Business and law: an overview

Outsourcing of jobs is one of the most controversial topics in today's business climate. The increase of the Internet and other global communications has made it not only possible, but easier for organizations to use workforces in other regions in which wages and benefits are far lower than in the developed world. One can ethically defend outsourcing using the principle of utilitarianism -- the greatest good for the greatest number. While initially there is a job loss in the host country, competitive pressures require that global businesses remain competitive to even stay in business. Over the long-term, this means that the stakeholders benefit from the company staying in business and making a profit, even if that is shifting jobs to other countries. Looking at the economy globally allows one to justify outsourcing as a way to improve the gist of globalization (VCG, 2011).

Part 2 -- Because the global economy is now tied together so much, free trade is necessary to aid in the economic development of poorer countries and to allow the developed world to continue improving. Many believe that in the past two decades, free trade has done more to alleviate poverty than any law, foreign policy, or regulation. Globalization has allowed communities across the world to move closer together -- Internet access to Africa, banking to poor communities in India, and the ability to market one's product or service to millions worldwide. There are, though, political and economic costs to free trade. Because of wage and benefit laws, many developing countries can undercut the United States, Canada, and the EU by producing similar goods far cheaper. This often results in companies in the developing world being unable to fairly compete, and thus their loss of business can, and often does, translate into lay-offs, price increases, etc. Governmental costs would be helping these organizations retool and retrain, as well as aiding them in competing fairly by looking at the industry affected and analyzing whether tariffs are necessary. China, for instance, has consistently manipulated its currency for over a decade with no consequence because free trade agreements are impossible to enforce in most foreign countries. The benefits to free trade, though, in a global economy, may have fiscal costs to richer countries that may need to help develop new mindsets within their own business community (Heffner, 2012).

Part 3 -- The Internet and email are robust and necessary parts of any modern organization. Communication is expected to be more instantaneous but it is difficult to police and ensure that individuals are not using work time and resources to surf the Web and communicate with personal e-mail or social networks. Some sources say management should relax about email and Internet use at work because the occasional break from work actually boosts productivity. This view holds that people need short breaks and a short time to zone to recover their concentration. However, excessive time on the Internet, which accounts for about 14% of Internet users, detracts from productivity and causes a sense of demoralization (Workplace Web, 2009). Like anything else, though, the Internet is a tool, and tools can be used for positive or negative results. Because the lines between work and home blur, and the requirements of jobs have become so linked to the Internet, moderate personal use, just as moderate business use when at home, is to be expected. Instead of spending millions of dollars on firewalls and Internet nannies, companies might simply help educate their employees on organization and workplace etiquette (Klopott, 2006).