9 p.m. in Europe used to be heralded by clapping- people heading to their porches, terraces, balconies, and gardens, with the sole aim of recognising the efforts of health services workers. Now that the countries are slowly emerging from the lockdown, those claps are decreasing in volume. Soon, the lockdowns would feel like a dream, albeit a bad one. Soon, it would be back to normal, with business as usual. A myopia, such that the costly lessons are forgotten, only to be repeated again.
Yet, none of us would wish for such history to be repeated again- particularly those of us who research in the interface of business and society. Our aim has been to ensure that our scholarly efforts, even if incrementally, contribute to a better society and environment. Going back to “normal” is not an option, especially given how the pandemic has exposed the dark side of contemporary economic systems.
Whilst some of us had the luxury of working from the safe confines of our homes and finding a steady monthly income in our bank accounts, many had to leave their homes and work. These are the essential services workers- not only those in healthcare, but in supermarkets, logistics centres, city/state services, transport services, law enforcement, etc. Their efforts ensured that, apart from the inconvenience of living and working at the same site, our lives went on as usual. Some of them even died while doing their jobs, silent numbers added to the total statistic of deaths. In addition, businesses run by ultra high net worth individuals started placing employees on forced leave of absence. Universities quietly decided not to extend contracts of those on limited term employment. The term “furlough” wafted around. Many lost their jobs or their steady income, and some of them for protesting against businesses/employers who were unwilling to provide adequate protection against the virus. The world is indeed diseased, but the sickness is not caused by a corona virus alone.
A popular meme during the pandemic (Original Source unknown)
This ongoing pandemic has highlighted the errors of the functioning of our economic system, particularly shedding light on the various inequalities. This is particularly exacerbated by some countries imperil their residents in favour of the economy and some corporations who risk their employees in favour of economic/financial performance. It is not a hyperbole to state that the relentless pursuit of health of the economy has led to the illness of people and the destruction of the living world. This has led to many of us endorsing this initiative, which calls for democratising businesses, decommodifying work, and remediating policies: https://democratizingwork.org/
1. Democratising businesses recognises workers as citizens in the workplace who should be given the rights for steering the decision-making of businesses. Workers are not merely resources, but are key stakeholders who invest their mind, body, health, and life into their work. They are integral to the functioning of any business. A business cannot provide a service without the input of at least one worker. Recognition of this importance calls for workers, alongside shareholders, being given voice and rights in the major decision-making of businesses.
2. Decommodifying work: Work is not a commodity, with workers being mere lifeless data points in a graph. Businesses should guarantee good employment and states should ensure job guarantee.
3. Remediating policies: Whilst much of the world is transfixed by the pandemic, the looming upheaval of climate change is ignored. Given that businesses are requesting governments for handouts, it is an excellent opportunity to make any such support conditional on substantial, sustainable changes to their business models that will exhibit their responsibility to society, environment, and workers.
We encourage you to read the manifesto and consider endorsing it if you concur with the arguments. What is the purpose of a healthy economy if there is no one left to enjoy it? What is the point in accruing profits at the expense of the health of this world?
Does allowing China’s privately-owned firms to buy equity in large state-owned enterprises have the potential to improve their CSR performance? It does when these firms have restricted access to financial and other resources, the real barriers requiring effective government interventions.
By: Bin Li, Lei Xu, Ron P. McIver, Xin Liu, & Ailing Pan
Invitation for submissions for a Business & Society Special Issue seeking incisive research that illuminates how corruption and wrongdoing may emerge in contemporary organizations and societies, as well as strategies to effectively address these challenges.
By: Stefan Schembera, Armando Castro, Don Lange, Kathleen Rehbein, & Punit Arora
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Towards a reconception of business
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By Sarah Stephen, Hari Bapuji, & Frank de Bakker
9 p.m. in Europe used to be heralded by clapping- people heading to their porches, terraces, balconies, and gardens, with the sole aim of recognising the efforts of health services workers. Now that the countries are slowly emerging from the lockdown, those claps are decreasing in volume. Soon, the lockdowns would feel like a dream, albeit a bad one. Soon, it would be back to normal, with business as usual. A myopia, such that the costly lessons are forgotten, only to be repeated again.
Yet, none of us would wish for such history to be repeated again- particularly those of us who research in the interface of business and society. Our aim has been to ensure that our scholarly efforts, even if incrementally, contribute to a better society and environment. Going back to “normal” is not an option, especially given how the pandemic has exposed the dark side of contemporary economic systems.
Whilst some of us had the luxury of working from the safe confines of our homes and finding a steady monthly income in our bank accounts, many had to leave their homes and work. These are the essential services workers- not only those in healthcare, but in supermarkets, logistics centres, city/state services, transport services, law enforcement, etc. Their efforts ensured that, apart from the inconvenience of living and working at the same site, our lives went on as usual. Some of them even died while doing their jobs, silent numbers added to the total statistic of deaths. In addition, businesses run by ultra high net worth individuals started placing employees on forced leave of absence. Universities quietly decided not to extend contracts of those on limited term employment. The term “furlough” wafted around. Many lost their jobs or their steady income, and some of them for protesting against businesses/employers who were unwilling to provide adequate protection against the virus. The world is indeed diseased, but the sickness is not caused by a corona virus alone.
This ongoing pandemic has highlighted the errors of the functioning of our economic system, particularly shedding light on the various inequalities. This is particularly exacerbated by some countries imperil their residents in favour of the economy and some corporations who risk their employees in favour of economic/financial performance. It is not a hyperbole to state that the relentless pursuit of health of the economy has led to the illness of people and the destruction of the living world. This has led to many of us endorsing this initiative, which calls for democratising businesses, decommodifying work, and remediating policies: https://democratizingwork.org/
1. Democratising businesses recognises workers as citizens in the workplace who should be given the rights for steering the decision-making of businesses. Workers are not merely resources, but are key stakeholders who invest their mind, body, health, and life into their work. They are integral to the functioning of any business. A business cannot provide a service without the input of at least one worker. Recognition of this importance calls for workers, alongside shareholders, being given voice and rights in the major decision-making of businesses.
2. Decommodifying work: Work is not a commodity, with workers being mere lifeless data points in a graph. Businesses should guarantee good employment and states should ensure job guarantee.
3. Remediating policies: Whilst much of the world is transfixed by the pandemic, the looming upheaval of climate change is ignored. Given that businesses are requesting governments for handouts, it is an excellent opportunity to make any such support conditional on substantial, sustainable changes to their business models that will exhibit their responsibility to society, environment, and workers.
We encourage you to read the manifesto and consider endorsing it if you concur with the arguments. What is the purpose of a healthy economy if there is no one left to enjoy it? What is the point in accruing profits at the expense of the health of this world?
References:
Bapuji, H., de Bakker, F.G.A., Brown, J.A., Higgins, C., Rehbein, K., & Spicer, A. 2020. Business and Society Research in Times of the Corona Crisis. Business & Society.
Bapuji, H., Patel, C., Ertug, G., & Allen, D.G. 2020. Corona Crisis and Inequality: Why Management Research Needs a Societal Turn. Journal of Management.
Gilda, S. 2020. ‘We Are Not Essential. We Are Sacrificial.’ The New York Times. May 5, 2020. Available at:
Lawrie, E. 2020. Coronavirus: What does it mean if I’ve been furloughed by work?. BBC.
More To Explore
Carrot and stick: Ownership reform and CSR performance
Understanding and Confronting Organizational Corruption and Wrongdoing in the Era of Grand Societal Challenges
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