IntroductiontobusinessResponsibilitytoEmployees directory HYPERLINK\l

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"1.EmployeeSafety PAGEREF_Toc528444332\h22. ProperTreatmentbyOtherEmployeesEmployee Relationship Problems PAGEREF_Toc528444333\h3Diversity PAGEREF_Toc528444338\h3PreventionofSexualHaras*entPreventing Sexual Harassment PAGEREF_Toc528444339\h5EqualOpportunity PAGEREF_Toc528444340\h63. HowFirmsEnsureResponsibilitytowardEmployeesHow companies ensure that employees are held accountable PAGEREF_Toc528444341\h7CodeofResponsibilityCode of Responsibility PAGEREF_Toc528444346\h7GrievancePolicy PAGEREF_ Toc528444347\h84ConflictwithEmployeeLayoffsEmployee Layoffs Conflict PAGEREF_Toc528444351\h9Firmsalsohavearesponsibilitytotheiremployeestoensuretheirsafety, The company has the responsibility to ensure the safety of its employees, the proper treatment of other employees and the same equal opportunities. EmployeeSafetyFirmsensurethattheworkplaceissafeforemployeesbycloselymonitoringtheproductionprocess.SomeobvioussafetyprecautionsaretocheckmachineryandequipmentforproperworkingconditionsThe company ensures that the workplace is safe for employees by closely monitoring the production process. Companies need to take some obvious safety precautions to keep their employees safe, such as checking the normal working conditions of machines and equipment; Require safety glasses or any other device that can prevent injury; Emphasize any special safety precautions at training seminars. Firmsthatcreateasafeworkingenvironmentpreventinjuriesandimprovethemoraleoftheiremployees.Manyfirmsnowidentifyworkplacesafetyasoneoftheirmaingoals. DowChemicalCompanyhasadoptedapledgeofnoaccidentsandnoinjuriestoitsemployees.LeviStrauss& Co.imposessafetyguidelinesnotonlyonitsU.S.facilitiesbutalsoontheAsianfactorieswheresomeofitsclothesaremade. Companies that create a safe work environment can improve employee morale by preventing work-related injuries. Many companies now have workplace safety as one of their main goals. The Dow Chemical Company is committed to not having accidents on the job and not causing harm to employees. Levi Strauss & Co. Safety guidelines are being implemented not only in the U.S. but also at some garment production sites in factories in Asia. Starbucks Coffee Company has developed a code of conduct designed to improve the quality of life for employees in its coffee-producing regions. Ownersofafirmrecognizethatthefirmwillincurcostsinmeetingresponsibilitiessuchasemployeesafety.Thefirm’ Company owners recognize that companies incur costs in fulfilling their responsibilities such as employee safety. However, the company's efforts to provide a safe working environment for its employees are a necessary cost of doing business. ProperTreatmentbyOtherEmployeesFirmsareresponsibleforensuringthatemployeesaretreatedproperlybyotheremployees.TwokeyissuesconcerningthetreatmentofemployeesarediversityandthepreventionofIt is the responsibility of the company to ensure that employees are treated appropriately by other employees. The two key questions regarding the treatment of employees are:

"Diversity" and

"Prevention of sexual harassment", these two issues are discussed below. DiversitydiversityInrecentyears,theworkforcehasbecomemuchmorediverse. Morewomenhaveenteredthejobmarket,andmoreminoritiesnowhavethenecessaryskillsandeducationtoqualifyforhigh-leveljobs. Exhibit2.3showstheproportionsofvariousjobcategoriesheldbywomen,AfricanAmericans,andHispanics.In recent years, the workforce has become more diverse.

More and more women are entering the job market, and a growing number of ethnic minorities now have the necessary skills and education to succeed in senior positions.

Table 2.3 shows the proportion of women, African Americans, and Latinos in various job categories.

Diversityissuesarenotrestrictedtogenderandrace.Employeesmaycomefromcompletelydifferentbackgroundsandhavedifferentbeliefs, Diversity issues are never limited to gender and race.

Employees may come from completely different backgrounds and different beliefs, which can lead to conflict in the workplace.

Forexample,someemployeesmayhavestrongpoliticalbeliefs,whichcouldcausefrictionwithotherswhodonotsharethosebeliefs,eveniftheirworkassignmentsareunrelatedtopolitics. Inaddition,someemployeesmaybemucholderthanothers,whichmayleadtoopposingviewsaboutissuesinoroutsidetheworkplace. Manyfirmsattempttointegrateemployeeswithvariousbackgroundssothattheylearntoworkwitheachothertowardcommongoalsofthefirmeveniftheyhavedifferingviewsonissuesoutsidetheworkplace. Manyfirmshaverespondedtotheincreaseddiversityamongemployeesbyofferingdiversityseminars,whichinformemployeesaboutculturaldiversity. For example, some employees may have strong political beliefs, which can create friction with those who don't share those beliefs, even if their job assignments are not political.

Another example is that some employees are of different ages, which can lead to opposition both inside and outside the workplace.

Many companies try to bring together employees from different backgrounds so they can learn to work with each other for the company's common goals, even if they have different perspectives on issues outside of work.

There are also many companies that respond to the increasing diversity of their employees by holding diversity seminars to educate employees about cultural diversity.

This information can help employees recognize that certain remarks or actions may be offensive to other employees. BasedonarecentsurveybytheSocietyforHumanResourceManagement, 73percentoffirmsintegratediversityinitiativesintokeybusinesspracticesforemployeesinsubstantiallydifferentgroups. Inaddition,85percentofallfirmsintegratediversityinitiativesintokeybusinesspracticesforemployeesofvariousracialbackgrounds. ThefollowingstatementfromarecentannualreportofGeneralMotorsreflectstheeffortsthathavebeenmadebymanyfirmstoencouragediversity:According to a recent survey by the American Society for Human Resource Management, 73% of companies integrate diversity initiatives into key business practices for diverse groups of employees.

In addition, 85% of companies incorporate diversity initiatives into key business practices for employees of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

The following is a statement from General Motors' most recent annual report, reflecting the efforts of many companies to encourage more