Case studies help provide understanding and knowledge you may not already posses
ID: 349077 • Letter: C
Question
Case studies help provide understanding and knowledge you may not already possess. Therefore, several case problems are included in this book. Please give each one your careful attention. The first case is not unusual, and the manager’s solution is often seen as acceptable. What are the ethical implications of this manager’s approach to working with people? What would you have done? Rex Crane is 63 years old and has been with his organization for 26 years. He has had a varied career and possesses a number of skills and abilities. Rex is quite set in his ways and somewhat eccentric. His supervisor and other senior managers would like to see him retire or let him go, but his performance meets the standards of the organization in all respects and he has no interest in retirement. No one has been able to identify any deficiencies that would warrant discharge. The senior manager in Rex’s department recently decided to create a work environment for Rex that would be so uncomfortable that it would ultimately cause Rex to quit. He presented the idea to Rex’s immediate supervisor who accepted the idea readily. They began to give Rex thankless assignments and assigning him to the “graveyard” shift. Younger employees with less experience and service were given better assignments and shifts. Rex appealed the decision, but was told by his manager that “the assignments have all been made; if you don’t like yours you can look elsewhere.” There is no union or employee problem-solving process.
1. What are the ethical factors here?
2. Indicate how you would have handled this situation if you had been the immediate supervisor.
Explanation / Answer
1. I consider this is an ethical issue because there was no way Rex deserve such a treatment because he has been efficient throughout his career in the organization for the last 26 years and even at the age of 63 he fulfills all the criteria that is required from an employee. Rex here is discriminated based on age which is not only unethical but also illegal and Rex can even file a lawsuit against the senior manager and supervisor because performance is not the parameter here but it is age.
2. I would have never accepted the idea because I feel that there is no way to discriminate an employee just because he is older than the average employee. I would have respected the position and the motivation Rex still possess for work and have assigned him the assignment which best suites his interests because there is no doubt that he will excel in that. The objective is betterment of the organization and not serving personal interests.