For my research paper, I chose to evaluate the American Greetings to determine if the company is following ethical practices. American Greetings was an interesting choice because it deals with paper products; therefore, it could have a significant environmental impact on the surrounding area. Another important detail is that the plant is a large operation, which can lead to increased labor issues and questions of product quality. With the aid of ethical theories, I was able to deduce that American Greetings has a strong ethical foundation.
. First, I will address the issue of labor. The maintenance teams are on site and do frequent run-downs to insure that equipment is functioning properly. There is detailed safety procedures regarding every machine and task, the machinery has automatic and manual shutoffs, they use proper safety gear, there is a variety of emergency stations, and the facility is well air-conditioned. Additionally, it has been years since there were any serious injuries; the main problems are back pain and of course … paper cuts. These policies relate to what William Clifford discusses about the Duty of Inquiry in The Ethics of Belief. Clifford uses a ship-owner that is unsure about the safety of the ship before a voyage as an example to illustrate that regardless of the outcome it is unethical not to achieve certainty in regards to the safety of others. As we can see, AG takes the proper steps to ensure that there is a safe work environment.
Next, I analyzed statistics regarding wage and benefits. The average hourly wage is $16.04, which is close to the National Average, and they offer a 401k retirement plan and profit sharing. Moreover AG provides all its employees with Health, Life, Dental, Vision and Workers Comp. benefits. Lastly, management works closely with union representatives and maintain a good relationship. In my own research regarding labor, I found an interesting website called The Glass Door,