Corporate violence is fundamentally different from the obvious day to day conventional interpersonal violence in the sense that, it is largely subtle, indirect, collectively-instigated and disguised under the umbrella of the public good. In reality, it is a collective and intentional effort of major corporations to reap maximum benefits while compromising the very existence of the society (Friedrichs, 2009).
The most common behaviors which amount to corporate violence are unsafe environmental practices. Such include decisions to make products not guided by the environmental implication they could have in the process of making them or in the process of putting them into use. This incognizance is motivated by the desire to have the profit motive take precedence over concerns about consumer safety. Careless dumping of waste, emission of smoke by automobiles into the air, deliberate foisting on unhealthy meat on the public are all corporate crimes that amount to corporate violence (“20 Things You Should Know About Corporate Crime,” 2018). Additionally, corporate violence also does manifest itself in the workforce where individuals work under poor conditions, get poor remuneration and are exposed to life-threatening situations. Friedrichs (2009) adds that any action by a corporation that values profit-making more than the safety of its consumers thereby threatening their very existence amounts to Corporate Violence.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Corporate Violence and Fraud".
To prevent corporate violence, prosecution of offenders is paramount. Above all, extensive regulation should be employed to ensure that corporations engage in affairs that meet the maximum requirements of Regulation boards. Garrett (2014) calls for greater transparency and regularity in the process of prosecuting corporate criminals. The process should never remain a “Black Box,” because it downplays the seriousness of the offense.
Consequently, as agreeably described by Friedrichs (2009), corporate abuse of power manifests itself in the behavior of public officials. When public officials value profit and wealth over patriotism, they become open-handed to receiving bribes to facilitate actions that further corporate crimes. This mainly happens when regulation laws are deliberately bent by the people who are charged with the responsibility of implementing them. This leads to turning of blind eyes over corporations that evade tax. This corporate tax evasion becomes a burden for general taxpayers who are now taxed heavily.
In even worst situations, healthcare becomes so profit-motivated that patient care is compromised. With quiet authorization from government officials falsely advertise, misrepresent products and gouge the prices of goods and services. Consequently, economic exploitations of employees seem institutionalized (Friedrichs, 2009).
Such actions could easily be detected during instances where taxation of citizens goes higher than normal. The explanation behind this is premised on the fact that whenever big corporations evade taxes, the impact of the evasion is recovered through increased taxation on goods and services on the part of the citizens. Additionally, fraud detection experts like accountants are one crucial aspect of fraud detection. Moreover, letting employees be aware of the presence of fraud detectors instills hard work and authenticity in the place of work. It is crucial, however, that in preventing fraud, a clear understanding of the employees be taken into consideration. The existent of a huge gap between the employees and their employer could encourage fraud. Another crucial aspect of fraud prevention is setting up control and regulation units. Such units will not only control the manner in which financial activities are done but also regulate the extent to which they could cause a negative impact.
In conclusion, fraud, and abuse of power pose a threat to any established corporation. However, the government and concerned stakeholders cannot afford to turn blind eyes on the menace if a correct system of business is anything to go by. There must be a strong insistence on carefully organized regulation programs and control efforts must be put in place to curb corporate fraud, abuse of power and economic exploitation. Above all integrity of doing business and genuine concern for consumer safety should be emphasized at all times.
- 20 Things You Should Know About Corporate Crime. (2018). Retrieved from http://hlrecord.org
- Friedrichs, D. (2009). Trusted Criminals: Crime in Contemporary Society. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
- Garrett, B. (2014). Too Big to Jail: How Prosecutors Compromise with Corporations. Harvard University Press.
