Almost everybody loves Nike. How could you not? Their products are sold all around the world and every athlete is sure to don the iconic check mark on some article of workout clothes or uniform. Nike is a well-recognized label and generally has very positive reviews. Despite general approval, Nike actually employs questionable moral standards in order to produce these goods, something many consumers are not aware of. There are many underlying issues with the production of Nike products. The athletic wear is made in "600 contract factories that employ more than 800,000 workers in 46 countries around the world. Nearly 60 percent of the work force is in North Asia, 31 percent in South Asia" (Connor). Having so many factories around the world makes it increasingly difficult for the corporation to set standards and have them followed in all 46 countries. These issues include pay, working conditions, and overtime as well as the possibility of unionization. Nike has made some steps to prevent a complete ethical breakdown of the corporation and though there have been improvements, there is definitely room for more. In the years 2007-2009 Nike published a lengthy Corporate Responsibility Report, further pushing more for the growing innovations of the company. The sustainable business and corporate responsibility section of the Nike website helps to explain their initiative to change the questionable production issues and create a safer environment for workers. “It’s not just about getting better at what we do – addressing impacts throughout our supply chain – it’s about striving for the best, creating value for the business and innovating for a better world” (Sustainable). Though Nike is creating these movements and improving their ethical viewpoint, factories abroad have still been considered similar to those of a sweatshop. There are many demands put on workers to churn out the countless designs and gear released every year, often resulting in employees working overtime to meet the deadlines. It is unreasonable to expect citizens of other countries to suffer through unsafe conditions for low pay in order for our first-world countries to enjoy a high standard of living and more affordable athletic gear.
Works Cited
Connor, Michael. "Business Ethics." Business Ethics RSS. N.p., 24 Jan. 2010. Web. 07 Mar. 2013
"Sustainable Business at NIKE, Inc." NIKE, Inc. -. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://nikeinc.com/pages/responsibility>.
Laura, I really liked this blog! You did a really nice job of combining both logos and pathos to create a really powerful effect. I also liked that you called Nike out on their hypocrisy. I agree with Mirella, it may have been more effective had you separated your piece into separate, pointed paragraphs, but you still managed to make your point well. You did a nice job integrating quotes to support your point. Overall, this was a really great post! Nice work!
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