evance and Validity of the Company's Values and Terms of Engagement to the Issues
The company's values as reflected in its mission and aspiration statements are primarily generalities. These statements proclaim that the company will "conduct business ethically" and "treat people fairly" without ever clearly delineating what these terms mean. When the company decided to transfer production operations to Third World countries, thereby creating unemployment for its American workers, it is not likely that all those American workers felt that the company was treating them fairly or ethically.
The company's terms of engagement for foreign business partners and guidelines for country selection are much more specific, and, as such, provide the bases for the company's decision to cease operations in China. The employment practices section of the terms of engagement are relevant in this context with respect to both the right of free association and working hours. The guidelines for country selection are relevant to the company's decision with respect to the provisions
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