Case Study: Apple's CSR Policies, Labor Rights, and Supply Chain

This case study analyzes Apple's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, highlighting ethical challenges within the company, particularly concerning labor rights and supply chain management. It addresses issues such as long working hours in Chinese factories, conflicts within the company, and environmental policies. Surveys conducted by the organization revealed problems such as excessive working hours, child labor issues, and workers' health and safety concerns, including instances of poisoning and suicides. The analysis covers labor and human rights violations, including the employment of underage workers and explosions in Foxconn. Post-conflict, Apple refined its age verification methods, improved its supply management chain, and strengthened worker health and safety measures. The report suggests more transparency and clarity regarding the standpoints of Foxconn and Wintek workers, advocating for motivational leadership programs to enhance the company's ethical standing. Desklib provides access to similar case studies and solved assignments for students.

APPLIED BUSINESS ETHICS

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF APPLE
• Market leader in technology industry
• Name in the NASDAQ Global Select Stock
Exchange
• Variety of electronic products and services
• Trusted employees all across the world

CSR POLICIES OF APPLE
• Overcoming the risks within the business
performance
• Strict actions against corruption and bribery
• Maintaining the ethical codes of conduct
• Employee discrimination not encouraged

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE
SITUATION
• Conflicts within the company
• Environmental policies and climate change
• Long working hours in Chinese factories
• Problems in internal management

SURVEYS BY THE ORGANIZATION
• Military approach in the organization
• Interviews with the labors of Foxconn
• Child labor issues
• Excessive working hours
• Workers had to work for around 70 hours
• Workers could not enjoy the facilities given to
them because of the long working hours
• Committing suicides by many workers

ANALYSIS OF LABOR AND HUMAN
RIGHTS
• Explosion in Foxconn
• Issues of labor violations
• Employment of underage workers
• Arrangement of training programs

ANALYSIS OF APPLE CONFLICTS
• Shortage of labors in factories
• Guidelines for employment of underage
workers
• Child Labor Remediation Program

ANALYSIS ONWORKERS HEALTH
AND SAFETY
• Securing the health of the employees
• Poisoning of the workers by n-hexane
• Resignation of the employees

APPLE CSR POLICY POST-
CONFLICTS
• Refinement of age verification methods
• Improving the brand reputation of Apple
• Stress on the supply management chain
• Strengthening health and safety of workers

APPLE ANNUAL REPORT

SUGGESTIONS OF MAKING THE
CASE BETTER
• More transparency into the matter
• More clarity on the standpoint of the Foxconn
and Wintek workers
• Motivational leadership programs

REFERENCES
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Theory and empirical evidence.
• Apple.com (2018). Apple. [online] Apple. Available at: https://www.apple.com/ [Accessed 22 Sep.
2018].
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