppress any and all attempts to have unions organize in its stores. In his book The Bully of Bentonville, Anthony Bianco describes how Wal-Mart has ffected wages beyond their own company: Because Wal-Mart Is so Dig, It nas araggea clown wages tnrougnout the country. Economists at the University of California at Berkeley found that Wal-Mart’s expansion during the 1990s cut the income of America’s retail employees by 1. 3 percent-or by $4. 7 billion in 2000 alone. What is more, the depressing effect of Wal-Mart’s expansion on payrolls extended well beyond retailing. According to a 2005 analysis by economists at the Public Policy Institute of California, take-home pay per person fell by 5 percent across the board following Wal-Mart’s entry into a country. The evidence â€Å"strongly suggest(s) that Wal-Mart stores lead to wage declines, shifts to lower-paying Jobs (or less skilled workers), or increased use of part-time workers. (4) Today, Wal-Mart is surrounded by controversy, but the greatest is from within. Unhappy employees are quitting and dozens of class-action lawsuits are pending against the company. Managers have been known to force employees to work extra hours without pay; either by eliminating breaks or by having them clock out and keep working â€Å"off the clock†. This is Wal-Mart’s way of saving on costs at the price of its employees. Store managers earn bonuses based on earnings. Since the corporation dictates the inventory and operating expenses, managers’ only control is labor costs. Joyce Moody, a former manager in Alabama and Mississippi, told the New York Times that Wal-Mart â€Å"threatened to write up managers if they didn’t bring the payroll in low enough†. Depositions in wage and hour lawsuits reveal that company headquarters leaned on management to keep their labor costs at 8 percent of sales or less, and managers in turn leaned on assistant managers to work their employee’s off-the-clock or simply delete time from employee time sheet (ufcw. g). In the late 1990’s Wal-Mart’s annual turnover rate was a remarkably high 70 percent, 40 percent higher than in previous years (Slater 120). Wal-Mart does not see this as being a problem. The constant turnover reduces employees eligible for raises, promotions, benefits, and holds the average wage down. Just another way to keep payroll costs at a minimum. Employee Wages Wal-Mart employs 1. 3 million workers in Just the U. S. and operates more than 3,400 stores throughout the United States. A full time employee working 28- 40 hours a week at Wal-Mart is paid on an average of $250 a week. Besides having low wages, those workers who are interested or eligible in obtaining health insurance for themselves or for their family pay high premiums and frequently don’t get the coverage they expect. The majority of Wal-Mart employees live below the poverty line and after making deductions in taxes and insurance coverage, a Wal-Mart employee’s salary is not enough to provide them a standard way of living. â€Å"The 2003 poverty guideline for a family of four is $18,400, $4,256 more than the $14,144 in earnings a full-time Wal-Mart worker earns at $8 per hour†¦ A household of four with a gross ncome of $23,920 or less could be eligible for food stamps -$9,776 more than a full- time, $8-an-hour Wal-Mart worker would earn in a year. † (www. aflcio. org) These numDers are even worst Tor part time workers. I oaay, one -tnlra 0T Wal-Marts employees are part-time workers. They are limited to less than 34 hours of work per week and are not eligible for benefits and must wait 1 year before they can enroll. Sex Discrimination in the Work Place In addition to Wal-Mart’s low wages, its female workers are more disadvantaged and discriminated against in wage than its male workers. More than two thirds of Wal- Mart’s hourly employees are women and make up most of the lower wage positions which include: working the cash registers, stocking shelves and working the sales floor. Although men take responsibilities in these positions as well, the majority of men who work at Wal-Mart have positions as Management Associates or much higher ranked positions. Seventy-two percent of Wal-Mart employees are female and less than one-third of those women have management positions in the company. With that in mind, the average male employee was paid about $5,000 more in 2001 per year than the average female full-time employee. As Wal-Mart’s own workforce data reveals, women in every major Job category at Wal-Mart have been paid less than men with the same seniority, in every year since 1997 even though the female employees on average have higher performance ratings and less turnover than men. (http://www. walmartclass. com). Dukes vs. Wal-Mart is said to be the largest and most famous gender discrimination lawsuit against a private employer and is the largest class-action suit in U. S. history, representing 1. 6 million current and former female employees. Betty Dukes was the leading plaintiff in the case and sued Wal-Mart for ex discrimination; she was a fifty-four year old African-American woman who worked as a greeter for Wal-Mart. Factors such as seniority and performance were Wal-Mart’s main excuses and reasons that women earned from 5% to 15% less than men. It is disappointing to see that even the cashier positions, that are dominated by women, have men earning more than women. Wal-Mart not only overworks, under pays and discriminates against women, but it also provides neither childcare for workers or affordable family health benefits. Unaffordable Healthcare Deductibles Wal-Mart employees are incapable of receiving healthcare benefits available for hem because of its high cost and their low wages. Since most of Wal-Mart’s employees are unable to afford these health benefits, most of these individuals either turn to government aided insurance such as Medicaid, depend on their spouse’s plans, or expect to see a doctor in rare and emergency cases with no insurance. It is argued that uncovered Wal-Mart employees are not signing up for medical insurance and benefits because most of them exceed the income ceiling and are not eligible. Wal-Mart provides insurance for over 900,000 employees that are with and with out dependants. Employee premiums range between $143. 