Assignment task:
Imagine that you are a mid-level manager. Your manager calls you into his office to share the company's plans to begin restructuring your business unit, which will include layoffs. Eight people from your 40-member team have to be selected and laid off. Your manager asks you to try to exclude four people that he hired three months ago from your list. You know that these four people are his friends. Two of the four are not very productive or eager to learn and are very vocal about their friendship with your manager. The other two have assimilated well and are doing good work. Half of the other team members have been with the company for a minimum of 10 years and the other half have been with the company for 20 years or more. Each group has two or three people who are minimally productive. What do you do?
1. Decide the hierarchy of the layoff list. Will seniority be a consideration? How will performance be evaluated?
2. How do you explain your decision to your manager if you choose to include at least two of his friends on your list? Do you have a reason to fear for your own job if you don't protect your manager's friends?
3. What alternatives do you have? How can HR help you in your dilemma?