Blowing the Whistle | Case / Opinion | Guilt by Omission

Guilt by Omission

You work for a large retail clothing company that spends a large amount of its advertising budget emphasizing that its clothes are “Made in America.” 

You discover that only 15 percent of its garments are actually “made” in America. 

The other 85 percent are actually either cut from patterns overseas and assembled here in the United States, or cut and assembled overseas and imported as completed garments. 

Your hometown depends on this clothing company as the largest local employer. 

Several of your friends and family work at the local garment assembly factory. 

Should you go public with this information? Give your explanation.



Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e

CSR | Case / Opinion | Closing down a factory

Closing down a factory

Please prepare arguments for and against the following behavior:

Your company is managing to maintain a good profit margin on the computer parts you manufacture in a very tough economy. Recently, an opportunity has come along to move your production capacity overseas. The move will reduce manufacturing costs significantly as a result of tax incentives and lower labor costs, resulting in an anticipated 15 percent increase in profits for the company. However, the costs associated with shutting down your United States–based operations would mean that you wouldn’t see those increased profits for a minimum of three years. Your U.S. factory is the largest employer in the surrounding town, and shutting it down will result in the loss of over 800 jobs. The loss of those jobs is expected to devastate the economy of the local community.







Source: Ghillyer_Business Ethics A Real World Approach 2e