Case Study: Goodbye, Indiana - Hello, Mexico: the Whirlpool Plant Closing
Activity 6.2 - Case Study: Goodbye, Indiana - Hello, Mexico: The Whirlpool Plant Closing
Complete the answers to the six questions at the end of Case 30,“Goodbye, Indiana—Hello, Mexico: The Whirlpool Plant Closing”. pages 694-696
1. Was the Whirlpool plant closing just another “business decision,” or did it carry with it social and ethical responsibilities and implications? Explain.
The closure of Whirlpool plant definitely carries social and ethical implications. Many people will lose their jobs, leading to high unemployment rate. In addition, it may seem to be a “business decision” to the management; however, it is definitely not in the eyes of their employees.
2. What are the legal and ethical responsibilities of Whirlpool in a plant- closing case such as the one in Evansville, Indiana?
The ethical responsibilities of Whirpool are to facilitate relocation of their workers to other departments and minimising the loss of natural resources being used. The legal responsibility of Whirlpool, on the other hand, is to abide by WARN act. This is because it will be better if there is lesser psychological and emotional impact on the employees.
3. In light of the federal stimulus funds that Whirlpool received, did it have a greater responsibility to make the Evansville plant sustainable? Or, were the funds received totally unrelated to the plant-closing decision?
I believe that Whirpool has a greater responsibility in making the plant sustainable. The funds were thought to fall in the “right” hands; however, Whirpool goes against those wishes and instead, executed a rather selfish and cunning plan that will bring benefits only to the management and the shareholders.
4. Was the Whirlpool division vice president’s memo threatening future job opportunities an ethical practice? Was it an unfair labor practice? Explain.
It is not “right’ for the vice president to pull off such an immature and unprofessional act on the employees. It definitely brings him an image that
Complete the answers to the six questions at the end of Case 30,“Goodbye, Indiana—Hello, Mexico: The Whirlpool Plant Closing”. pages 694-696
1. Was the Whirlpool plant closing just another “business decision,” or did it carry with it social and ethical responsibilities and implications? Explain.
The closure of Whirlpool plant definitely carries social and ethical implications. Many people will lose their jobs, leading to high unemployment rate. In addition, it may seem to be a “business decision” to the management; however, it is definitely not in the eyes of their employees.
2. What are the legal and ethical responsibilities of Whirlpool in a plant- closing case such as the one in Evansville, Indiana?
The ethical responsibilities of Whirpool are to facilitate relocation of their workers to other departments and minimising the loss of natural resources being used. The legal responsibility of Whirlpool, on the other hand, is to abide by WARN act. This is because it will be better if there is lesser psychological and emotional impact on the employees.
3. In light of the federal stimulus funds that Whirlpool received, did it have a greater responsibility to make the Evansville plant sustainable? Or, were the funds received totally unrelated to the plant-closing decision?
I believe that Whirpool has a greater responsibility in making the plant sustainable. The funds were thought to fall in the “right” hands; however, Whirpool goes against those wishes and instead, executed a rather selfish and cunning plan that will bring benefits only to the management and the shareholders.
4. Was the Whirlpool division vice president’s memo threatening future job opportunities an ethical practice? Was it an unfair labor practice? Explain.
It is not “right’ for the vice president to pull off such an immature and unprofessional act on the employees. It definitely brings him an image that