Top 10 Business Actions That Are Unethical with Pics

Ethics are beyond legal and doing right whether or not anyone is looking. As for business practices that are unethical, these business actions usually don't meet the standards of acceptable business operations, or employees that aren't doing the right thing. It may be an individual who is unethical or the entire corporate culture in the case of the corrupt businesses. Keep in mind that unethical actions are not always illegal, but they will hurt society.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act from 2002 was in response to corporate scandals. This act, abbreviated as SOX, makes it more difficult for corporations to commit financial fraud, protecting investors. It says that all CFOs and CEOs of publicly traded American companies must sign a statement that they have read the reports (annual and quarterly), and vouch that they are accurate. Additionally, businesses must explain the logic if they don't have an ethics code. It also created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Toyota Ignored Safety

In 2010, Toyota ignored information about safety and delayed investigating possible recalls. In 2009, they learned about sticking pedals and faulty brakes; instead of addressing the issue, they added side airbags. In some cases, Toyota faced accusations of hiding evidence for hundreds of cases involving death and rollovers, putting their drivers and passengers at risk.

Apple Uses Slave Labor

Apple relies on child slave labor that is working in dangerous conditions, for ten hours each day while being exposed to cancerous vapors. The conditions at the manufacturing plant Foxconn are bad enough that they had to install "anti-suicide nets." The workers live in horrible conditions and experience unreasonable workloads and humiliating discipline. Apple has reduced some of their work with Foxconn, but they still rely primarily on them. Apple also used Irish tax loopholes to avoid some taxes.

Monsanto Relies on Toxic Chemicals

Monsanto created Agent Orange, a chemical weapon used in Vietnam that still affects the population today. Until now, the company works in GMO foods and own the vast majority of seed patents (more than 95 percent). They sue small farmers aggressively and work to discredit dissenters by using fake online profiles.

Philip Morris Advertised To Kids

The tobacco giant Philip Morris has been considered unethical for years as a great deal of advertising from them targets kids. Despite stricter regulations, Philip Morris still prominently places ads and products in magazines, convenience stores, and delis. They continue to try to create the image of smokers being cool and are considered the biggest reason for young smokers.

Chevron Spills Toxic Waste

Chevron has attempted to avoid millions of dollars' worth of taxes plus 18 years' worth of unethical business practices. When they dumped billions of gallons worth of toxic waste into Ecuadorian rainforest, they were sued and tried to deny their involvement even though there was plenty of solid evidence. They even faked a letter from Ecuador's ambassador that claimed to dismiss the lawsuit and worked to discredit the judge, delaying the suit for two years.

DynCorp Harms Locals

DynCorp is a private military contractor that has been paid to fight in the Colombian drug war since 2001. They have been accused of recklessly endangering the environment and people of the country as well as torture and murder. They have also been accused of applying large quantities of herbicides to crops, leading to livestock death, health issues and more than 10,000 deaths. During the late 90s, Dyncorp was accused of statutory rape and selling children as slaves in Bosnia while they were supposed to be working.

Wal-Mart Lacks Compassion

Wal-mart is well-known for their unethical business practices concerning employees. They consistently place profits before the health of their employees. Just one example is Deborah Shank, who was in a collision involving a semi-trailer in 2000, resulting in permanent brain damage and confinement to a wheelchair. Years later, they sued her family for medical costs, leaving Mrs. Shank to rely on Medicaid for around-the-clock care.

Matthias Rath Alternative Treatments for HIV/AIDS Spreads Lies

Matthias Rath is a vitamin entrepreneur who used to be a doctor and is considered to be the most powerful of all "crackpots." He recommends vitamin pills to cure even serious ailments. In UK ads, he claimed that 90% of cancer patients die within several months of starting chemo, arguing that corporations let them die for profit. Yet, he uses his lies to sell an HIV/AIDS "miracle cure", saying that HIV doesn't cause AIDS and antiretroviral drugs won't work, leading to the spread of infections in South Africa.

Barrick Gold Corporation Torches Homes

This Toronto gold-mining firm was accused of torching 300 houses in Papua New Guinea to expand their mining operations. The torching occurred without warning or time to get possessions and included physical attacks on those who resisted. Other accusations against Barrick Corporation include manipulating Chilean and Australian land titles and dumping toxic waste in Tanzania.

Trafigura Harms The Planet

This multinational energy and metal trading company has also been accused of many unethical business practices. The dispose of toxic byproducts and waste and stopped working with a leased ship when they found out it would be twenty times as much as the original quote due to the toxicity of the waste. Instead, they let their ship sit in an African seaport before hiring Compagnie Tommy, which simply dumped the waste (without any processing) killing around 10 people and getting thousands sick. They have also faced accusations of stealing oil from South Sudan.