Notably, there are many challenges that face companies today in the business world. It has however been noted that many of the ongoing challenges in the business environment are caused by unethical business practices, failure to embrace advancement in technology and stiff competition among businesses in the same field. As a company, Apple Inc. has tried its best to tackle the challenges by covering all the causes. In essence, the company has tried to release hit after hit every year to maintain competitive advantage. The company has also tried to be the leading company in technology advancement. Having looked upon two of the major challenges, the company also seeks to cover the last to meet the target of being the best company in the industry. Notably, to cover the challenge of unethical practices, all parties that play part in making an outcome of Apple's products are involved. In my authority as Apple Chief Compliance Officer, am required to prepare Apple's Suppliers Code of Conduct to guide suppliers on ethical way to work and to treat their workers. The company's gives strict standards of conduct that needs suppliers to observe high standards for fair treatment of workers, safe working conditions and environmentally safe manufacturing conditions. Arguably, ethical business practices are paramount in any business to keep operating in a healthy condition with every worker satisfied.
We have tried to strengthen our standards year by year in a continued effort to raise our bar . Among the most important aspects that the Code emphasizes on is labor and human rights. Our company believes all workers are equal regardless of any factor that can lead to discrimination. Therefore, the company requires its suppliers to observe international standards of human rights. The supplier should observe a fair working condition free of discrimination of all bases. Workers should also not experience any form of harassment or abuse including physical, verbal, psychological or mental coercion and sexual harassment or abuse. The code also requires the supplier not to be involved in any kind of involuntary labor and human trafficking. They should also guarantee that all employees are comfortable with the language they use in business. Under human rights code, the supplier is also not supposed to restrict movement of any worker whatsoever. The company will be very strict on the set code of human rights to promote equality (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 2017). The company conducts supplier assessment every year to make sure the standards are met. In 2016, the company was able to assess 705 suppliers including the new ones and reported a 59 percent increase in higher performing suppliers and a 31 percent decrease of underperformers. The report was so encouraging. In labor and human rights area, we recorded a score of an average of 85 points out of 100 which was exemplary good (Apple supplier responsibility). Remarkably, the company has assisted a lot in the education of workers on their rights to get such a recommendable result.
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The other major factor considered under the code of conduct standards is the environment. In this area, we also set standards that our supplier should meet to conserve our surroundings. The company is committed to protecting the environment under all factors possible. Suppliers should therefore improve, implement and uphold environmentally accountable occupational practices. The supplier should also comply with all environmental licenses and the reporting necessities of appropriate authorizations of regulation. The supplier is required by the company to regulate substances for all goods Apple manufactures. The supplier is required to elect a systematic way to identify, manage reduce and in a good way recycle or dispose of hazardous waste and also another way to do the same for nonhazardous waste and wastewater produced by their operations. The supplier should also observe routine assessment of his wastewater treatment plant. The storm water should also be handled in a proper way to reduce contamination on its runoffs. Together with that, the supplier should check not to discharge or spill illegal substances into the runoff or to the public water system. The supplier is also required to have a proper air emission system and maintain routine checkups. Not to forget noise which should be maintained at low level in the premises (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 2017). The company will do supplier assessment in this field every year for noncompliance. In 2016, the 705 suppliers assessed were able to score 87 points out of 100 in this field. Notably, Apple has done its best to help suppliers in maintaining these standards. The company is currently assisting suppliers to switch to renewable energy to reduce the amount of energy used through their energy efficiency program. These systems will also assist in the reduction of carbon emission which is one target of the company on the conservation of environment (Apple supplier responsibility).
Moreover, Apple is committed to promoting health as one of its paramount aspects. Workers health and well-being is an important factor to Apple. The supplier is also required to maintain a safe working environment and incorporate sound health and safety management in their working place. In that case, workers have been given a chance by the company to refuse to work in an unsafe working environment, the supplier should obtain and keep all health and safety permits and comply with the guidelines given. Through a prioritized process, the supplier should detect, estimate and manage occupational health and safety hazards. The supplier should also identify the potential emergency situation and supply an emergency plan and response procedure. A corrective action plan should also be implemented to alleviate risk, offer medical treatment and assist worker's return to work. The supplier should also provide clean and healthy working and living condition in the premises to reduce unwanted health problems. Noncompliance with health and safety standards is punishable by the company (Burt, 2017). Remarkably, in 2016, suppliers reported good results in health and safety assessment scoring 87 points out of a hundred. The company requires that all suppliers should comply, as workers health and safety is paramount in any organization.
To sum up this discussion, we found that ethical practices are very important in any business to promote healthy working conditions and workers satisfaction. The Apple Chief Compliant Officer is therefore required to set standards in three areas that affect supplier's ethical practices which are labor and human right, environment and health and safety. The suppliers on the other side are required by the company to observe and comply with the set standards for noncompliance jeopardizes the relationship between the supplier and Apple. The company conducts an assessment on many of its old and new suppliers every year to establish that all standards are met. Notably, the company has also tried to help suppliers by training workers on behalf of suppliers on human rights and providing a program to reduce energy use while on the other hand reducing carbon emission. Suppliers' compliance with set codes will always assure Apple to be top of other competing companies in the industry.
References
Apple Supplier Code of Conduct (2017). Retrieved from https://images.apple.com/supplier.../pdf/Apple-Supplier-Responsible-Standards.pdf
Apple supplier responsibility. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/
Burt, A. (2017). Apple's 2017 Supplier Progress Report focuses on human rights, safety, and environment. Retrieved from https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/apple-2017-supplier-progress-report-human-rights-safety-environment-waste/439364/
