TASK: In two particular departments, the supervisors suspect significant drug use on the part of the employees. Other supervisors are not sure if their departments have this problem. Several of the more serious plant accidents had some under-the-influence element as their cause, and you agree with him. Whether it is true or not, expensive worker's compensation settlements were incurred by the company, in one case because of an amputation on a piece of machinery.
The following criteria were outlined to use when making a difficult decision involving employee relations:
Q1. Is there any precedent in the company that could not only serve as a guide but which must be considered to avoid reinventing the wheel? More importantly, could the firm be charged with discrimination if employees do not treat person X in this situation the same as person Y in the precedent situation?
Q2. Is this just a onetime individual issue, or is the decision, in effect, establishing a new policy?
Q3. What are the long-term ramifications if the company sets a new policy to address this situation?
Q4. Which should dominate the decision-making process: the good of the long-term future, the rights of the individuals affected right now, or the cost to the company?
Q5. Is how the company decides to handle this situation that is arising in department A going to have a bad impact on other departments?
Q6. Will the decision made have any impact to the outside community?
Q7. How will the decision among this certain number of employees, or this department, impact overall workplace harmony and teamwork?
Q8. Will the decision leave the supervisor involved with possible problems regarding other employees?
Q9. Are there any legal issues involved that may guide the decision-making process?
Formulate a strategy as to how to include this, or decide not to make this an issue in the upcoming negotiation.