My Answers to HWcase2, Q3

 

Q3. Write up your case on your blog with the following subheadings:

• “The facts of the case.” Here is where you describe the case in your own words.

• “Analysis.” Examine the case in terms of the consequentialist and deontological approaches.

• “Conclusions.” 

• “Future environment.” Describe your vision of a future in which technology is more advanced than today, or society has changed in some significant way.

• “Future scenario.” Describe how this ethical case (or an analogous one) would or should play out in the environment of the future, and give your opinions about it.

Answer:

The facts of the case.

The root of the case is that in 2011 a Gucci Store in Shenzhen, China was accused by five employees of unequal and inhuman work conditions. The employees sent a letter to the headquarters and resigned but no real action was taken. The story spread on social media and after the company went under fire the employees were taken seriously. It took an investigation by the Human Resource Bureau for the five employees to receive justice.

 

Analysis.  

The five employees were likely pushed to the brink under harsh conditions and decided to seek help from the headquarters expecting a response. The headquarters likely tried to brush things under the rug until the story was exposed to the public. The Gucci headquarters was under pressure from the public and the Human Resource Bureau. Therefore, the Gucci headquarters was forced to give an adequate response to reduce the backlash they would receive. The headquarter probably already knew of the working conditions but had successfully prevented any issues from happening until this case. If it was not for social media, the five employees would be out of a job and never get justice. Gucci's behavior goes against virtue ethics. What was occurring at the Gucci Store in Shenzhen, China was not moral. The mistreatment of humans regardless of the environment violates the idea of being moral.

Conclusions. 

 

The Gucci headquarters later released a statement saying “Gucci does not and will not endorse or tolerate the alleged malpractices.” And with the assistance of the Human Resource Bureau the five employees got a settlement from Gucci for their troubles. The store manager and assistant manager were also replaced as a result of the Gucci headquarter’s response.

 

Future Environment. 

 

In a future environment, the development of social media and outlets for communicating mistreatment would be highly advanced. A story like this would not go unseen and the company would have received a wider spread backlash. 

 

Future scenario. 

 

If this case were to occur in the future, the five employees would have had a better chance of getting justice. Rather than waiting for the story to be exposed on social media, the employee would have posted about the issue and had it go viral. The favor of the case would be further in the hands of the employees. Gucci would also have had to pay a larger settlement given that human rights are a more critical topic now than ever. Gucci would have still tried to cover up this issue because the stakes would be much higher, however, the discovery of this cover-up would be shunned more. The five employees would have won this case then and in the future.