Pirate Pete's Pet Paradise

							Pirate Pete's Pet Paradise

Background: Pirate Pete's Pet Paradise is a pet shop run by the retired pirate himself,
Pirate Pete. Pirate Pete rules the roost fairly and doesn't put up with monkey business or
horse play in his store. The store sells animals ranging from furry friends to scaly snakes,
but the biggest attractions by far are the talking parrots. Customers have been known to
ferret out big bucks for birds with versatile vocabularies. A coworker, named F. Lee Bag,
trains all of the parrots, doggedly repeating phrases until they mimic him. Despite the fact
that parrot training is his main duty and running the store is yours, Lee considers himself
to be the cat's meow when it comes to managing the store. He constantly hounds Pirate
Pete for a promotion to store manager. You have also desired the manager position and to
your surprise, Pirate Pete comes to you one day and says, "Aye, little lady. You are now
my top dog." Naturally, Lee is hopping mad when he hears the news. "You'll be sorry",
he hisses, and retreats to the back room.

Presenting Issue: A few days later you hear a commotion from the parrot aisle. As you
walk down the aisle to determine what has their feathers in a ruffle, they all start
squawking "Stupid female. Stupid female." When other employees or customers walk
down the aisle, the parrots repeat proper parrot phrases; however, every time you walk
down the aisle they resume their rude behavior. Each time the rude behavior begins, you
notice Lee snake back around the corner, laughing all the way. It is apparent that Lee has
trained them to do this and is giving a cue for them to begin and end. After three weeks of
this, you are tired of being badgered by a bunch of squawk boxes. Do you rat on Lee to
Pirate Pete or become too chicken to continue working?

      Is there unlawful harassment in this situation? If so, what kind? On who's part?
      What is an appropriate response?
      Is there more than one correct way to address this matter?



CRISS CROSS CANDLES

Background: Criss Cross Candles is a candle company started by a group of women from
a local church auxiliary a decade ago. The business has grown to large profitable
enterprise, employing nearly 100 workers. Nevertheless, business lit up an grew too large
for the staff to handle. Employees were burning the candle at both ends to keep up. This
necessitated employing a dozen more employees. You were recently hired as one of these
newcomers. Though not of the same faith, you find the work environment pleasant and
management seems equitable and efficient. It is commonplace for the days' conversations
to drift into religious discussion. You have never felt persecuted for your differing
beliefs.

Presenting Situation: One morning Faith Strong, a co-worker, addresses you with the
following remark, "You would make a great member of our congregation. We could use
you in the women's auxiliary, you know." Feeling awkward, you chuckle, but privately
feel like melting.

       Is this religious harassment?
       How can you deal with this situation?



T.R.A.S.H.
The Recycling Association of South Harbor

The Organization: You are on a "neighborhood action team" for The Recycling
Association of South Harbor (TRASH), a not-for-profit agency that operates a recycling
incentive in an urban community. The purpose of the team is to promote recycling by
visiting door-to-door throughout the community. The team has historically dealt with a
number of stinky situations involving adverse behaviors from the public. Members of the
team pride themselves on their tough skin in dealing with such situations. There has been
a pattern of recycling the same old tactics in dealing with difficult behaviors without
careful attention to potential impact on individual team members.

Presenting Issue: While out on "patrol" with the team, a neighborhood resident accuses
your team-mate, Barry DeLitta, of being "white trash" and "a good match for his litter
patrol job". Hugh Sittigan, another of your teammates erupts in laughter. Hugh's race and
nationality is not the same as Barry's. He gives the resident a high-five and replies,
"That's a good one!" This is not abnormal behavior for your teammates, but you are
beginning to question whether this is healthy, or even legal. As you consider a response,
you realize you face a heap of a challenge-do you speak up about trashy behavior, dump
the problem in someone else's lap, or burry the issue.

       Is there unlawful harassment in this situation? If so, what kind? On who's part?
       What is an appropriate response?
       Is there more than one correct way to address the matter?



SoleFood, Inc.
We Sell you our Sole!

The Organization: You are a shift supervisor in a small business struggling with success.
You operate a unique venture that unites a high fashion shoe store with the setting of a
lively caf鮊Techno-eccentrics with plentiful discretionary income flock to your avant-
garde palace. Recently, a shoe/food catering spin-off, "SoleFood On Foot" was created.
Keeping both afoot is quite a feat. You are having trouble keeping up with the demand. It
is understood that your fussy clientele have little patience for long lines and impersonal
service.
The Presenting Dilemma: In a private meeting your manager asks you to rate the best
looking female on your staff. He states his reasoning, "I believe our people should be
treated with respect. I can't have angry customers abusing them. If I send a good looking
woman out to operate SoleFood On Foot, I know those techy guys won't give her a hard
time."

      Is this a case of illegal discrimination? If so, in what way?
      What is an appropriate way to deal with the manager's request?



Unlawful Harassment - Case Study

Background: Ideo is a small computer technology company that employees just over 100
people. Ideo is a fast growing company with a diverse group of employees. Ideo has
recently hired several new managers as well as a human resource manager.

Presenting Issues: You are one of the newly hired managers. An employee comes to you
claiming she has overheard a group of co-workers telling jokes about Muslims. This
employee is of mid-Eastern descent and a practicing Muslim. She says she knows her co-
workers did not intend to offend her or single her out, in fact, they do not even know she
is Muslim; however, she feels her co-workers need to learn to be more sensitive and
understanding of different religions. She is unsure how to handle this situation and asks
your opinion about what to do.

      Is there unlawful harassment in this situation? If so, what kind of harassment?
      What do you tell the employee?
      What is your responsibility as a supervisor in this situation?
      How would you handle this situation?



Unlawful Harassment-Case Study

Background: You are the manager of a pizza chain restaurant. Your restaurant is located
in a small town just off the highway. Many of your customers are passing through, but
your restaurant is also frequented regularly by many of the townspeople. Harrasville is
tight-Knit community. Most people who live they were born and raised there.

Presenting Issue: A female employee reports to you that she has been harassed by a group
of local men who eat there frequently. She says they have made derogatory comments
about her body that make her feel uncomfortable. You are unsure what to do. This is a
valuable employee who is very good at her job. At the same time, they are some of your
best customers.

      Is there unlawful harassment in this situation? If so, what kind of harassment?
      How do you respond?
      What might be the consequences if you don't respond to your employees
       complaints?



Merdock Department Store

You are a supervisor for a large successful department store. The department store caters
to women, men, and children's high fashion. You supervise the accounting division of the
department store. Just recently all accounting offices have been transferred from all over
the west to one central location. You now supervise thirty-five employees. The transition
for centralization the accounting office to one location has been very hard for your
employees. You have tried to increase the morale in the office while keeping the
productivity up.

The Problem: One of your employees who is overweight comes to you in a private
meeting and states that some co-workers are making rude comments regarding
overweight people. They are constantly telling jokes about over- weight people,
commenting on how some of their friends and customers are overweight and could not fit
in the department store's clothes. Although they're not speaking directly to the employee
this is creating a problem for the employee and that person does not want to be at work
and does not want to interact with those co-workers. This employee is very upset with the
behavior of the co-workers.

      As a supervisor what are you going to do?
      Is this a case of illegal discrimination? Why or why not?