Discuss the significance of Mr Birling in An Inspector Calls?

Mr. Birling plays the wealthy man, who worked for his money. He is hard working, practical, and one might say.... a social climber. He is always looking for ways to improve the family name. We can see Birling in two ways..... a hypocrite, who should have been aware of situations that occurred in his workplace.... or an employer that no longer cared about the "little guy" now that he's the big man with a successful company.