Your posts in the discussion area should exhibit careful thought and logical reasoning and provide evidence for your position. Use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The discussions must be completed by the due dates specified. You are also required to read and reply to other students in this discussion forum. Your replies should offer new substantiated ideas or thoughtful questions. Friendly debate and disagreement is encouraged but be courteous and respectful. Do not be afraid to speak your mind, but remember that yours is only one opinion.

Your grade will be based on your post as well as your required two replies to the posts of your classmates.

For all discussion topics, the following guidelines apply: Post a well thought out, well written, and proofread reply to the topic. A couple of paragraphs is about the right amount.

DISCUSSION TOPIC

Valuing Your Inventory versus Valuing Your Employees

Assume you are the owner of a small apparel manufacturer with approximately fifty employees. Your business is located in a blighted area of town where the jobs you provide are important, but the insurance costs of doing business there are significant, too. Recently, fire and theft coverage has escalated in cost, but it is essential to protect your premises and inventory, and local ordinances require that you purchase it. You have customarily provided health coverage for your employees and their families, which many of them would not be able to afford if they had to bear the cost themselves. You would like to continue providing this coveragethough, due to your small employee base, you are not legally obligated to do sobut these costs have risen too. Finally, you would prefer to stay in this location, because you feel an obligation to your workers, most of whom live nearby, and because you feel welcomed by the community itself, which includes some longtime customers. Still, you may be forced to choose between paying for your employee health care costs and moving to a different area of town where fire and theft coverage would not cost as much.

Critical Thinking

• How will you make the decision within an ethical framework?
• What will you, your business, and your employees gain and lose based on what you decide?
• What, if anything, do you and your business owe the community of which you have been a part for so long?