Subscribe to my Feed
corporate responsibility
« Previous EntriesDon’t promise what you can’t deliver
Friday, February 3rd, 2012Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, let’s take another story directly from the headlines. Heather Peters drew national attention when she successfully sued Honda in a California small claims court. The car manufacturer had reportedly advertised its Civic Hybrid as delivering 50 mpg. Ms. Peters alleged that, [...]
Don’t threaten to sue … unless you really mean it!
Friday, January 27th, 2012Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, let’s focus on a mistake that too many businesspeople make. On the theory that “the best defense is a good offense,” some people make it all too clear to their contractors, suppliers, and consultants that, if a single mistake is made, they’ll take [...]
Can we afford corporate tax breaks?
Friday, January 27th, 2012President Obama’s State of the Union has stirred up a hornet’s nest in Washington. It’ll be awhile before the dust settles enough to know who’s coming down where on his various proposals. However, I want to focus on one aspect of his speech that seems to me to be very relevant to business [...]
There’s no place for poison in juice boxes!
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012Righteous indignation often strikes me as misplaced and sometimes even a little silly. When people start posturing they usually stop listening, so it can be very hard to have a real conversation with someone who’s up on his or her high horse. Nonetheless, I’m about to climb onto mine, and here’s why.
Change.org is [...]
What’s in America’s orange juice?
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012The Wall Street Journal reported today that Tropicana orange juice producer Pepsico Inc. didn’t notify the Food and Drug Administration that there was a fungicide called carbendazim in its orange juice. According to the Journal, another juice company reported to the FDA that it found low levels of the carbendazim in its own orange [...]
$270,000 may not be enough to stop animal cruelty
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012In April of last year, I reported on the efforts of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to call to account the Feld Corporation, the company that operates the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. At the time, Ringling had been accused of abusing its elephants and allowing a lion to die by [...]
Don’t manage impressions
Saturday, January 7th, 2012Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, I want to touch on a subject that’s been bugging me of late. Recently, I’ve been called upon to deal with a group of professionals who didn’t handle a sensitive situation particularly well. Their behavior offers a lesson that smart businesspeople would [...]
Whatever happened to Jiminy Cricket?
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012Friends know that the oldest decoration in my office is a little ceramic figurine of Jiminy Cricket, Pinnochio’s “conscience” in the classic Disney film of the same name. I bought the figurine shortly after graduating from law school, and keep in where it’s never far from my sight. Why? Because I believe [...]
Believe!
Friday, December 23rd, 2011Every once in a while, a movie comes out that knocks my socks off. “Arthur Christmas” (produced by those lovely English lunatics who brought you “Chicken Run” and “Wallace & Grommit”) did just that. Oh, it was clever. We now know why you can’t find Santa’s workshop on Google Earth (underground tunnels), [...]
Note to First Mortgage - don’t be a Grinch!
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011Lesliane Bouchard has her share of problems. According to her daughter, Kristiane Chappell, Ms. Bouchard is disabled and completely bedridden due to a painful spinal injury. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it seems that Ms. Bouchard and her family may not have a very merry Christmas this year. Her mortgage company, [...]
« Previous Entries