Chapter 4Social Responsibility of Business and

Government

Social Responsibility

• The duty by a business to contribute to the well-being of a community.

• Includes:– Protection to the environment– Minorities and women in the workplace– Employment of the physically challenged– Healthy and safe work environment

Environmental Protection

• Non-renewable Resource– A natural resource that cannot be replaced when

used up.– Gas, oil, minerals (copper and iron)

A socially responsible business takes actions that improve or change operations that cause pollution.

Environmental Protection

Example:Starbucks uses recycled material for their coffee cup sleeves saving 78,000 trees per year.

Environmental Protection

Example:Toyota offers the Prius that is the first mass market hybrid vehicle.

Environmental Protection

Example:Run and operate an “e-waste” program for disposing of and recycling old computers.

Workplace Diversity

• More sensitive to the roles of women, ethnic groups, and older workers.

• ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act• “Equal Opportunity Employer”

Job Safety and Employee Wellness

• OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Promoting good health through the workplace

Business Ethics

Ethics– Principles of morality or rules of conduct

Business Ethics– Rules about how businesses and their employees

ought to behaveCode of Ethics– Set of rules for guiding the actions of employees

or members of an organization.

Business Ethics Checklist

• Is the action illegal?• Does the action violate company or professional

standards?• Who is affected, and how, by the action?

Trademark

• A trademark is word, letter, or symbol linked with a specific company or product.

• Company names, team emblems, label designs, logos, etc.

Copyright

• A copyright protects the creative work of authors, composers and artists.

• Copyright protection lasts for the life of the person receiving the copyright.

Patent

• Give the inventor the sole right to make, use, or sell the item for 17 years.