Apple

Apple’s Responsibility Audit Report: Is Apple Really Responsible?Examine the business practices of Apple and consider whether these activities demonstrate responsible corporate behavior. Companies are much more than institutions made for the sake of profit. They directly affect the environment, communities, workers, etc. Therefore companies should work at the highest levels of responsibility and take into account the interests of its stakeholders. Such policy responsible business policy functions as a self-regulating mechanism which monitors and ensures active compliance of the business’s actions with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms (CSR 2012). Although the field of social responsibility is relatively young, there is a growing demand for socially and environmentally responsible products which forces companies to manage a responsible business while creating a meaningful product. However, to be responsible, business should work in a systemic way and be pervasive in its practices so that it can simultaneously serve all its stakeholders in the pentad framework: customers, cofounders, Earth, community, and investors (Sanford 2011). Systemic and responsible business practices facilitate the company to make long term profits (CSR 2012). Reasonably, community expects that business will live up to the laws and the highest ethical standards, and will function in all ways as a contributing member of a society (Sanford 2011). Apple realizes theses high expectations of its stakeholders and tries to meet them. The company is committed to ensure that “working conditions in supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible” (Supplier Responsibility 2012). To begin with, Apple is committed to meet the needs of its employees. It requires responsible practices to uphold human rights of workers it terms of antidiscrimination, fair treatment, prevention of involuntary and underage labor, juvenile workers protections, working hours, wages and benefits, freedom of association (Code of Conduct 2012). The company strives for equality and protects its employees from any kind of discrimination, including prohibition of discriminatory use of pregnancy or other medical tests(Supplier Responsibility 2012). Additionally, Apple set a 60 hour working week with one day of rest for its workers, while it is allowing changes in case of an emergency (Code of Conduct2012). However, facility audits found frequent instances of over-working. The working limit was often exceeded, with some employees working more than 72 hours more than 6 consecutive days (Duhigg, Barboza 2012). Therefore, Apple has established working day control system which provides weekly tracking of compliance with the working hours regulations at its facilities (Progress Report 2012).Apple also requires fair remuneration policy in all its facilities. It requires suppliers to pay wages and benefits timely and adequately as to meet the regional laws and regulations. The company prohibits deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure (Code of Conduct 2012). To ensure compliance with the Code, Apple audits it suppliers regularly, and when a violation is found, it requires its suppliers to address the problem immediatelyand prevent its recurrence (Progress Report 2012).Apple is aimed at improving health and safety performance at its …