A reader writes in to respond to my post on Friday related to working conditions in China for the iPhone, and the inconsistency of celebrating Apple while you crush or wag your finger at American companies who come under EEOC scrutiny:
"Excellent point Kris, if I understand it correctly. Everyone's goo-goo ga-ga over Apple, even though people died to make those cell phones. Now I highly respect Apple, and you can't blame Apple for a societal/cultural issue. And like Richard points out they're changing lives and having a positive impact in China net/net. But the irony is that an isolated situation at Pepsi happened with regards background checks and they have to pay over $3 million, thanks to the EEOC, and people are acting like Pepsi isn't a diversity leader or hasn't made more women and people of color executives than almost any other organization. On top of that, I doubt the same people who preach about Pepsi needing to be held accountable would be willing to give up their i-phone to hold Apple accountable."
What he said. I'm not preaching when I asked the question "Do You Keep Your iPhone if People Died to Make It?", and I'm not an activist for change in China. What I'm saying is that everyone needs to keep American workplace struggles in perspective related to the global scene. I own an iPhone, and changing to Droid wouldn't matter - it's made under similar conditions and circumstances.
But - I'm more than a little jaded with an EEOC process that's now drafting press releases celebrating their victories over corporate America, and what this reader says is absolutely correct. Pepsi's done a lot for the careers of ten of thousands of people across all Title 7 designations. Yet we get a press release that celebrates none of that, inviting us to wag the finger at a great American company while we use technology that's built on the back of a society that's nowhere near as enlightened as our own related to building a progressive workplace.
Weak and an invitation for deeper thought and balance. That's all I'm trying to say. I don't expect anyone to give up their iPhone, but I think everyone ought to think critically about the comparison and at times, the irony.
As usual, my readers are smarter than I am.
As usual, a fantastic piece.
Posted by: Karen K | January 30, 2012 at 12:20 PM