54 to $249. 71 per month for family coverage and $33. 04 to $72. 04 per month for single coverage. The National Average of workers covered by employer health insurance is 67 percent, and only 47 percent of Wal-Mart’s employees are covered by the company’s health care plan. That is a huge gap when considering that each percent represents thousands of people. Most Wal-Mart employees have a difficult time aec101ng wnetner to attaln nealtn Insurance or stay unlnsurea Tor tne sake 0T saving money. ‘Cynthia Murray, who has worked at a Wal-Mart store in Laurel, Md. , or six years, suffers from asthma, but goes to see a doctor only when she suffers a bad attack. Murray is 50 years old, makes $9. 47 an hour, and says that the Wal-Mart plan that costs $23 a month has a $1,000 deductible, which makes it too expensive for her to use. Another plan subtracts $100 from her paycheck every two weeks. l don’t think anybody working at Wal-Mart has that kind of money,† says Murray. â€Å"All I’m asking from Wal-Mart is a fair share† (Gogol). Many Americans question why Wal- Mart, one of the richest companies in the United States, can’t offer affordable health insurance and pay a living wage. Comparing Wal-Mart’s employee heal th benefits and wages to Costco’s employee health benefits and wages, one will notice that Costco not only pays its employees higher than Wal-Mart but their deductions are far less. â€Å"The average wage at Costco is $17 an hour†¦. a full-time worker at Wal-Mart makes $7. 0 an hour on average. Costco workers pay Just 8% of their health premiums, whereas Wal-Mart workers pay 33% of theirs. Ninety-one percent of Costco’s employees are covered by retirement plans, with the company contributing an annual average of $1 ,330 per employee† (Cascio). Based on these facts, it is easy to ay that Wal-Mart employees are giving up a large portion of their paychecks to obtain health care. Wal-Mart employees who do have health insurance and receive coverage are paying more in premiums but receive less for their money; in large corporations this has become a trend. New laws have been passed intended to force large corporations to control employee wages and reduce insurance deductibles. From law suits to employee complaints, Wal-Mart has recently thought of ways to reduce the cost of health benefits. The new plan would charge monthly premiums ranging from $25. 00 for individuals to $65. 0 for a family, making that 45-65% less than what employees contributed in the company’s existing plan. But it is not enough to reform the reputation Wal-Mart has lost or the vulnerable employees they let down. oncluslons High productivity and lowering costs is one of the top and most important objectives in business. Wal-Mart being the World’s largest retailer can afford to pay their â€Å"associates† more than what the minimum wage offers. They are in fact, the richest retailer in the world and yet neglect to provide their employees affordable health care with a livable wage. Even if Wal-Mart was to pass 100 percent of the wage ncrease on t o consumers, the average impact on a Wal-Mart shopper would be quite small. Wal-Mart’s choice of action toward employee wages, health benefits, and bias work environment have not only brought an enormous shadow over its employees’ lives but also over its own big business reputation. The injustice decisions made through out the history of Wal-Mart has changed many lives and has forever changed the American economy. In the business world, there is big, and then there is Wal-Mart. Recommendations Based on the conclusions presented above, the following actions are recommended: 1 . Retaining â€Å"associates† already on staff would be more cost affective then high employee turnover. 2. Train employees. Give the opportunity to advance and have freedom to associate and organize. 12 3. Our analysis reveals that establishing a higher minimum wage for large retailers like Wal-Mart would have a significant impact on workers living in poverty or near- poverty. 4. In order to increase employee satisfaction, reforming the cost of health insurance would help keep Wal-Mart in good terms with their employees. 5. If Wal- Mart was to raise their prices by as little as a penny to the dollar it would afford them o pay the higher wages. Higher wages provide the employees opportunity to afford health coverage. . Implementing fair employment and labor practices. How to cite Wal-Mart, Papers

Vanessa Williams free essay sample

Examines singers videos as commentary on critics of her earlier career as scandalized first black Miss America. Vanessa Williams is a black singer, actress, and model who in 1983 was forced to resign from her position as Miss America the first black Miss America. Her resignation came after Penthouse magazine printed a series of photographs taken of Williams some years before, photos seen as pornographic by pageant officials, who in any case seek to avoid scandal at all costs. In the year since that event, Williams has achieved much as an actress and singer, not becoming a major star, but working steadily and reaching the top of the pop music charts. Recently she released a video called The Comfort Zone Collection, and one of the videos on this tape is a visualization of the single that Williams recorded that reached the number one position, Save the Best for Last. An examination of this video shows that the images used may be intended to refer to the scandal and to poke