In this scenario McDonald’s has a corporate social responsibility to operate honorably, and to actively work to better the quality of life in the local communities where it operates and in society at large (Gamble). In conducting its operations in a socially responsible manner McDonalds can expect to be rewarded with increased patronage, a lower risk of reputation-damaging incidents (such as the possible boycotting of its stores, or the bad publicity it received from calling the police on these Korean-Americans). The responsibility to actively work to better the quality of life in the communities where it operates applies particularly to this scenario. Calling the police on these elderly Korean-Americans does not do anything to better their
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Since these moral standards do not vary, it makes sense for a multicultural firm to develop a code of ethics that it can apply to all of its multicultural operations, without having to adjust for local customs as these beliefs are universal. In the McDonald’s scenario, ethical universalism would prove that even though the Korean customers are preventing other customers from using the tables that you must still respect their rights as paying customers (even if it is only a $1 coffee, or French …show more content…
Although the Korean-American community has some ethical beliefs and values that don’t completely align with the universal ethical values, or even the local ethical beliefs, there is enough common ground that the two parties should work together rather than be in conflict. McDonald’s has an ethical duty to improve the community in which it operates, and calling the police on these elderly patrons is neither wise nor ethical. McDonald’s should work with the Korean community leaders, and the elderly patrons themselves and see how best they can resolve this issue but using threats and calling the police is not the answer. The temporary loss of patronage from customers not being able to sit is much smaller than the loss in patronage from a boycott, or the bad publicity received from handling this situation in an unethical
Since these moral standards do not vary, it makes sense for a multicultural firm to develop a code of ethics that it can apply to all of its multicultural operations, without having to adjust for local customs as these beliefs are universal. In the McDonald’s scenario, ethical universalism would prove that even though the Korean customers are preventing other customers from using the tables that you must still respect their rights as paying customers (even if it is only a $1 coffee, or French …show more content…
Although the Korean-American community has some ethical beliefs and values that don’t completely align with the universal ethical values, or even the local ethical beliefs, there is enough common ground that the two parties should work together rather than be in conflict. McDonald’s has an ethical duty to improve the community in which it operates, and calling the police on these elderly patrons is neither wise nor ethical. McDonald’s should work with the Korean community leaders, and the elderly patrons themselves and see how best they can resolve this issue but using threats and calling the police is not the answer. The temporary loss of patronage from customers not being able to sit is much smaller than the loss in patronage from a boycott, or the bad publicity received from handling this situation in an unethical