Do Good, Do Well - Business Ethics magazine announces awards - Brief Article

Workforce, Jan, 2001

Who says good guys finish last? In its November/December issue, Business Ethics magazine announced the 12th annual Business Ethics Awards, rewarding companies that are leaders in their fields, have programs in social responsibility that reach deep into the company, and stand out in at least one area of social responsibility. Also, the company has to show a profit, proving that it is indeed possible to be ethical and profitable simultaneously.

The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. won the Employee Ownership category. The company is 100 percent employee owned, with 83 percent of the employees owning stock in the company, and no shareholder holding more than three percent. BNA has been named to both the Working Mother and Fortune top 100 employers lists, and provides employees with generous benefits. In return, the employee/ shareholders have warded off acquisition attempts and grossed the company $281 million in revenues.

In Environmental Excellence, Britain's Iceland Foods was recognized for its fight against genetically modified foods.

The Corporate Citizenship Award winner was Whole Foods Market. In addition to a variety of community and environmental actions, the company was cited for its decentralized management structure, where employee divisions set their own goals, and decide actions such as hiring, firing, purchasing, and scheduling as a group.