Do Now

1. Do Now In your notebooks: • How do you positively contribute to society? • Do you do this voluntarily? • Do you feel it is your responsibility to perform this action? Why or why not? • Do you feel it is a business’ responsibility to contribute to society? If so, to whom are they responsible?

2. Social Responsibility Social responsibility: duty to do what is best for the good of society • Goal of a business is to make profit • Have to provide safe products, create jobs, protect the environment, and contribute to overall standard of living in society • Ethical question occurs whenever a conflict of interest exists • Conflict of interest: when a business is tempted to put profits before social welfare Turn and Talk: In groups of 2, identify scenarios in the workplace that may occur where a conflict of interest exists • How would a certain course of action help you? • How would it hurt the business you work for? • What will you do? Why?

3. Responsibility to Customers Customers are a business’ primary responsibility • Food and Drug Administration (FDA): government agency that protects consumers from dangerous or falsely-advertised products • J&J in 1982 • People dying from poisoned Tylenol capsules • Company alerted public and recalled bottles at cost of $100 million • Put Tylenol back on market in tamper-proof bottles • Some companies use unethical means to eliminate competition • Conspire with other companies to control market for a product, impacting supply and price • Consumers have less choice, so productivity decreases • When new market is created, company can’t compete • Entertainment studios control market in 1940s

4. Responsibility to Employees Businesses and CSR • What are 3 key reasons why Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is important? • List some benefits of CSR Volunteerism = way for businesses to tackle societal problems • Employees paid to take limited number of days off to help community • Implemented in many companies Businesses have social responsibility to create jobs • Must create safe working conditions, equal treatment, and fair pay • Government has passed laws to protect workers from many issues over years

5. Laws Protecting Workers • Equal Pay Act of 1964: requires men and women be paid same wages for doing equal working • Americans with Disabilities Act: bans discrimination against persons with physical or mental disability • Codes of ethics adopted to ensure workers are treated fairly • Leads to higher morale, more productivity, and lower turnover rates

6. Responsibility to Environment • Businesses and people pollute environment in 19th and 20th centuries to gain profit • Only benefited few • Became ethical issue • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): federal agency that enforces rules to protect environment and control pollution • Increasing number of businesses buying recycled paper to use in businesses • Los Angeles Times uses recyclable paper and environmentally-friendly soy-based ink • Honda and Toyota offer eco-cars in order to reduce air pollution

7. Your Turn • Navigate company website and examine ways in which they are socially responsible • List as many programs as possible in which they participate/host • To whom are they acting responsibly? • How do you think they can enhance their social responsibility to new levels? • Robbinsville Apprentice Brochures

8. Exit Slip • In what ways is your Robbinsville Apprentice Business socially responsible? • To whom are they responsible? Why?