Question

Fundementals of human resource management

THE SOUTHERN WIDGET MANUFACTURING

Introduction

Founded in 2006, Southern Widget Manufacturing sets out to be the leading manufacturer of widgets in the world. Southern Widget has sales and distribution centers around the world including six centers in the US. The company is a member of the World Widget Manufacturing Association (WWMA).

Widgets are used as a display tool for several products including: PC, TV, auto parts, furniture, etc.

The Widget is a Bamboo based product making both environmentally and economically sound. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for many applications Widgets it is considered one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.

Mission Statement

·       Provide a high-quality, affordable product

·       Create long term relationships with customers

·       Respond immediately to changing needs of customers

·       Achieve complete customer satisfaction

·       Improve our customer services continuously

·       Maintain excellent employee relations

·       Sustain community involvement

Vision

The vision at Southern Widget Manufacturing is to utilize our well trained and satisfied employee teams to deliver outstanding customer services.

Mission

At Southern Widget Manufacturing every person in our company is a member of the team and a team player, with expectations that they perform their duties to their fullest capacity and potential. Our objective is a commitment to the highest quality of widgets and customer service. The customer’s satisfaction is our major focus, reached through innovative and cost effective production. We will lead the Widget industry with well trained and satisfied employees and pleased customers.

1)    Francisco works at Southern Widget as a welder. Although he is provided with protective goggles and a face mask, overalls and other types of protective clothing are not provided. After three months of work at Southern Widget, Francisco notices his skin becoming drier and gradually changing color. Alarmed with this development, he approaches his supervisor asking for details of the materials he works with. The supervisor declines to reveal any kind of information. What authority and laws can help Francisco file a claim?

2)    Virginia's boss, Luke, constantly uses sexually explicit language while communicating with his female subordinates. Though many female employees are bothered with this behavior, no one has ever complained for fear of negative repercussions. However, Virginia files a complaint against Luke with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Will this be considered as discriminatory behavior? Why or why not? Explain the prohibitions under Title VII for related behavior.

3)    Policy 137: The paint booths contain many toxic chemicals and are possibly harmful to unborn fetuses. In an abundance of caution Southern Widget will not allow its female employees of child bearing age to accept a position in the painting area. Employees working in the paint area make $5.00 more than other production employees. Is this considered discrimination, what is this called? Explain

4)    Southern Widget employees are being asked for their opinion on which type of insurance they would like to have. The choices are HMO or PPO. Explain the difference as they differ from traditional health care providers? Pretend you are an employee and give you choice, explain.

5)    You have been asked to write a FLSA policy. Be sure to include the three major parts as it might relate to Southern Widget.

6)    Thomas a Production Foreman was terminated. He has filed a Company grievance. On April 2, Thomas was told to open discharge valves into the Mississippi River which he refused to do. Additionally, he has been told by the company President, with witnesses, that he was such a good employee he had a job for life. Southern Widget’s rebuttal is that he refused a direct order and the company’s policy clearly state, that there are no contract employees. Does he have a case on either point? Discuss and serve as the arbitrator with the decision.

7)    John, the company Custodian, was in a horrific car accident as a child but has fully recovered from his injuries and is considered a very healthy individual. During the accident, John was burned and still has several facial scars that have disfigured his face. Many employees at John's company stare as he walks by and get distracted by his appearance. Is John protected by the ADA? Explain.

8)    The Widget Operators Local Unions 621 filed a petition to have Southern Widget create an alternative dispute resolution, including the most common techniques. Is that a good idea for the company, if so, what how should it include?

9)    Southern Widget is preparing to announce a new compensation system. Before the system goes live, as the HR Training Supervisor, you are required to do a company training on what goes into a compensation system. You will need to explain and discuss issues like: job structure, pay levels, motivation, cost control, etc.

10) As a future Supervisor what did you learn about Human Resources that you did not know before taking this course? What will you do to include this knowledge in your supervisory role?

Answer 1

Question 1) Francisco works at Southern Widget as a welder. Although he is provided with protective goggles and a face mask, overalls and other types of protective clothing are not provided. After three months of work at Southern Widget, Francisco notices his skin becoming drier and gradually changing color. Alarmed with this development, he approaches his supervisor asking for details of the materials he works with. The supervisor declines to reveal any kind of information. What authority and laws can help Francisco file a claim?

Answer 1.

Francisco can use "Right to Know" federal law to file claims, and get details of the materials, and chemicals he is working with.

"Right to Know" is a federal law that enables the workers to know about all the hazardous chemicals they are working with. Right to Know enables the workers to extract the information from the manufacturers about the dangerous and hazardous substances that they are exposed to or are likely to be exposed to.

It is mandatory for the employer to share the information about the scientific chemicals they are using with their workers. Right to Know directs the employer to communicate about the toxicity and other characteristics of chemicals and materials used in business processes.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) takes the authority to monitor the health and ensure the safety of employees working in companies that use chemicals to produce products. OSHA setup various legal standards to protect the worker's health and ensure their safety by giving them privilege to get all information from the employer about the chemical they are working with.

Objective of Hazard Communication Standard:

1. To ensure the evaluation of chemicals and the hazard associated with it.
2. To inform workers about the hazard to which they may be exposed.
3. To preempt state laws covering workers Right to Know in order to ensure uniformity of information and requirements.

2)    Virginia's boss, Luke, constantly uses sexually explicit language while communicating with his female subordinates. Though many female employees are bothered with this behavior, no one has ever complained for fear of negative repercussions. However, Virginia files a complaint against Luke with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Will this be considered as discriminatory behavior? Why or why not? Explain the prohibitions under Title VII for related behavior.

Answer 2.

Luke's constant use of sexually explicit language while communicating with his female subordinates will be considered as discriminatory behavior because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enables this kind of practices unlawful under Title VII's Prohibition of Sex Determination.

It defines harassment of employee as an unlawful employment discrimination practice and is intolerable under any situation. Sexual harassment refers to any unwelcome sexual advances which result in difficulty for someone of particular sex to work in such unfair environment.

Due to Luke's sexually explicit language bothered female subordinates. It is totally unlawful to use such abusive language with female subordinates.

The harassment can be done through any ways either by moving fingers through female hairs by the harassers, touching them in inappropriate ways, posting pictures with sexual content in the workplace or cracking inappropriate abusive jokes, or using sexually explicit language creates a hostile work environment. In such a situation the individual deserves a punishment under prohibitions made in Title VII for related behavior.

"If you liked the answer please give an Up-vote, this will be quite encouraging for me, thank you!"