Jerry's Ben example essay topic

Ben & Jerry's Ben & Jerry's seem like an interesting company to do a report on and / or even work for. To start I would like to say that I am not that crazy about their ice cream. I have always been a Hagen-Days nut but, after reading up on all the favorable things that Ben & Jerry's have done and are doing for the society, I am thinking about giving them my business. The article that really caught my attention was "Ben & Jerry's sweetens its success by helping others'. Starting with the quote "Should a business exist for the exploitation of society, or should it exist for the benefit of society?' Ben Cohen who is trying to redefine business ideals also said "We think business should be an entity to provide service to the community. ' Unfortunately most business is only interested in making money and can careless about social issues, unless it in the long run will help make more money.

Ben & Jerry's seem sincere to want to make a noticeable difference in the world. The Ben & Jerry's foundation, established in 1985, receives 7.5 percent of the company's yearly pretax profits, which is donated to charities. Ben & Jerry's has two bottom lines: one is profit and, the other is "how much the company contributed to the quality of life. ' The Peace Pop and Ice Cream bar on a stick was packaged with a message saying, "One Percent for Peace' and, donated one percent of the profits for peace efforts. They also used their ice cream shops for voter registration sign-ups, giving every voter registering one free cone. They helped register thousands of new voters in Vermont.

Also Farm Aid and Family Farming issues were put on their ice cream pints. Ben & Jerry's prides it's self on the quality of work life. They won the Optimas Award in 1992 and, were listed in The 100 Best Company' To Work For In America. They offer excellent benefits, high starting wages and profit-sharing program. Their health care plan even covers employees' unmarried domestic partners.

Some of the more interesting human resources programs to improve the quality of life for the employees are evaluate-your-boss polls; seven-times-salary-ratio plan; paid health club fees; Child care centers; opinion surveys; tuition reimbursement; and confidential counseling for substance abuse, marital or family problems, or other personal issues. The result of their programs indicate "in all measures of work life, Ben & Jerry's people have a more favorable view of their jobs, supervision, and company than do employees from American companies in general. ' The Harlem Ben & Jerry's is a great example of what the company is doing for the community. This particular franchise donates 75 percent of its net proceeds to a homeless shelter and drug-crisis center that the franchise owner founded in 1984. The counseling center and homeless shelter have rehabilitated hundreds of people. Most of the shop's employees have been through the drug-crisis center.

"They " ve all been tested to show that they are drug-free, and that will continue, The company waived their $25,000 franchise fee and offered support to get The Harlem franchise started with the idea that the store would give part of its profits to a local charity. Ben & Jerry's are a company out to change our ideas of what we think a big business is all about. They try to improve the quality of life inside and outside of its' organization. Their success is founded on helping others and making a difference. In my opinion Ben & Jerry's is one heck of a great organization! 1.

David, Ellis. 1992. Sundae school.

Bibliography

1. Dry, Leonard. 1993.
Ice Cream Meets Charity in Harlem. The New York Time. 21 Feb. 2. Ellis, David. 1992.
Sundae School. People Week. 14 Sept. 91-92 3. Hawken, Paul & Parker, Alan. 1993.
Ben & Jerry's 199 Annual Report. 4. Personnel Journal's. Optimas Award for Quality of life. Personnel Journal. Jan, 1992 5.
Stable ford, Joan. Ben & Jerry's sweetens its success by helping others. Westchester County Business Journal. March 4 1991.