These are just the questions that Sara Lee executives and employees debated in the process of creating a program called Global Business Practices. It was introduced in September 1997 to senior management by Steven McMillan, Sara Lee’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, and seeks to communicate and reinforce the company’s basic values. It has since, managed to reach virtually every employee in the company.

Sara Lee now has a global infrastructure of over 100 Business Practices Officers overseeing all of the ethics and compliance programs in each country. They are responsible for making sure every employee receives regular training. In groups led by a company executive, employees learn from actual case studies about questionable behavior and use

By now, you should have an understanding of what lengths Sara Lee has gone to so that everyone in the organization practices the same rules of ethical procedures. I am sure that you are impressed, as I was, with the fundamental believes that they have instilled in their employees. Because of this impression that I was given, the following information came as a shocking reversal of what they preach.

In 2001, the Free Burma Coalition chastised Sara Lee for withdrawing from Burma after the Hanes underwear label had been found on sale on US university campuses with ‘Made in Myanmar’ tags. Sara Lee subsequently announced that it had forbidden its subcontractors to make products in Burma. However, it is the company’s connection with Israel, which has attracted the most attention this past year.

Also in place are more than 50 Business Practices Committees that meet regularly to assess their organization’s efforts and review and investigate inquiries, complaints and any allegations of wrongdoing. Everyone involved in the business practice efforts are working to reduce risk for the company and to protect the integrity of Sara Lee and all its employees.

This is a graphic illustration of how openly companies expect to be able to exert influence on global policy making, and see nothing wrong in the extent of corporate interventions into our Western countries so-called ‘democracies.’ Sara Lee’s attempts to influence policy also extend into regular, not so huge, political donations to both Republicans and Democrats over the last few years.

Sara Lee was not satisfied with just having everyone in the company follow this program. They have created a section called Supplier Selection Guidelines. These guidelines were established to ensure a uniform and consistent approach with all suppliers (including contractors and joint venture partners). These guidelines focus on the supplier’s ethical standards, legal conduct, environment

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