XYZ Airlines has had a financially disastrous year. Sales have plummeted by more than 40%. Cut-throat competition, Covid-19 pandemic and the terrorist threat have savaged its business. Every department is under enormous pressure to cut costs and reduce headcount. Employees have extremely heavy workloads and are being pushed to their limits. XYZ Airlines' marketing department, in particular, is under pressure to improve its performance. A key member of the marketing team is the customer service manager, Jamey Bond. James is regarded as competent and hardworking. However, over the past few months, Jamey has been taking more and more days off from work because of illness. Initially, other members of the department were sympathetic, but Jamey's absences have become a source of discontent as his colleagues have had to do his work as well as their own. Stan Cole, the marketing manager, is becoming increasingly frustrated with Jamey. Under considerable pressure from management, he is stretched to the limit Stan's subordinates have started asking, `Why is Jamey always sick? Why does James have to go to the doctor all the time? Why do I have to do Jamey' work?' Jame.s has become evasive when approached, simply stating that is suffering from a particularly severe form of shingles. Resentment has continued to increase and rumours have begun that James has AIDS. Mauren Lynn, XYZ Airline senior customer service representative and one of the department's top performers, has heatedly told Stan that she and several others are going to quit if something is not done about Jamey. At breaking point, Stan has decided to talk the problem through with Lindsey Camp, XYZ Airlines’ HR manager. a) If you were the HR manager, how would you handle this situation? What advice would you give to Stan? What would you do about James? Explain. b) Determine the ethical issues, if any, are raised in this case.

Management, Loose-Leaf Version
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ISBN:9781305969308
Author:Richard L. Daft
Publisher:Richard L. Daft
Chapter8: Strategy Formulation And Execution
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XYZ Airlines has had a financially disastrous year. Sales have plummeted by more than 40%. Cut-throat competition, Covid-19 pandemic and the terrorist threat have savaged its business. Every department is under enormous pressure to cut costs and reduce headcount. Employees have extremely heavy workloads and are being pushed to their limits. XYZ Airlines' marketing department, in particular, is under pressure to improve its performance. A key member of the marketing team is the customer service manager, Jamey Bond. James is regarded as competent and hardworking. However, over the past few months, Jamey has been taking more and more days off from work because of illness. Initially, other members of the department were sympathetic, but Jamey's absences have become a source of discontent as his colleagues have had to do his work as well as their own. Stan Cole, the marketing manager, is becoming increasingly frustrated with Jamey. Under considerable pressure from management, he is stretched to the limit Stan's subordinates have started asking, `Why is Jamey always sick? Why does James have to go to the doctor all the time? Why do I have to do Jamey' work?' Jame.s has become evasive when approached, simply stating that is suffering from a particularly severe form of shingles. Resentment has continued to increase and rumours have begun that James has AIDS. Mauren Lynn, XYZ Airline senior customer service representative and one of the department's top performers, has heatedly told Stan that she and several others are going to quit if something is not done about Jamey.

At breaking point, Stan has decided to talk the problem through with Lindsey Camp, XYZ Airlines’ HR manager.

a) If you were the HR manager, how would you handle this situation? What advice would you give to Stan? What would you do about James? Explain.

b) Determine the ethical issues, if any, are raised in this case.

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