“Employers Often Ignore Office Affairs, Leaving Co-Workers in Difficult Spot” Most Ers look the other way when issues of morality arise around extramarital affairs But co-workers don’t look the other way, may feel morally compromised if colleague expects them to be complicit in hiding affair from spouse What would you do? Some states ban discrimination on basis of marital status, so in those states if Er terminated married Ee for affair, but not an unmarried Ee, could be unlawful discrimination Proportion of men admitting to ever having had an extramarital affair is 22%, same as ten years ago, cf. 15% of women, up from 10% previously Most of these affairs are taking place in workplace Source: Wall Street Journal, 3/10/05

Pros and cons of employee drug testing Figure 18.2 Pros and cons of employee drug testing Arguments Favoring Employee Drug Testing Cooperates with U.S. “War on Drugs” campaign Improves employee productivity Promotes safety in the workplace Decreases employee theft and absenteeism Reduces health and insurance costs Arguments Opposing Employee Drug Testing Invades an employee’s privacy Violates an employee’s right to due process May be unrelated to job performance May be used as a method of employee discrimination Lowers employee morale Conflicts with company values of honesty and trust May yield unreliable test results Ignores effects of prescription drugs, alcohol, and over-the-counter drugs Drug use an insignificant problem for some companies

“Is Your Grocery List Politically Correct?” “Fair Trade Certified” food products being embraced by some of biggest food marketers Now that “organic” is strictly defined and regulated by gov’t (USDA), alternative food producers looking for new ways to express difference in products “Morally pure marketing” partly an outgrowth of growing clamor about free trade and effects of globalization on third-world workers Mainstream companies getting on board Market for Fair Trade Certified products three times larger (in sales volume) in Europe than in U.S. Part of move to cater to growing niche of shoppers willing to spend more money for products that let them feel they are acting in socially responsible fashion “LOHAS” consumers (“lifestyles of health and sustainability”) Estimated that nearly one-third of U.S. consumers qualify as LOHAS – significantly motivated in their purchases by concern for their health and the environment (at least according to Natural Marketing Institute) Source: Wall Street Journal, 2/17/04

“Is Your Grocery List Politically Correct?” TERM: Fair Trade Certified WHAT IT IS: Indicates products comply with standards set by Transfair USA and the Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International. WHAT IT MEANS: Workers are guaranteed above commodity prices (e.g., coffee farmers $1.26/lb vs. $0.70); workers have right to organize; men/women receive equal wages; no child labor. Also indicates some environmental protections. WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN: Doesn't mean that products that don't have the certification are unfair to workers or farmers. TERM: Fairly Traded WHAT IT IS: Unofficial, uncertified term. WHAT IT MEANS: Indicates that the company that made the products believes it was fair to the workers. WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN: Because any company can call their products "fairly traded,” it doesn't necessarily mean anything. TERM: Rainforest Alliance Certified WHAT IT IS: A term licensed by Rainforest Alliance, a New York-based non-profit dedicated to protecting biodiversity. WHAT IT MEANS: Rainforest Alliance examined the farm or production site for environmental soundness and fairness to workers. WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN: Doesn't guarantee that workers got more than minimum wage in their countries -- which is sometimes under $2 a day.

“Is Your Grocery List Politically Correct?” TERM: Certified Sustainable WHAT IT IS: Certification licensed by various nonprofits and is often used to indicate Rainforest Alliance Certified products. WHAT IT MEANS: Indicates that production aimed to protect the environment, treat workers well, and benefit the local community. WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN: Doesn't guarantee one standard set of practices, because certifying organizations can define "sustainable” in different ways. TERM: Sustainable WHAT IT IS: Unofficial, uncertified term. WHAT IT MEANS: Products are made in a way that is profitable, environmentally sound and beneficial for local communities. WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN: Doesn't guarantee anything specific.