AN ETHICAL AND EMPLOYMENT QUAGMIRE: THE CASE OF JBS

This case describes a hypothetical ethical dilemma involving labor relations at JBS Swift in Greeley, Colorado. The case describes the employment decisions faced by a hypothetical manager working at JBS Swift during the 2008 labor dispute over working conditions for Somali workers during Ramadan. The case provides detailed background information on JBS Swift, current labor relationships in the meat packing industry, applicable labor laws and ethical frameworks. At the end of the narrative the reader is asked to formulate ethically and legally sound recommendations. The suggested audiences for this case study are upper level undergraduate students and graduate students.