While technology might not technically be an official basic human need (like food, clothing or shelter), it sure seems that we can’t live without it. We rely on our electronic devices because they enhance, organize and connect our lives.
But have you thought about where those devices come from? Or, more importantly, who makes them? The actual people who put all the technological doohickeys together?
Best Buy thinks about it – a lot. We consciously operate our business in a way that seeks to ensure the people who work in the factories that produce our products are safe and treated fairly.
There are many people who produce more than 1,300 items — from phone cases to TVs — for our private label brands of Insignia, Rocketfish, Dynex, Modal and Platinum. Because most of the suppliers that manufacture our products are located in Southeast Asia, we have employees there who partner closely with our suppliers. Not only do these teams source and test products, but they audit factories, interview workers and implement training programs focused on improving the factories’ labor standards and environmental practices.
We want Best Buy to be a great place to work, and for Yuechang Li, included. She works for one of our private label product suppliers. Originally from Guangdong, located on the South China Sea, Yuechang moved 1,200 miles to the northeast coast of China in 2009 to find better job opportunities. She specializes in packaging calculation work, which entails designing, building and testing packaging for products that Best Buy makes. Accuracy and attention to detail are the keys to success in this job, Yuechang says. “This requirement makes me more patient, not only at work but also in my personal life, with my family and my friends,” she said.
In the eight years that she’s been with the supplier, Yuechang has found more than just a good place to work. “My co-workers are like family,” she said.
Best Buy wants its employees, customers and other stakeholders to trust and feel proud of the products we produce. That includes ensuring that the factories we work with treat their workers well. It’s part of our commitment to doing business the right way.
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