Running Head: ETHICAL PAPER ON C.H.ROBINSON CORPORATION 1 ETHICAL PAPER ON C.H.ROBINSON CORPORATION 4 Ethical Paper on C.H.Robinson Corporation Akili Bryan Polee Scranton University MGT 601 Responsibility, Sustainability and Justice 8/18/2012 INTRODUCTION C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc is based in North America and it has offices in Europe, Asia, Australia Middle East and South America. It is among the largest third-party logistics providers. It operates in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia and South America. The corporation operates in three sectors namely: multimodal transportation services accounting for 88% of the firm’s gross profits, fresh produce sourcing accounting for 8% of the firm’s gross profit and information services accounting for 4% of the gross profits (Plunkett, 2009). The company has one of the worlds largest networks of motor carrier capacity in the world, which is maintained through contracts with about 48 000 carriers. The company has served more than 29 000 customers and has handled about six million five hundred thousand shipments annually. The types of business that the company does are: Freight logistics, expedited service, produce sourcing, third party logistics and warehouse and distribution services. The affiliates of the company are: CHREX, T-check Systems, Inc and our world. CHREX provides is one of the largest capacity providers in the expedited market. It contracts air carriers and special purpose motor carriers which provide temperature-controlled and less -than -truck load services. Social responsibility The company’s mission shows that the organization cares more about the people environment and the quality of services provided to the people. The company therefore ensures that, as it undertakes its operational activities, it also protects the environment. The organization has put up policies that are aimed towards reducing carbon emission, and reducing consumption of fuel. It has also agreed to the international standards that were put in place to protect the environment from the emissions that proved to be hazardous to the environment. The company’s concern is basically delivering unique value to its customers and its suppliers. The company has based their success on the employees’, customers’, community’s, contract careers’ and suppliers and the entire world’s health. Due to the company’s concern of the well being of its stakeholders, the company has supported great courses and has given back to the society. The company has used its resources to invest in programs that have made a positive impact to the society. In its giving back to the employees and community at large, the corporation created the C.H Robinson Worldwide Foundation that provides philanthropic support to its communities and into the future through all types of economic and business climates. The foundations purpose is to ensure that the communities continue to be great places to live and work. The c.

1. Running Head: ETHICAL PAPER ON C.H.ROBINSON
CORPORATION 1
ETHICAL PAPER ON C.H.ROBINSON CORPORATION
4
Ethical Paper on C.H.Robinson Corporation
Akili Bryan Polee
Scranton University
MGT 601 Responsibility, Sustainability and Justice
8/18/2012
INTRODUCTION
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc is based in North America and it
has offices in Europe, Asia, Australia Middle East and South
America. It is among the largest third-party logistics providers.
It operates in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Mexico,
Europe, Asia and South America. The corporation operates in
three sectors namely: multimodal transportation services
accounting for 88% of the firm’s gross profits, fresh produce
sourcing accounting for 8% of the firm’s gross profit and
information services accounting for 4% of the gross profits
(Plunkett, 2009).
The company has one of the worlds largest networks of motor
carrier capacity in the world, which is maintained through
contracts with about 48 000 carriers. The company has served
more than 29 000 customers and has handled about six million
five hundred thousand shipments annually. The types of
business that the company does are: Freight logistics, expedited
service, produce sourcing, third party logistics and warehouse
and distribution services. The affiliates of the company are:
CHREX, T-check Systems, Inc and our world. CHREX provides

2. is one of the largest capacity providers in the expedited market.
It contracts air carriers and special purpose motor carriers
which provide temperature-controlled and less -than -truck load
services.
Social responsibility
The company’s mission shows that the organization cares more
about the people environment and the quality of services
provided to the people. The company therefore ensures that, as
it undertakes its operational activities, it also protects the
environment. The organization has put up policies that are
aimed towards reducing carbon emission, and reducing
consumption of fuel. It has also agreed to the international
standards that were put in place to protect the environment from
the emissions that proved to be hazardous to the environment.
The company’s concern is basically delivering unique value to
its customers and its suppliers. The company has based their
success on the employees’, customers’, community’s, contract
careers’ and suppliers and the entire world’s health. Due to the
company’s concern of the well being of its stakeholders, the
company has supported great courses and has given back to the
society. The company has used its resources to invest in
programs that have made a positive impact to the society.
In its giving back to the employees and community at large, the
corporation created the C.H Robinson Worldwide Foundation
that provides philanthropic support to its communities and into
the future through all types of economic and business climates.
The foundations purpose is to ensure that the communities
continue to be great places to live and work. The corporation
also provides support to hundreds of organisations annually.
Priority is focused on the organisations that can offer employee
engagement opportunities and the programs which expand
educational success for at-risk youth, expand and improve
access to affordable housing, focus on areas of health and
prevent hunger by providing food assistance.
The organizations that are supported are located within

3. Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and the greater
Minnesota. The foundation also supports charitable interests of
its employees through the charitable match programs. The
corporation gives locally and regionally through the offices that
are found around the world. Each of the offices around the
world participates in its own charitable programs.
The company’s products are eco-friendly, for instance the new
organic line that it introduced for the purpose of supporting
healthy lifestyles and sustainability. The organisations’ “World
organics” promotes an environmentally-friendly products and it
also supports activities that have lead to long-term agricultural
practices that minimize negative impact to the environment.
The company also publishes its environmental performance and
makes the results public for the customers and the stakeholders
to get a glimpse of the company’s performance. The company
publishes its carbon profile which is the publishing of t he
organisations overall amount of carbon dioxide and the other
greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the
companies products, and also the supply chain of the company.
Sustainability
For the organisation, sustainability is incorporated in the
organisation’s business approach. Through sustainability the
organisation has added value, improved efficiencies, invested in
long term success of its customers and has contracted carriers,
suppliers and the community at large. The company has helped
its customers increase efficiency by being the third party
transportation and logistics provider. The organisation has also
reduced the distance from the farm to the customers table by the
use o f its produce programs. The success of the organisation is
believed to be dependent on the community’s health and
success.
Ethics
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Code that has to be complied
with by every employee reflects the company’s culture and the
companies abiding to do what is right. All the companies’
employees and directors are required to know the code of

4. conduct and adhere to them. The codes of conduct are inline
with the laws of the area of operation’s laws. The region’s legal
department is to be contacted in case of conflicts between the
code of ethics of the organisation and the laws of the country in
which business is done. The policies cover a wide number of
issues. They generally protect the entire stakeholders and ensure
the well being of the society.
Areas covered by the policies
The policy ensures that there is protection of confidential
information, company property and information assets. In this
policy, the information assets and the third party’s confidential
information are protected. The confidential information includes
the non-public information, financial information, operational
information and any other sensitive information. All employees
of the organisation are considered to be the users of the
information.
They are the ones who are therefore responsible for the
protection of the information from being misused. Informational
assets such as the organisations business, marketing, financial
and service plans associated with products, internal data bases,
personal data, trade secrets and patents are protected from
misuse by the employees who are the custodians of the
information. The information is not to be disclosed even to the
family members. In case of information belonging to third
party, the employee is not to disclose any confidential
information of such a party unless express written permission of
such third party is granted.
One of the policies is also meant to protect the company
property. The property owned by the company is property such
as personal property, real property, intellectual property,
technology databases and trade secrets among others. The
company’s property is to be properly used and safeguarded by
the company’s employers and employees alike. The employees
must not engage in activities that have conflicting interest with
the interest of the company, C.H. Robinson. The employees are
not to act in a way that would affect their objectivity in

5. performing the company’s responsibilities. The employees
should also not engage in other outside employment that would
conflict with C.H. Robinson’s business hours. The employees
are not allowed to use the company’s materials, time and other
assets in connection with outside employment or business
interest.
It is against the company’s policy to use misleading advertising
or promotional give-a-ways in the name of marketing the
company’s products. The techniques of advertising could only
be used only if they are lawful and do not deceive the larger
society. This among other ethical policies that were developed
by the company was meant to protect the company’s
stakeholders.
The records management and retention policy provides the
companies employees with management guidelines, handling
guidelines and guidelines on how to dispose the company’s
documents and information. The purpose of the policy is to
ensure that the company complies with the applicable federal
laws and the regulations that are set. The policy also ensures
that the companies needs of accessing the businesses document
and records for a period of time. The company should retain and
store its documents in an efficient and cost effective way. The
company manages this by the companies legal department
establishes, maintains and implements a comprehensive records
retention schedule that is always updated and modified. The
department also approves uniform practice and management
guidelines for maintenance and destruction of three company’s
documents.
When the record retention policy is adhered to, the following
objectives are met: The records necessary for business
processes are retained for availability when needed. The
records that will be required to support the company’s
compliance with the applicable state laws and regulations will
be developed for the required period.
The policy on electronic data and communications of the
company has provided electronic systems and service which

