Problem:
Suppose a young female with a MBA who took a job at a bank right of college and within 3 years received 3 promotions and was succeeding in the business was given the opportunity to work at the banks Mexico City office. While there she was treated without respect and not viewed as authority from the clients and her co worker (a man) would patronized her in front of the clients. He also had the female workers where uniforms of some sexy nature that she found offensive.
His offense was that he was playing the game Latin style. That the Clients don't understand a woman in authority and it wouldn't affect her reviews by having them believe she was his assistant. He urged her to try and be more flexible and more feminine.
She discussed this with the vice president on his trip there Who told her that there were certain realities she would have to see through but over time she found herself becoming more aggressive and defensive in her meeting with her co worker and her clients which affected her review.
Problem 1: What obligations do you feel the bank has to ensure that its employees are not harmed, for instance, by having their chances for advancement limited by the social customs of a host country?
Problem 2: What international moral code, if any, is being violated by the Bank?
Problem 3: Has the bank made the correct decision by opting to follow the norms of the host country?
Problem 4: How would you recommend that Tom handle this particular situation?
Problem 5: What steps should the bank take to avoid and resolve situations similar to this in the future when employees are offended or harmed by host country practices?