principles or manners in life

Introduction

Ethics bring principles or manners in life. It creates colors and respect among human interaction. Similarly, a business organization without ethics and principles is considered a dead organization. Ethics are considered as one of the major pillar of any organization that reflects its culture and traditions to the world. Apart from business, ethics play vital role in our daily life too. Ethics are somehow related to health and safety of an individual. In this assignment, we will mainly focus on the importance of ethics (health and safety) of the employees in any business organization. (Goel & Ramanathan, 2014). We will highlight the deficiencies and areas of improvement regarding to the health and safety of staff working in multi-national firms like AMAZON. (Yoon et al., 2013). We will also focus on the current health and safety policies that are being followed by big business organization like AMAZON. The current agenda and future plan regarding to the health and safety of the employees of AMAZON company will be discussed in detail. As we all know health and safety of the staff is the prime duty of any organization. Some organization hired trained staff to manage the health and safety department. (Yoon et al., 2013). While others, just focus on the profit and perform steps against the nature and business laws. Amazon is one of the biggest organization in all over the world carrying a staff of over eight lac people. Although the company is following business ethics and focusing on the health and safety of their employees but managing a staff of over eight lac employees is really challenging. Therefore, we will add our recommendations that will improve the current health and safety system of Amazon company. (Goel & Ramanathan, 2014)

What Is Business Ethics?
Business ethics are concerned with moral values and manners that are adopted by business owners in their decisions and actions. Business ethics also involves certain business policies and practices that are adopted by the organizations to communicate or deal with their employees, shareholders, investors and customers etc. (MT. Babalola et al., 2011)

Importance of ethics in business

Ethics Improves Your Business Reputation

Business Ethics Help You Retain Top Talent

Good Business Ethics lower the risks and threats

Ethics improves the bond and relationship among stake holders and shareholders

Brief summary of the case study

This case study will highlight the current business ethics policies regarding health and safety of the workers of AMAZON. The real challenges and problems that is being faced by the company shall be discussed with possible solutions. We will also compare the company health and safety policies with other multi-national organizations. In the end recommendations will be provided in order to improve the current health and safety department of Amazon company. (MT. Babalola et al., 2011)

A comparison with other companies

There are only few companies that are bigger than Amazon like Microsoft, Google, Apple and few more. A company carrying a staff of tens of thousands of employees is really hard to manage especially when it comes to health and safety issues. Microsoft health and safety system is considered the best system so far. They are more focused on adopting the business ethics and manners rather gaining profit only. Similarly, Apple company has also set the benchmark in their advanced health and safety system. But that does not mean they never made mistakes and challenges. There is always a room for improvement and soon Amazon will facilitate his employees in the same way as Microsoft and Apple is accomplishing this task.

Report Analysis

The aim of this report is to highlight the areas of improvement in healthy and safety department of Amazon company along with the possible solutions. Furthermore, this report will focus on certain fact and figures that will prove that ethics should be the main priority of any organization. In 2019, the total number of employees in Amazon was a little above 0.8 million. This huge number of employees are the reason behind the success of this multi-national firm which now operates around the globe. Though increasing the number of employees will generate more revenue but also enhance the responsibilities of the health and safety department. If the company policies are strong and there is proper staff that can manage health and safety department then there is no need to worry about as other big organizations are accomplishing this task successfully. (Duhigg et al., 2020)

Jeff Bezos’s Mission: Bezos is not only a business man but an influencer too. He is a man of principle. He always spread positivity. He strongly believes in business ethics. He is well aware of the issues regarding health and safety of employees. But as we have discussed earlier that managing 8 lac employees is itself challenging. The Bezos aims to facilitate his employees as much as he can. Health and safety of the employees is the main priority of Bezos and company board of directors. (MT. Babalola et al., 2011)

Current Environment of Amazon

Unreasonably high standards and expectations. 

It has been reported in Forbes and many other magazines that employees of Amazon company have developed huge expectations and standards. Being an employee of such a huge company is a proud moment. Instead of focusing on the hard work the employees are developing false beliefs. Therefore, employees are becoming mentally ill and frustrated. (Cremer & Vandekerckhove, 2016)

Overly forthright leadership. 

