Organizational behaviour

Case Study: J.M Smucker Company

Scott Rogers

Ottawa University

The Ethics of the Smuckers Company

It would be near impossible to research The J.M. Smuckers Company without finding yourself questioning your own ethical standards. The Smuckers Company is that good, and has been going strong for over 120 years by mastering the question of what are ethical values. The foundation of their ethical success comes from the start of their hiring process and extends all the way to their consumers, suppliers, and shareholders whom they also hold to the same high values and ethical standards. All new hires are mandated to attend an all-day training seminar on moral awareness, moral courage, values, and the complexities of ethics. To ensure the best employees are maintained their ethical standards and high values are refreshed year over year.

In a world of corruption and deceit the J.M. Smucker Company have steered clear of the forever growing grey area that the rest of the world insists on living within. The answer is shockingly easy once we remove the excuses and outside noses and temptations to cut corners. The best quality, surrounded by the best people following the best ethical guidelines has led the J.M. Smucker Company to the top 100 places to work for several years in a row. These values and ethics have increased the business performance. Their process in seeking, finding and maintaining an ethical team has lead to a happier more productive team with less turnover.

At a first glimpse how awesome would it be to be work for a company on the top 100 places to work. On top of having great health care, they offer educational benefits, adoption benefits as well as set the pace with allowing expecting parents extra maternity leave of 12 weeks. They don’t stop there and provide a stock option program with payment plans that come right from your checks. As we have learned in this world, nothing is for free and the cost for such benefits is more than the average employee can give, it is no other than the pursuit of perfection alongside the internal desire to always improve. The fear of failing and letting someone down alone is a reason many go running. Personally, I would think twice about this situation and really have to ask if this is how I want to managed day in and out. I had the privilege of working for a top 100 business as well. It was a very sad day when I realized what makes them a top place to work, also made me a less than favorable employee.

I can strongly see how ethics would be so important to a company like J.M. Smucker. From their first sell of apple butter out the back of a horse carriage to carrying their products in just about every large grocery store the goal has been to prove their product is superior in quality, product, and taste. I believe their focus on values and ethics have proven their performance over the last 120 year. Essentially, they have put their money where their mouth is and created a work environment that further expresses their dedication to their consumers. From how they treat their employees to how they treat their product is a start to finish process driven by strong ethics and values.

I would have to say that landing on the top 100 list probably has its good and bad days. Outside of the word of mouth referral I can’t imagine the thousands of applicants that need to be screened prior to setting up their first interview. This is the major downfall of being on a best place to work list. Having an automated screen method or some style of questioner may be a company’s only save for time and money. Keep in mind that you also risk missing out on that premium applicant that should not have been disqualified or skipped over. Diverting time and money to an elite recruiting department is the best scenario to get through an application storm. It is important to remember that recruiting and hiring is a numbers game, and the goal to finding those one of kind team members is volume and lots of it. Being on the top 100 list will only benefit this goal and increase the chances of getting a team win.

J.M. Smucker Company has raised the bar with not only how they do business but the people they want to work with. With an even set of pros and cons the Smucker Company comes out on top with a well-earned place on the top 100 places to work. They proudly promote their products though their largest assets, their employees and their employees are their true foundation and backbone and driving force of their core beliefs and values.

Reference

Employee Benefits Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.jmsmucker.com/careers/why-smucker/employee-benefits