Reference no: EM131915235
Question: Using Ethical Reasoning: Two Cases
Obviously, ethical theory does not provide magical answers to life's most difficult questions. Those theories are useful, however, in identifying and sorting the issues that lead to better decision making. Apply those theories to the Toyota and Malden Mills cases that follow, as you think about when layoffs are ethical.
Are Layoffs Unethical? Case One-Toyota
Toyota has tried to continue its half-century-old policy of not laying off permanent employees. When Toyota halted production in some of its U.S. plants in 2008, the 4,500 idled workers were kept on with full pay and benefits at a cost estimated at more than $50 million. Toyota executive Norm Bafunno said the retention decision was easy because the company used the economic slowdown as an opportunity to retrain its team members. Bafunno said Toyota used a shared sacrifice approach:
During these times, we suspended all overtime, we suspended all variable compensation (bonuses), we suspended pay raises, and in addition, for our senior leadership team base pay was reduced everyone needs to sacrifice together.
As Latondra Newton, general manager of Toyota's Team Member Development Center in Erlanger, Kentucky said: "We're not just keeping people on the payroll because we're nice. At the end of all this, our hope is that we'll end up with a more skilled North American workforce." Despite its protective policies, Toyota has laid off thousands of temporary workers and in 2010, its Fremont, California plant was shut down leaving 4,700 workers without jobs. Toyota's lifetime employment policy suffered another jolt in 2012 when 8 percent of its workforce at its Melbourne, Australia, factory reportedly were laid off owing to declining demand for some models.
Questions
1. Do you share Toyota's vision that all workers should sacrifice in order to avoid layoffs for permanent workers?
2. If so, are you a "socialist"?
3. If not, are you selfish?
4. Broadly, is shared sacrifice a moral wrong? Explain.
|
What is the gain or loss in the futures market
: Did the basis strengthen or weaken? Explain. What is the gain or loss in the futures market? Show your work.
|
|
What form of ethical reasoning did autry seem to employ
: Fifty-year-old Wesley Autry, waiting with his two young daughters in January 2007 at a New York City subway station, saw a man collapse and fall off the passeng
|
|
Two stocks to be correctly priced relative to each other
: What would the risk-free rate have to be for the two stocks to be correctly priced relative to each other?
|
|
What is the annual operating cash flow-ocf-from project
: Calculate the project's internal rate of return. What is the annual operating cash flow, OCF, from this project?
|
|
Discuss the century-old policy
: Toyota has tried to continue its half-century-old policy of not laying off permanent employees. When Toyota halted production in some of its U.S. plants.
|
|
Give a general explanation of why the p or e changed
: Compute earnings per share and the P/E ratio for 2013.Compute earnings per share and the P/E ratio for 2014.
|
|
What scientific advancements will be made in the study
: What scientific advancements will be made in the study of gender as the field becomes less patriarchal, and as a healthy combination of reductionism forms.
|
|
What is the quick ratio
: The Dry Dock has inventory of $431,700, accounts payable of S94.200, cash of S51.950, and accounts receivable of $103,680. What is the cash ratio?
|
|
How much money for the new year should be anticipated
: How much money for the new year should be anticipated of uncollectible accounts if accounts receivable was $17,000 and uncollectible accounts Is $440
|