What is the current ethical situation?
The current ethical issue being faced by Instacart is the lack of protective equipment and the lack of hazard pay for its workers.
Instacart employees from in store shoppers all the way to full service and even shift leads are not being provided with some form of equipment to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. This has left many employees furious as they are at risk and considered an essential job in these confusing and trying times. The company provides a service that allows for the ordering and delivery of groceries and other amenities from several grocery locations from the comfort of home. However this means two things the workers must travel for the customers, Putting them at higher risk due to more chances for exposure. Instacart isn’t the only company however who provides the service and it along with many other companies are in big name news.New York times, Business insider , The Washington post ,etc are examples of media outlets reporting on the situation. It’s even reached reddit where many different people are voicing their concerns on the matter.
Ethical Standpoint 
10 replies on “Blog 1”
Instacart is a great example of an ethical situation especially currently during this scary time. Instacart is considered an essential worker because obviously people do not want to go get their groceries themselves, but it also is a risk to these employees at Instacart because they have to go into these stores and get what the customers want/need.
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Yes! also The shoppers have to travel to the homes of customers which means they have even greater risk.
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I have never heard of this company before, but I think it is a great idea! After reading and learning about what the company does, I think you are right, and that during this tough time they might not be getting as much service, but also could be getting a lot more service. Depending on personal preference, I think it could go either way during this COVID-19 time.
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True it could go either way depending on preference but its to my knowledge and observation that the company has a lot more orders now than previously. I’ve personally more shoppers in stores as well
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While Instacart is definitely facing an ethical issue, they should not be facing the amount of scrutiny that they are. The outbreak of COVID-19 was not planned for by any company or even the government. Because of this, the ethical situations that have arose from the outbreak are ones that cannot simply be burdened by just the company itself. There is a lack of supplies and equipment worldwide, so the lack of supplies within the company should not be a surprise to the employees. On the other hand, lack of hazard pay is certainly an ethical issue the company is facing.
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The main concern of most employees is not the equipment exactly , Its the seemingly unwillingness to compensate its employees the proper funds specifically when the company is making more and more money by taking full advantage of this situation, Batches can be as low paying as 9 dollars and while they may not be work intensive the company should realize during the time of a pandemic its not worth risking infection for such low income.
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I agree with Tyler, it isn’t the companies responsibility to prepare for global pandemics, its the governments. That being said, they should be enforcing and upholding the standards set in place by the government. If they are not providing PPE then that is a moral failing.
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The implication wasn’t that he companies should have been prepared as they are not the gov or CDC but that in response to challenge they should take action and not stand by idly while only reaping the benefits of the shoppers labor.
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Even though this is an ethical issue, Instacart is not the only company facing it, nor is it their fault that they are having this problem. There is a shortage world wide of protective gear and equipment, even hospitals and doctors are struggling to get the protective gear they need and they are at the front of the line for this pandemic.
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The Intent isn’t to place blame for the issue occurring the intent is to point out a lack of willingness to act and a lack of concern for employees
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