Companies with a Soul.

[Tmy]

Do you feel that companies should have an obligation to society rather than JUST an obligation to max shareholder profits?

Why is it that we expect more from wealthy individuals than we do from compaines. Its OK for a company to lay off thousands in order to boost profits a bit, but if a sole owner did the same to his employees he we be subject to more public scorn. Pro athletes and entertainers are always expected to give back to the community.

Not that companies shouldnt make profits, but that shouldnt be there only concern. Even when compaines are involved wh charity it seems to be driven by good PR and tax breaks.. There are some companies with a social benefit portion in their charters. Ben and Jerrys comes to mind.

Shouldnt all companies have a heart? (Hippee stink all over me, cant get it off)

 

[arcticpenguin]

Some excellent questions, especially since corporations now enjoy almost all the rights of individuals.

 

[HarryKeogh]

although it would be nice if all companies gave back to the community (and im sure there are some that would like to but can't afford to) i don't think any less of the one's that don't. theyre in business to make money. as long as they run a company with it's business ethics in place and treat their employees fairly it's all good in my opinion.

should we as individuals have obligations to help those less fortunate than ourselves? should we have other obligations aside from fattening our savings accounts?

i dont think so and neither should businesses.

 

[Dymanic]

Originally posted by HarryKeogh

should we have other obligations aside from fattening our savings accounts?

i dont think so and neither should businesses.

If you haven't read Mean Business by Al ("chainsaw Al") Dunlap, you should. You'll love it. Sounds like maybe you already have though.

Someone I know (a hopeless, tree-hugging woo-woo) came into some money, and wants to invest -- but not in just any old thing that will make money; she wants to invest 'responsibly'. I went poking around after 'green investing', and what I found surprised me (though it shouldn't have, it's obvious on but a few moment's thought): there's no such thing. Companies that put social or environmental responsibility above profit tend to be edged out by those that have their priorities the other way around. This is natural selection in action, and it works the same way as on the African savanna: nice guys finish last.

This does not bode well for the future.

 

[Grammatron]

If you haven't read Mean Business by Al ("chainsaw Al") Dunlap, you should. You'll love it. Sounds like maybe you already have though.

Someone I know (a hopeless, tree-hugging woo-woo) came into some money, and wants to invest -- but not in just any old thing that will make money; she wants to invest 'responsibly'. I went poking around after 'green investing', and what I found surprised me (though it shouldn't have, it's obvious on but a few moment's thought): there's no such thing. Companies that put social or environmental responsibility above profit tend to be edged out by those that have their priorities the other way around. This is natural selection in action, and it works the same way as on the African savanna: nice guys finish last.

This does not bode well for the future.

There is no profit in helping but that does not mean she can't give that money to some organization that will help environment or society.

 

[Dymanic]

Originally posted by Grammatron

There is no profit in helping but that does not mean she can't give that money to some organization that will help environment or society.

I agree.

Since 'nice' companies tend to lose, rather than earn, money, that's pretty much what you're doing by investing in one of them; it just may not be the most effective way to donate to charity. My advice to her was to differentiate between investing and donating, and try to do both with maximum efficiency.

I guess what all this means is that by the same law of the jungle that entitles corporations to ignore all considerations beyond short-term profits entitles all of us who are not shareholders to do our best to force them (through legislation or whatever means necessary) to conduct their activities within some constraints.