Drug Company Hints at Corporate Ailment

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world with over 80 factories pumping out pills for indigestion, depression, diabetes, and any number of other medical needs.  And they are just the latest corporation to prove that money is more important to big business than public safety.  After a lawsuit was filed against the British drug company last year, they admitted to producing and selling contaminated drugs to both the public and to government health programs.  The result was one of the largest health care fraud settlements to date, with a price tag of $750 million dollars (not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars lost when the FDA seized tainted pharmaceuticals at their factory in Puerto Rico).  And if a respected drug company is willing to trade the health of consumers for a few extra bucks, when health is their bread and butter, what might other corporate giants be willing to do? Read more

Is Biodiesel Trucking Just a Pipe Dream?

The freight shipping industry as a whole is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.  Trucks certainly don’t pollute as much as, say, airplanes, but considering how many more trucks there are on the road right now, it may be a moot point.  Although diesel has become a much cleaner-burning source of fuel in the last several years, due in large part to laws concerning pollution and initiates to develop alternative fuels, it still isn’t much better than gasoline.  And while the average person might drive up to a hundred miles a day with a long commute, the average trucker will go many times that distance, spewing carbon emissions all the way.  But with advances in biodiesel making it possible for even large vehicles to run on fuel that is almost entirely clean (85% biofuel, 15% regular), the discussion about a cleaner, greener trucking industry has arisen. Read more

Is the Pendulum Swinging on Model Size?

We’ve all become accustomed to the half-starved waifs staring at us with their haunted, hollow eyes from the pages of magazines or the latest billboard on the strip.  They seem to be begging us to buy their teeny, tiny outfits…or perhaps they’re begging for a crust of bread.  Unfortunately, somewhere along the line our society decided that size 0 was the ideal for women, and models have more or less bit the bullet and bought into this line of thinking (while the rest of us happily munch on pizza and burgers as we lounge in our size 12 jeans).  But things may be changing on the fashion front.  With shows like America’s Next Top Model featuring plus-size (read: normal size) models and brands like Dove airing commercials that show real women looking gorgeous at every size, it seems that the trend of models looking like they just came from a concentration camp may finally be coming to an end; and with it an era of abuse. Read more

Enforcing Hygiene Standards in the Workplace

Some may say it’s a serious breach of ethical standards to require that employees meet guidelines for cleanliness, while others will insist that it’s an issue of health.  If, for example, you’re working in food service, then certain levels of hygiene are certainly called for (probably by law).  But when you enter into an office environment, is it okay for companies to set forth (and enforce) policies concerning cleanliness of employees?  Or is it unfair to subject workers to this type of intensely personal scrutiny?  After all, some people may not have access to the same facilities as others, they might not be able to afford certain amenities (perfume?), or perhaps they even suffer from some sort of ailment that causes them to sweat profusely (just as an example).  Should they be penalized for things that could be out of their control?  Do employers have the right to judge their fitness for a position based on such criteria? Read more

Failing Up: A Precautionary Tale of Poor Promotional Practices

Everyone in the corporate world knows about this elephant in the room, but few people are willing to broach the subject.  You’ve all seen that person who, despite glaring flaws and inadequacies, continues to climb the corporate ladder.  You and your coworkers wonder how on Earth this person can hold a job, much less advance.  Is he related to the CEO?  Or is he just kissing a lot of you-know-what?  Perhaps his bosses would rather pawn him off to someone else as a form of inter-office sabotage.  It seems impossible that merit could have anything to do with it.  But the more likely explanation is that he simply passes off his work to others and then takes (or mistakenly receives) the credit.  Or maybe less is expected of him and so he appears to be succeeding (while others who take on more difficult projects seem to achieve less).  Whatever the case, the phenomenon of failing up is one that affects many major corporations, where even those who are worthless can find ways to rise amongst the ranks. Read more

Zero Tolerance is a Must for Schools

Every day the world gets a little smaller.  Communications connect us in a way that was impossible just a few years ago, scientific discoveries help us to live longer, nations that were closed off are embracing tourism and welcoming foreigners to experience their land and culture, and the global economy is blurring the imaginary boundaries that separate one nation from another.  People from diverse backgrounds are coming together every day, and acceptance of others is a lesson that children must learn if they want to become functional members of this growing global population.  For this reason, it is important that schools around the world adopt zero tolerance policies for hate crimes and other forms of related abuse. Read more