Question

Beijing, China’s capital city, has been plagued with seri- ous air pollution. Of particular concern is a pollutant called fine particulate matter (PM), composed of a mix of solid and liquid particles, including sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, carbon, mineral dust, and water. When people inhale PM that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller (called PM 2.5), it interferes with gas ex- change in the lungs and contributes to development of lung cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The standard of the World Health Organization is that PM 2.5 should not average more than 25 micrograms per cubic meter over a 24-hour period. But in a recent winter, PM 2.5 was measured at 755—a level at which people can see, feel, and taste the grit in the air. Along with increasing the risk of disease and premature death, that kind of pollution causes daily problems such as itchy throat and chronic cough.

Pollution that bad raises HRM challenges for organi- zations that operate in Beijing. A fundamental problem is that talented people in other countries do not want to relo- cate to the area. At BMW, several candidates for midlevel management positions withdrew their applications be- cause of concerns about their families living in unhealthy conditions. A doctor at Beijing Family Hospital said he had heard from many expatriates that they intend not to renew their employment contracts to work in Beijing.

Some actions employers have taken involve mak- ing workers safer and more comfortable. Employers have purchased air purifiers and face masks for em- ployees and have brought in experts to teach employees and their families how to stay healthy. They also have

increased hardship allowances for employees working in the area.

Employers also can point to community efforts to make living in Beijing healthier. For example, interna- tional schools that teach the children of expatriates have taken actions to protect students. Dulwich College Bei- jing installed a huge dome over an outside play area, so students can leave the building to play basketball and other games when the PM 2.5 index is 250 or more.

The problem in Beijing also has become an opportu- nity for employers located away from the worst pollution. One Chinese company launched a “Blue Sky Recruitment” campaign in Beijing to lure young information technology engineers to the south of the country, where the air is bet- ter. The company’s ads, posted in elevators, asked, “Do you dare to pursue a life with blue sky and white clouds?”

Questions:

1. What would it take for you to accept an assignment in a location such as Beijing with extremely bad air pollution?

2. What should a socially responsible employer do to protect its employees in conditions such as these?

Answer 1

1. I would be comfortable  in accepting an assignment in a polluted city like Beijing if some of the conditions are met. First, If I work in an climate controlled environment for 8 hours where the effect of pollution and bad air is reduced to the minimum possible level, there is no harm because I will be exposed to the environment only when I venture out. I can solve this problem by residing away fro the city. Though it will take me an hour or so to commute to work both ways, it is still worth the effort, because I will be spending weekends in clean air, and will be exposed to the bad air only during commute ( I can  avoid it also if my vehicle limits my exposure). The other thing is that if the tradeoff between inhaling few hours of bad air and the career prospects after working in Beijing for few years, goes in favour of later, which would help me to take a better assignment in a less polluted city.

2. a socially responsible employer can do following.

(i) Ensure that the working environment is free from bad air as much as possible.

(ii) Provide accommodation in cleaner area with facility to commute in a air conditioned vehicle.

(iii) Providing pollution allowance to attract more workers.

(iv) Establish a weather / Environment information system to communicate the employees of air quality outside so that they venture only when th air is cleaner.

(v) Try its own part to reduce as much as emission as possible.

(vi) Encourage the employees to own electric vehicles or car pool to work so that the number of vehicles on the road can be reduced.