Tag: safety

Japan considers stress tests for nuclear reactors (via Financial Post | Business)

On By southwerkIn business ethics1 Comment

This is certainly a classic case of closing the barn door after the animal has fled. Yet, the measure is probably no going to pass, even in the face of solid evidence that the plant was already in partial meltdown from the earthquake before the tsunami hit.

James Pilant

TOKYO – Japan’s government is considering conducting stress tests on nuclear reactors to ease safety concerns which have blocked the restart of idled reactors since the March quake and tsunami, including several that have completed maintenance and complied with new, stiffer safety standards. Japan is struggling with a drawn-out crisis after meltdowns at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant, site of the world’s worst nuclear incident in 25 … Read More

via Financial Post | Business

Moral Implications of the Workplace Part 2 (via Ethical Realism)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I found this an informative post. There were things in it I didn’t know. It touches on many ethical issues, many of the critical ones in the lives of employees. Take this for an example –

Companies often pressure employees to get involved in civic activities, such as “running for the local school board or heading up a commission in the arts,” but such pressure must not constitute coercion (ibid.). Employees must not be disciplined or dismissed for a lack of participation, and even public embarrassment could be considered to be a form of coercion. For example, “[m]embers of the Army Band… won a suit claiming that the posting of names of soldiers who had not contributed to the United Way constituted coercion” (245).

Now that coercion is going to become far more intense. The supreme court’s Citizens United decision allows limitless spending on influencing employees.

And how about this?

Some businesses pressure employees to undergo “personal growth” to help people “realize their potential for perceiving, thinking, feeling, creating, and experiencing” (ibid.). There are many different kinds of intensive groups and companies often use “team-building groups to facilitate the attainment of production and related goals as well as to provide opportunities for improved human relations and personal growth” (ibid.). Again, intensive group experience can improve productivity, so it is relevant to job performance. However, employees should not be punished for refusing to participate.

This is one I find particularly loathsome. Chasing around as forced comrades in some strange locale for some strange idea of development inevitably tied in to some bizarre theory like “emotional intelligence,” is pretty close to forcing me to live in a version of a horror movie without hope of escape.

So, please give this writing your attention.

James Pilant

My thanks to Ethical Realism.

I have already discussed various moral implications of the workplace in part 1 of “Moral Implications of the Workplace,” and I will continue the discussion here by considering (a) privacy, (b) work conditions, and (c) job satisfaction. This discussion is based on chapter seven of Business Ethics (Third Edition, 1999) by William Shaw. Privacy We have a right to privacy, and a lack of privacy can endanger our livelyhood. We don’t want people to see … Read More

via Ethical Realism

Things that Matter: Drug Residue in Chinese Pork (via The Food Ethics Blog)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I have not spoken of Chris MacDonald the last few weeks having been tied up with a number of things, such as the possible melt down in Japan. He is the most important web writer on business ethics. He’s been out there publishing regularly for more than four years.

I subscribe by e-mail. If there is any web site I can recommend, this is number one.

Courtesy of Victoria Packing

This blog post is fascinating and on a subject I was unaware of. You should read it, favorite the site, subscribe and then sit comfortable pleased with your decision making.

James Pilant

You could tell a lot about your average foodie or food-safety advocate by asking them to list food-related issues by level of importance. Some people tend to focus on the latest feel-good trend (e.g., at least some versions of localism) and unsupported conjecture (e.g., many versions of the anti-GMO stance). Others focus on, you know, things that really can hurt us and that really require someone identifiable to take action. Here’s one that reall … Read More

via The Food Ethics Blog

Ethics and Rigging (via Rigging & Fall Protection)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I suppose I must be naive but I had never heard the term, “value engineered.”

I want you to read this blog entry by professionals who know the importance of safety. This is business ethics on the front line of service and selling. I am very much impressed.

James Pilant

Ethics and Rigging Over the past 10 years we have heard a lot of comments made in the shop or on the telephone with clients (or want-t0-be customers) about rigging products and projects.  Sometimes the customer talks to us about getting the job done s … Read More

via Rigging & Fall Protection