After reading the cases below please answer each question for each case (200 wor
ID: 376931 • Letter: A
Question
After reading the cases below please answer each question for each case (200 words minimum each)
What are the issues or concerns in the case?
Based on the textbook what issues or concerns are wrong with the case? (3 sources)
What could be the possible employee reactions?
How would you discuss the issue or concern with the employee/s?
What, if any, would be a disciplinary action?
Describe in detail what the training module would look like to prevent the issue from occurring.
Are there any laws that need to be understood before you speak to the employee/s?
(ie. ADA, EEOC, Civil Rights Act, etc.)
You are an office manager overseeing a department of 25 people. One of your employees comes to you and complains about Pat’s unpleasant body odor and how difficult it is to work in the same area.
Sidney has recently been missing work. She tends to call in at the last minute, and there seems to be a pattern developing of Mondays and Fridays. Sidney has been in rehabilitation in the past for alcohol abuse.
You are the sales department manager at an upscale store. Your boss has talked to you about the appearance of some of your sales clerks— particularly Alex. Alex is sporting on his forearm a new, large tattoo of a devil eating a rat. You agree with your boss that some customers might find it offensive and that it should somehow be covered up.
You are a payroll manager supervising 25 people. Your team works in close quarters with little physical separation between work stations. Drew is one of your best performers, yet you have received complaints that Drew tends to sprinkle conversations with rather crude and vulgar references. This is not a team of saints, but some have complained that Drew is crossing the line.
You are a marketing director supervising 18 professionals and support staff. The nature of the work requires a collaborative environment where the professionals give work direction to the support staff. A professional on your team, Dana, has started dating a person on the support staff. Although there is no policy prohibiting dating, several co-workers have complained about the two being too affectionate at work. Some also indicate there is preferential treatment for Dana’s newfound love interest.
Explanation / Answer
1. The issue of this case is the reported complain about Pat's bad body odor which makes it difficult for others to work in the same area. The complainant however is only one co-worker. The first step would be to take opinion of some other workers too who work along with Pat and verify the complain. If the complain is genuine, the issue will be discussed with Pat gently to find out the reasons of body odor and suggest remedial action in the interests of his and other co-workers. The employee will be handled gently and thus no offensive reaction is expected. No disciplinary action will be initiated and only remedial measures will be discussed.
2. The case is about regular absenteeism from work by Sidney, particularly on Mondays and Fridays. She habitually calls in at the last minute which leaves little option for her supervisors to take any other decision other than accept her leave requests. She was also in rehabilitation center in the past for alcohol abuse which gives rise to suspicions of continued abuse since her leaves are mostly for Mondays i.e. after the weekend and Fridays i.e. before the weekend.
The issue will be discussed in depth with the employee who may not accept the suspicions. The management will be within its right to initiate disciplinary action if she is indeed found to be taking leaves solely cause of her alcohol abuse.
3. The case pertains to the appearance of sales staff at an upscale department store where one of the sales clerks Alex is reported to be sporting a large tattoo on his forearm that may be offensive to some of the customers. Although this is a personal issue of the employee which does not cause any hindrance to his working or serving the customer, the store management can only initiate any action if it enacts a regulation that prohibits showing of tattoo on exposed body parts of its employees.
4. The case is about reported complaints about Drew, one of the best performing employee, about his conversations with fellow co-workers which are laden with crude and vulgar references. The issue is only a personal behavior related which does not affect his or company's operations. The same will be discussed gently with Drew and he would be advised to be more considerate to his fellow workers, some of whom find it offensive the way he communicates. Drew will not find the discussion offensive and would most probably take the advise sincerely.