Foxconn's HRM: Analysis of Employer Responsibility and Ethical Issues

This report examines the human resource management practices of Foxconn, focusing on the company's employer responsibility in the context of employee well-being and ethical considerations. The report highlights the alarming suicide rates among Foxconn employees and attributes them to factors such as poor working conditions, low wages, excessive overtime, and the violation of labor laws, including the use of child labor. It also addresses the role of Apple, as a client, in the situation. The report emphasizes the importance of ethical leadership and organizational culture in preventing such issues. It references academic sources to support its analysis and provide insights into the complexities of labor practices within the global supply chain. The report concludes by holding Foxconn primarily responsible for the issues and underscores the need for improved working conditions and adherence to labor laws.

RUNNING HEAD: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
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Employer Responsibility

Human Resource Management
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Employer Responsibility
Foxconn is the single largest employer in mainland China; the company employed 1.3
million people. Foxconn mainly produce Apple iPhones and tablets and with that in 2010, 18
employees attempted to suicide from the factory (Lucas, Kang & Li,2013). Increasing suicide in
Foxconn was the alarming situation for the company as well as for Apple. The blame of this
condition is mainly on Foxconn, as it is responsibility of the employer to ensure health and safety
of employees. Further, numerous labor abuses in the company such as lower pay, child labor,
pressure on employees, and illegal overtime can be reasons of suicide (Pun, Shen, Guo, Lu,
Chan, & Selden, 2016). Moreover, it is the duty of employer to understand the needs and wants
of employees and motivates them to work. Further, there are many ethical activities that are
performed by employer in order to retain and motivate employees. Here, in Foxconn poor
working conditions and breach of laws are the main cause of suicide. On the other side, CEO of
Foxconn is also equally responsible for this condition, as he is a leader and should focus on
building strong organization culture (Litzinger,2013).
On the other side, Apple is a clinet of Foxconn as most of production of iPhones is done
in China by Foxconn. However, Apple is not fully blamed for this condition as Foxconn also
violated Apple rules for supplier. Hence, Foxconn has been blamed for suicides as the employer
treated employees poorly, violated labor laws, violated clients supplier rules and hired illegally
child labor in the factor to boost productivity.

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References
Litzinger, R. (2013). The labor question in China: Apple and beyond. South Atlantic
Quarterly, 112(1), 172-178.
Lucas, K., Kang, D., & Li, Z. (2013). Workplace dignity in a total institution: Examining the
experiences of Foxconn’s migrant workforce. Journal of business ethics, 114(1), 91-106.
Pun, N., Shen, Y., Guo, Y., Lu, H., Chan, J., & Selden, M. (2016). Apple, Foxconn, and Chinese
workers’ struggles from a global labor perspective. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 17(2),
166-185.