Introduction

Ethics Theory and Business Practice3.3 Kantian Theory Part ThreeKantian Ethics Theory Applied to Labour Standards in Offshore Production1aimsto describe how Kantian theory can be applied to evaluate the ethicality of employment practices in an offshore production scenario

2offshoringtransfer of manufacturing and assembly operations to the developing worldlower costsless-stringent labour lawsoutsource production to specialist factory operatorsdescribe offshoringask class to identify some reasons why companies might want to offsho0re production3potential benefits of offshoringfor consumersfor shareholdersfor employees in developing nationsfor local economy in developing nationsfor communities in developing nationsclass activity: identify potential benefits for various stakeholders4some criticisms of labour standards in offshored operationslow paylong hoursharsh managementpoor health and safety standardsno job securityno employee representation(Klein, 2001)ask class why companies are able to get away with these practicescompare labour market dynamics and employment legislation in developing and developed nations5applying Kantian theory to identify corporate responsibilities in relation to offshoringidentifying imperfect dutyidentifying perfect duty6identifying imperfect dutywhat sentiments might the companys managers want other people to show towards them and their company?those managers have an imperfect duty to develop these sentiments in their company and express them towards others7identifying perfect duty: applying the three formulas of the categorical imperativethe formula of universal lawthe formula of the end in itselfthe formula of universal acceptability

81. applying the formula of universal lawask five questions:Question 1: what is the company trying to achieve by its action? Question 2: what is the maxim upon which it is acting? Question 3: what would universal adoption of that maxim consist of?Question 4: what would be the eventual result of universal adoption of that maxim?Question 5: how would this affect the companys success in achieving what it is trying to achieve?

this could be run as a group activity92. applying the formula of the end in itselfis the company treating its employees purely as a means to an end, or is it also treating them as an end in their own right?what might treating employees as an end in their own right consist of?3. applying the formula of universal acceptabilitythe New York Times test (Trevino and Nelson, 2004: 99)would the companys decision-makers be happy for information about labour standards in their offshored operations to appear in the national newspaper? 11theory in practiceRana Plaza: a disaster waiting to happen

see Theory in Practice: Rana Plaza: a Disaster Waiting to Happen

12key pointsKant offers practical rules that can be used to identify perfect duty in business scenariosKant also encourages us to think about our imperfect duty to encourage certain sentiments in businessthe emphasis that Kant places on freedom highlights the desirability of businesspeople making their own reason-based decisions about ethics13referencesKlein, N. (2001) No Logo. London: Harper Collins.Trevino, L.K. and Nelson, K.A. (2004) Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How To Do It Right (3rd edn). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.