Five unethical companies | Ethical Consumer (2024)

FAQs

Five unethical companies | Ethical Consumer? ›

Hoarding, cheating, corruption, profiteering and engaging in dishonest acts are some of the manifold aspects of unethical customer behaviour (UCB). Such behaviours demand attention as they damage firms, harm their employees and deprive other customers from positive shopping experiences.

Hoarding, cheating, corruption, profiteering and engaging in dishonest acts are some of the manifold aspects of unethical customer behaviour (UCB). Such behaviours demand attention as they damage firms, harm their employees and deprive other customers from positive shopping experiences.

The ERC reported that employees most often observe the following five unethical behaviors in the workplace: 1) employees misusing company time, 2) supervisors abusing subordinates, 3) employees stealing from their employers, 4) employees lying to their employers, and 5) employees violating company internet policies.

Companies such as Google, Amazon, Nestle, Tesco, Coca-Cola, the Big Four accounting firms, Facebook, Nike, and McDonald's have all faced scrutiny for their actions across various ethical dimensions, including tax avoidance, worker exploitation, irresponsible marketing, and environmental damage.

A food company that uses misleading photos of their food items to make them look better than they actually are is an example of unethical advertising. Another example would be when a drug company omits information about negative side effects associated with their products.

If the good or service is one which can damage the health or well-being of the consumer or those connected with the consumer, then the producers are offering an unethical product.

Amazon has been criticized for: Its treatment of staff, including inadequate wages, extended hours, and a lack of job security. Employing aggressive tax avoidance strategies, leading to the payment of little or no taxes in certain nations.

According to reports, Shein has been accused of poor labor practices, including allegations of child labor and forced labor. Shein claims to have a strict code of conduct that prohibits child labor and ensures fair working conditions.

Ethics can be defined as going beyond what is legal and doing what is right, even when no one is looking. So when we talk about unethical behavior in business, we're talking about actions that don't conform to the acceptable standards of business operations, failing to do what is right in every situation.

The key ethical scandals of the Coca-Cola company with respect to its stakeholders has been found to involve plastic waste (pollution), channel stuffing, depletion of water resources, racial discrimination, impact on health, disputes with distributors, and contamination scare.

How has Amazon been unethical? ›

Employee mismanagement

Amazon has been accused of mistakenly firing employees on medical leave as no-shows, not fixing an inaccuracy in its payroll systems which resulted in some of its blue- and white-collar employees being underpaid for months, and violating labor law by denying unpaid leave.

Is Apple ethical? Although Apple is ethical overall, there are certain ethical issues that still remain. For example, iPhones are produced with consideration for social responsibility, yet Apple has previously faced accusations of human rights violations, creating e-waste, and tax avoidance.

Honest and ethical behavior in all matters relating to the business of the Company contributes significantly to achieving these goals. Our business is built on public trust and confidence, and the expectation of our guests and customers that they can depend on our products and services.

Nike has been criticised for using sweatshops in emerging economies as a source of labour. The Nike Sweatshop Scandal began in 1991 when Jeff Ballinger published a report detailing the appalling working conditions of garment workers at Nike's factory in Indonesia.

As an ethical and responsible corporate citizen, Walmart is dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact and preserving the health and safety of our associates and customers.

Thus the behaviour which violates the mostly accepted norm prevailing in the society is defined as consumer misbehaviour. There are various types of misbehaviours shown by consumer and some of them are stealing goods or shoplifting from retail stores.

An example of something that is legal but unethical is paying employees minimum wage without any increase over time, which leads to them struggling to manage their living expenses. An example of something illegal but ethical is driving over the speed limit.

Things that are immoral (for many) but are not illegal.

Cheating on your spouse. Breaking a promise to a friend. Using abortion as a birth control measure. People can not be arrested or punished with imprisonment or fines for doing these things.