Business and Management

Order Instructions:

The instructions and questions are exactly like the one posted on your website under “Business and Management” on 12/2/13. Here is the list of questions again just in case:

1. Amy Goldstein is an assistant vice president at Reliable Insurance. When her supervisor retires, Goldstein is passed over for a subordinate. Goldstein asks for an explanation. Vice President Bruce Wilson explains that this position involves working long hours, going on extended business trips, and attending numerous corporate functions during the week-end. Because it is common knowledge that Goldstein’s mother, who lives with her, is bedridden, one may conjecture that it would be very challenging for Goldstein to fulfill the responsibilities that come with the promotion. What would your advice to Goldstein be?

2. Jennifer Albright worked as a junior accountant for the accounting firm of Lewis and Hopkins. Scott Lewis, a co-worker and a nephew of senior partner, Milton Lewis has made several sexual comments and advances toward Jennifer Albright. Albright endures his barrage for 6 months without filing a complaint. She finally resigns and files a lawsuit for sexual harassment against the firm. Is she likely to win the lawsuit?

3. South Hill High for Girls is a private prep school. Theresa Thomas, an English teacher, becomes pregnant. The most important performance indicator for teachers at South Hill High for Girls is student evaluations. Instructors are rated by students on 1-5 scale from (1) poor to (5) excellent. Instructors are expected to have ratings in each class of at least 4. Theresa Thomas has been employed in the school for two years. Before her pregnancy, her ratings ranged between 4.1 and 4.3. During her pregnancy, her ratings went down in all of her classes. The ratings ranged from 2.9 to 3.4. Theresa Thomas attributed this drop in her teaching performance to her difficult pregnancy. The principal at South Hill High for Girls discharged Theresa Thomas because her teaching performance was below the minimum acceptable level of 4 on the 5-point scale. What advice would you give to Theresa Thomas?

4. In the law firm of Milton & Madden (M & M), a request has been filed by two lawyers who are Sikhs to wear turbans in observance of their religion. Although M & M’s dress code does not speak to this issue, M & M decides to prohibit this attire because of concerns that clients would perceive such attire as unprofessional. How would you advise the two Sikhs to proceed?

5. The Mexican workers at Bayou Oil Drilling are sometimes referred to as “wetbacks”, subjected to vulgar language about their mothers as well as off-color ethnic jokes. Some Mexican workers have complained to the supervisor, Ernesto Sanchez, who is Mexican-American. Ernesto told the complaining Mexican workers that they should “develop a sense of humor and get over it”. The Mexican workers are fearful of losing their jobs if they sue. How would you advise them?

6. Crystal Advertising Agency is changing its sick policy from a specific number of days to occurrences. The number of occurrences will be reviewed in the year-end evaluation. Rogers is attempting a class action lawsuit because older workers get sick more often than younger workers. What advice would you give him?
7. Rita Hall has kidney failure and is forced to be on dialysis twice a week. She is a financial analyst for a large edge fund firm, Bull & Bear. She is asking for two afternoons off each week. Rita Hall is offering to work late three days and on Saturdays to make up the remaining time off. She does not believe this will adversely affect her ability to perform her job duties. Bull & Bear refuses, claiming it is too disruptive to the work environment. How would you advise Rita Hall to proceed?

8. Neptune Fish Market is a firm in Seattle, Washington. It hires a group of workers who are permanent residents to sanitize and overhaul the marketplace. Each worker is paid a flat fee of $1,000. The job takes 3 weeks working 5 days a week and 9 hours a day. Is Neptune’s pay practice for this group of workers legal?

9. In a large law firm, 20 individuals are employed in the typing pool. Many typists complain about back pain, eyestrain, carpal tunnel, and poor leg circulation. They request the following accommodations to ease their pain: more frequent breaks, ergonomically designed chairs, footstools, armrests, and liquid crystal display monitors. The law firm refuses the request due to the cost of these accommodations. How would you advise the firm?

10. Marissa Campbell injured her lower back while working in the shipping department for her employer, Venus Cosmetics. Campbell is out and collecting workers’ compensation. The employer has heard through the grapevine that Marissa Campbell substantially exaggerated her back injury. There are even rumors that Marissa has been playing tennis with her husband while being on workers’ compensation. How would you advise Venus Cosmetics?