The Black Lives Matter movement and contemporary conversations on race class and sexuality have in 2020 put the focus on structural redress. This brief article will serve as a basis for understanding what affirmative action is, its arguments, and ultimately where we stand as an organization on the issue of AA.

What is affirmative action? 

On a practical level, affirmative action is manifested in different ways but most commonly through Quotas that set a requirement on the hiring of specific groups of people. An example of this is the position taken recently by the European Commission to make sure that at least 40 percent of non-directorship roles in large listed companies are filled by women. This action is a direct response to socially established norms that have kept women away from the corporate space. AA has also been expressed through scorecard systems in which a person’s race class and gender alongside their qualification and experience are used to tabulate points in which the individual with the most getting preference for hire in an organization. 
 

Where do we stand on the debate?

As an organization, we strongly believe in affirmative action as a means of providing greater equity marginalized people based principally on two pillars that being Justice and demonstrable net gains through equitable redistribution 
The case of justice is one in which we hold dear. Even if an argument is provided that certain injustices had occurred in a previous generation from the present, the truth is injustices do not decay over time especially if they have a measurable connection to current struggles faced today. 

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Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2020, Cutter & Buck is a Seattle-based company that specializes in golf and sports outerwear, in addition to other merchandise that combines an "urban and outdoor lifestyle". In 2007, they were purchased by Swedish group New Wave Mode AB. They are now the official retail provider for NSI Consultants. 

The following is a statement from Cutter & Buck on their corporate social responsibility stance: 

At Cutter & Buck, we believe that every person is unique and valuable. We believe in providing a responsible and ethical work environment for our employees. We believe in treating all people with respect and dignity and we expect our suppliers to uphold similar values. Cutter & Buck seeks vendors that strive to maintain sustainable social and environmental business practices. We believe that organizations that are socially and environmentally responsible are better equipped to succeed and prosper in a rapidly changing world.

Our compliance partners, FLA, QCA, Bureau Veritas and CTPAT, provide the foundation and structure of our compliance program. Our commitment to the Fair Labor Association (FLA) is based on our corporate values regarding worker rights, safe and healthy work conditions and the fair and equitable treatment of all persons responsible for the manufacture of Cutter & Buck garments throughout our supply chain. Cutter & Buck’s participation with the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) is focused on ensuring product quality and safety for our consumers, with keen focus on a safe supply chain, workers right and environmental stewardship. Bureau Veritas serves as our designated 3^rd-party provider of independent social compliance audits. These are regularly conducted at the overseas suppliers where our products are made as well as our own domestic facilities. The Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is a voluntary and collaborative program which uses best practices in supply chain security that support the initiatives of Homeland Security.

Our company culture places a high value on our employees and suppliers by adopting these principles into the management of our supply chain. Cutter & Buck is committed to assuring workers a safe workplace with a code of conduct and a fair wage and a supply chain that focuses on product safety, environmental sustainability and safeguards from intrusion.