6. include the internet, mobile phone access, messaging system
and other forms of communication used as tools for carrying
company business. The tools should be used ethically by the
people privileged and approved to use the tools by the
management due to the job responsibility.
The accessibility of the tools should not interfere with interests
of the company. The company provides its employees with
internet, e-mail, instant messaging and other electronic systems
only for business purposes. The users of the tools represent the
company and they should represent the company’s interest and
uphold the company’s code of conduct even while using the said
tools by using the tools in an ethical manner.
While on the social networks, the discussions and the activities
being carried out on the sites are subjected to the company’s
policies. The users are therefore held responsible for the
writings and postings on the sites. The blogger should make it
clear to the other readers that whatever expressed is a personal
view and that they do not reflect the company’s views. The user
profit social tools are supposed to be respectful of the
company’s employees, customers and everybody else including
the company’s competitors.
In 2009 the company received an environmental award which
recognised the company’s commitment to reducing carbon
dioxide emissions, decreasing highway congestions and
conserving fossil fuel. The company also partnered with
Cascade Sierra solutions an organisation that is committed to
reduce motor fuel consumption and carbon emissions by
improving aerodynamics through the customer match Program
that matches its customer’s donations to cascade sierra
solutions.
C.H. Robinson prohibits any money laundering form. The
company’s employees are not allowed to participate in any
transaction which involves funds that employees suspect to have
been illegally obtained. On suspecting any illegal money, the
employees are supposed to refuse to participate in the
transaction and thereafter report the matter to the legal

7. department.
The code of ethics of the company has put into consideration
the fair treatment in terms of employment opportunities,
training, promotion and compensation. Through its Non-
Discrimination and Anti-harassment policy, the company
provides equal opportunities and fair treatment with no regard
to the person’s race, gender, marital status, sexual orientation,
colour and religion. The organisation accommodates applicants
and employees with disabilities but with the necessary
qualifications.
To ensure all persons are treated equally, the Anti harassment
policy is upheld by the company though the supervisors who
are to ensure that there are no activities allowed to take place
whereas the activities are intimidating, offensive or harassing to
any protected category. Most hostile environment suites are
usually claims of discrimination based on sex. Sexual
harassment are a very complicated issue and oftentimes they
take various dimensions, all of which are protected in C.H.
Robinson’s policies. An example of a case is sexual harassment
whereby in the court it was found that in a guy’s locker room,
there was sexually explicit comments that were not directly
aimed towards the plaintiff (Halbert and inqulli, 2011).The
violators of the policy are subject a disciplinary action which
may be as severe as termination of the violator from working
with the organisation.
The employee aware of violations of any kind is supposed to
report the situation so that the management or the concerned
department may investigate and address the issue appropriately.
The organisation policy, to comply with the federal
constitutions of the constitutions of the countries in which the
organisation is carrying out business, upholds the host countries
laws and interest. The organizations employees are subject to
complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and
C.H Robinson internal accounting controls.
The benefits that accrue to the organisation due to the current
approach it has on the level of ethics, environment and social

8. performance is that, the company has improved the brand
image. The company has also done away with the costs that are
usually associated with the law suites. It does operate and
conform to the laws of the country that it is operating in. The
company has also won the trust of the stakeholders as it makes
public it move towards protecting the larger environment.
Conclusion and way forward
In conclusion, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc which is the
largest third-party logistics providers is worldly admired as
having one of the world’s largest networks of motor carrier
capacity in the world. That is maintained through contracts with
about 48 000 carriers. The company’s mission is proof that the
organisation cares more about the people’s environment. It also
proves that the company cares about the quality of services
provided to the people and the general populations well being.
The company gives back to the employees and the community at
large. The corporation created the C.H Robinson Worldwide
Foundation so as provide philanthropic support to its
communities. The organisations that are supported by the
foundation are located within Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan
area and the greater Minnesota. The company’s products are
eco-friendly, and that fact shows that the company cares for the
environment and the ecological system.
The company publishes its environmental performance and
makes the results public for the customers and the stakeholders
to get a glimpse of the company’s performance. For the
organisation, sustainability is incorporated in the organisation’s
business approach. The policy ensures that there is protection of
confidential information, company property and information
assets. They are the ones who are therefore responsible for the
protection of the information from being misused. Informational
assets such as the organisations one of the policies is also meant
to protect the company property. The property owned by the
company is property such as personal property, real property,
intellectual property, technology databases and trade secrets

9. among others It is against the company’s policy to use
misleading advertising or promotional give-a-ways in the name
of marketing the company’s products.
When the record retention policy is adhered to, the organisation
is then able to know its performance in the market and it is able
to study its trends and progress. The records necessary for
business processes are retained for availability when needed.
While on the social networks, the discussions and the activities
being carried out on the sites are subjected to the company’s
policies To improve the company’s ethical, social as well as
environmental performance, the organisation should maintain
the stand it has on the policies it has and to be on the look out
of the trends of business in the industry. The company should
impose more strict rules and punishments for those who do not
adhere to the company’s policies.
Reference
Plunkett, J. W. (2009). Plunkett's transportation, supply chain &
logistics industry almanac 2009: The only comprehensive guide
to the business of transportation, supply chain and logistics
management. Houston, TX: Plunkett Research Ltd.
Halbert, T., & Ingulli, E. (2011). Law and ethics in the business
environment. Mason OH: South WesternEducational Publ.