CAT: The ethics of large companies

This question was asked earlier in the class. Has anything you have learned here caused you to consider this issue some more. You are about to embark upon a professional career that can impact this situation. Will your impact be positive? If so, how? We like to talk about how great American companies are, and we often place Amazon as a shining example. There is no question, Amazon, the company, is very successful from a profit standpoint. There is nothing wrong with making profits. That is why you go into business. They are on the cutting edge of Supply Chain Management. There are many good ideas there to emulate. However, this profit and technology are very much on the back of the employees with meager pay, few benefits, high stress, and difficult working conditions. Employees are paying a high price for that. Is that ethical? Consider the fact that profit is not everything. Many employees depend upon food stamps, live in public housing, and have inferior health care. Amazon could easily give all of their employees a $10 per hour raise and significantly higher benefits, and they would still make a considerable profit. Many are among the nation's poor. Is it ethical for us to know this and condone it and support it? What can we do to help resolve this situation? Walmart is very much the same way! Does a consumer support corporate welfare when they purchase from these companies?