Judging from replies I think there is a misunderstanding of the principle involved in maximizing shareholder value.

Treating employees well can and does increase shareholder value - when employees are happy and taken care of they are more productive. This is nothing new nor does it violate the principle of maximizing shareholder value. Nor does the idea of being responsible toward the environment - in the long run that increases shareholder value.

The conflict arises when the PURPOSE of the company becomes to cater to the employees, the environment, social policy, etc., or those things are considered equally important as maximizing shareholder value.

Accepting the premise that the prime purpose of the company is NOT maximizing shareholder value concedes the argument to the socialists.

That sets up CEO's to do things like Gillette purposely tanking $8 billion dollars in shareholder value in order to cater to leftists. In any sane business environment the CEO who made such a decision would have been fired long ago.