Wednesday, March 23, 2011

What is a good employer?

Khalil A. Rahsheed
T. Fry
Business Ethics CM 1800
A Good Employer
            To be a good employer is to be practically or ethically speaking an individual who desires to promote the greatest good for the world, using the utility principle. Solely seeking to produce profit is, ethically speaking, a form of egoism, finding ways to make money for the company or oneself regardless of all others.  While utilizing the utility principle; the stakeholders: investors, employees, and customers, none possess a more important position in the employers consideration in creating a successful business formula that benefits all. A good employer is one who will provide an opportunity for his or her employees own growth, as well as in the business community and world at large. While any employer has to turn a profit to sustain the business; the profit margin should not be the focus of any employer, and certainly not of a good employer. To uplift, enlighten and employ are definitely the characteristics of an employer who is considerate of the world around him of her. A good employer need not exploit his or her employees to make a profit. A living wage can still be paid to workers while the company still makes a profit. So for anyone to say that wages are not an ethical concern is absurd. America would not have a minimum wage if citizens didn’t believe that wages were not an ethical issue! Let’s remember, ethics is: the perception of right or wrong, good or evil. Freed slaves after the American Civil War were offered jobs at slave wages, essentially room and board. One could say that they had the ability to refuse those opportunities and split hairs about what is right or wrong; but it is clearly an ethical issue.     
           

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Langston Hughes Visits Akron

Langston Hughes Visits Akron
            Monday, February 28, 2011 our local newspaper the “Akron Beacon Journal” published and article by Mark J. Price. In his article Mr. Price details the controversy surrounding Mr. Hughes’ visit to our town, during the era of the “Red Scare.” I consider this an extremely significant article in light of the encroachment of the “religious right” and other theologically based groups or organizations who feel driven to manipulate American politics. The fact that this article appeared on the last day of Black History Month put a smile on my face, because so much of black history is presented in a framework of theology. I found it refreshing to read about perceptions of black history from a secular standpoint. The Ohio connection with Hughes was a pleasant surprise as well: his grandmother was Mary Leary Langston. You hear that blood family, a Langston. Please checkout the article, I believe you’ll enjoy it.
References:
Price, Mark J. "No Ryhme or Reason." Ohio.com - Www.ohio.com. Akron Beacon Journal, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ohio.com/>.
Newspaper Article