Mr. Bezos' management style is bold and loud. Though it has gained the attention of many young entrepreneurs but the staff of the company is against this bold behavior. The employees demand soft tone and they want to deliver more if they receive casual appreciation. (Cremer & Vandekerckhove, 2016)

Health and Safety Department

Bezos top priority is the health and safety of his employees. He has developed effective team to accomplish this mission. There is an indoor pharmacy, the doctors and other staff who is ready to serve the employees free of cost. Moreover, the permanent employees get free medical insurance for their families too. As the company is spread around the globe and number of employees are increasing in a massive number yearly, therefore it’s time to develop new policies in order to facilitate the fresh hired staff. Figure 1 shows the old health and safety structure of Amazon company that needs few improvements. While Figure 2 shows the current responsibilities of manager and director health and safety department. No doubt, the policies and instructions have minimum flaws but still the employees are doubtful about their safety concerns. The employees either do not trust the director health and safety or they are not receiving the mentioned benefits.

Figure 1: Jeff Bezos instructions to the Director (Health & Safety)

 
Figure 2: Amazon’s Director and Manager (Health and safety department) Responsibilities.

Bezos Business Ethics: Bezos is not a successful business man but a celebrity too. The reason behind his name and fame is AMAZON. No doubt, he is not against ethics and moral values but due to massive workload and other responsibilities he’s unable to drive his attention on this major topic. He has given this responsibility to the Director Health and Safety and due to his negligence the whole company employees are facing issues regarding to their health and safety concerns. (Cremer & Vandekerckhove, 2016). There are two possible solutions of this problem. Mr. Bezos needs to develop a strong check and balance on the health and safety staff as they are unable to perform their duties well. Furthermore, the competent authority can hire new dedicated staff for health and safety department. As new employees always want to impress the co-workers and seniors so it will be challenge for them to bring revolution in the current health and safety department of Amazon company. (Moriarty, 2016)

 Lack of benefits. Unlike Google and Microsoft, Amazon is showing careless behavior in benefiting their employees. This is another reason that employees are getting frustrated and issues regarding health and job safety are originating. If employees are giving their best to the company so they expect that the company will value them back. As Amazon is unable to do meet the basic expectation of the employees, therefore employees are becoming mentally ill.  (Moriarty, 2016)

Disregarding employees' need for work-life balance. 

As the company is generating more and more revenue, the work load on the employees are getting higher and higher. The working hours have been increased and there is a possible reduction in annual leaves too. This has destroyed the work life balance of the employees. Workers want to live a balanced life. Firstly, they are not being appreciated. Secondly, the working load has been increased. Thirdly, the bold and loud behavior of company’s board of directors is developing frustration among employees. Therefore, issues regarding their health and safety are arising day by day.  

Unfair systems of ranking. Employees are not satisfied with the current ranking criteria of Amazon company. There has been found a huge discrimination and favoritism. The seniors give preference to the subordinates on the basis of color and caste. This culture has made employees mentally ill. This system has demotivated the employees of Amazon. The workers want justice. This will bring motivation in the employees.

Identification and selection

According to my research and experience ethics should be on top priority in any organization. The firm owners and employees must focus on moral values. Bezos top priority is providing the best facilities to his employees. The workers are also appreciating this behavior. But due to negligence of few health and safety staff, whole environment has become un pleasant. My experience says health and safety should be the top priority of everyone regardless the staff belongs to logistics department, maintenance department or labor department.

Conclusion

Thus the above fact and figures clearly demonstrate the importance of ethics in any organization. Health and safety is the basic right of every worker. The goal of the company should be to serve his employees and community rather than earning profit. (Duhigg et al., 2020). Amazon company has also faced issued regarding to health and safety concern of his employees. If the company focus on the above highlighted weak areas, then there is a huge possibility that employees will start trusting and respecting the Amazon company again. This will boost up the confidence of employees. The efficiency of the work will be improved. The work life balance is necessary for the employees. The staff should be appreciated and praised in terms of awards and certificates. The promotions must be done on merit. This will remove mental illness and stress of workers. Health and safety should be given at first priority without compromising. (Moriarty, 2016)

Recommendations

We have studied the current policies regarding health and safety of the employees of Amazon company. The current system needs few improvements. As the goal is to provide health and safety to every single employee on top priority, therefore, this can be done by increasing the number is staff of health and safety department. Another way of achieving the goal is conducting training and workshops monthly. These workshops will demonstrate the importance of health and safety in life. The professionals will guide the workers in maintaining work life balance. These professional will motivate the employees. This healthy activity will kill the mental illness of company employees. Another healthy recommendation is introducing the feedback policy system. The workers should be able to file a complaint. The complaint should be delivered to the concerned authority electronically so that there will be no involvement of any other employee. Moreover, applying strong check and balance on director and manager of health and safety department will results in decreasing the errors. The employees want work life balance. The workers want appreciation. This can be done by awarding them and giving the certificates of recognition. By following these recommendation mental and physical illness of the employees of Amazon company can be reduced.

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