Environmental Issues, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Employee Rights

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering environmental policy, community involvement and corporate philanthropy, and employee rights under the employment-at-will framework.

Four Major Environmental Issues

The four central environmental concerns: global warming, ozone depletion, solid and hazardous waste, and fresh water quantity and quality.

Ozone Depletion

The degradation of the ozone layer resulting in an increased flow of ultraviolet light, linked to human-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and highlighted by NASA's 1985 discovery of an ozone 'hole.'

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Human-produced chemical compounds found in hairsprays, refrigerants, and the environment that contributed significantly to the hole in the ozone layer.

Montreal Protocol

An international environmental agreement under which the global community committed to a rapid phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Greenhouse Effect

The prevention of solar heat absorbed by the atmosphere from escaping back into space, primarily caused by burning fossil fuels along with land-use changes such as deforestation.

Kyoto Protocol

A 1990s international climate treaty ratified by 183 countries (representing 64% of global greenhouse gases); signed by the U.S. but not ratified due to concerns that it gave China an unfair advantage and would harm the U.S. economy.

Copenhagen Accord

A non-legally binding agreement from December 2009 in which the United States committed to a 17% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020.

Paris Agreement

A non-legally binding international climate agreement in which the United States committed to a 26–28% reduction in greenhouse gases compared with 2005 levels by 2025.

Superfund (CERCLA)

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, administered by the EPA with state and tribal governments to identify abandoned toxic waste sites and fund their cleanup.

NIMBY ('Not In My Back Yard')

The human denial of responsibility for environmental misuse, occurring when pollution sources are not acknowledged, thereby deflecting or ignoring the root causes of ecological damage.

Clean Air Act

Federal air quality legislation that utilizes emissions cap and trade alongside the 'bubble concept,' a market-based trading system operating under an imaginary bubble.

Clean Water Act

Federal water legislation that regulates water quality through a pollution permit system overseen by regional, state, and local governments.

Solid Waste Disposal Act

Land-related environmental legislation governing the handling of regular trash, falling under the responsibility of state and local authorities.

Community Involvement

A corporate practice consisting of making financial contributions and donating the time and talents of company management and employees.

Corporate Philanthropy

Direct business giving and pro-CSR strategies aimed at generating revenue while simultaneously addressing societal issues.

Resource-Based Giving

A corporate giving approach wherein a firm evaluates its unique resources and competencies to determine where they can accomplish the greatest good (exemplified by TOMS shoes).

Public Purpose Partnerships

A cooperative agreement between a for-profit enterprise and a nonprofit organization for mutual benefit, simultaneously fulfilling economic and philanthropic objectives (e.g., NFL, United Way, and Play 60).

Strategic Philanthropy

A philanthropic strategy designed to make as direct a contribution as possible to the financial goals of the business, aligning social contributions with commercial endeavors (e.g., Pepsi Refresh Project).

Cause-Related Marketing

A quid-pro-quo strategic philanthropy linking a business's product or service directly to a specified charity (e.g., the pink ribbon used on products during October for breast cancer awareness).

Cause Branding

A long-term philanthropic commitment directly aligned with a company's target market and line of business, extending beyond short-term cause marketing (e.g., Avon's year-round breast cancer awareness).

Outsourcing

The use of outside third-party resources to accomplish a task or operation that was originally handled in-house.

Offshoring

The relocation or outsourcing of business tasks and operations to another country to cut costs and increase profit.

Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act

Federal legislation mandating that companies with 100 or more employees provide at least 60 days advance notice prior to plant closures or significant layoffs.

Statutory Rights

Employee rights that are formally derived from and guaranteed by statutory law.

Collective Bargaining Rights

Worker rights that are negotiated and established through formal union contracts.

Enterprise Rights

Employee rights created internally when an employer makes specific promises or commitments to their workforce.

Employment-at-Will Doctrine

The common-law doctrine holding that an employer may dismiss an employee at any time for any reason (absent unlawful discrimination or a recognized exception), and an employee may quit at any time.

Public Policy Exception

An exception to the employment-at-will doctrine that shields workers from termination for refusing to commit a crime or for exercising a legal right.

Contractual Actions Exception

An exception to the employment-at-will doctrine protecting workers based on express or implied agreements, which can be formed through verbal assurances or employee handbooks.

Breach of Good Faith Exception

An exception to employment-at-will requiring employers to maintain fair dealing and reasonable standards of good faith in employment relationships.

Nancy Lytle v. Howmet Corporation

A legal case centered on employment at will versus implied contracts, where an employee terminated after 20 years for refusing to wear a dress to a company picnic sued over handbook promises; the court ruled in favor of the employer.