Case study: Helen,travel agent:
Helen has been working for whirl point travel agent for about a year. Whirl point consist of a chain of 15 travel agents with a total of about hundred employees. When Helen interview for the job, the office seem perfectly suited for her style. People seem to like their work and enjoy a little humor Frank, the manager, was very flexible about allowing her to work only 25 hours a week and to schedule her hours around her daughter needs. He hired her on the spot. Halen was thrill to get the job, all she wanted was to work part time so she could spend time with her three-year-old daughter Linda, Who she had enrolled in a good nursery school.
Helen figured that a nice part-time job at a travel agent would give her a chance to get out of the house and meet people and make enough money to pay Linda's school expense. Everyone was friendly from the beginning and Halen was in to join the employees association even though part time workers were typically not educable for a membership. The employees Association didn't negotiate contracts or require a dues, but did consult with management and making policies for the agents and the employees. Little did Halen know that the action of the group would eventually lead her to her downfall.
A week ago, the group suggested to management that the company image need it to be approved. As one of them says, we sell so many European vacation plans, we needed to present at chic updated European image. Most of the improvement involve changing the name of vacation package and the office Decour. The trouble arose when the group decided to adapt appearance standards of employees, for example employees to deal directly with the public Mus look attractive and professional and we're outfit that affect current European high fashion. Employees must keep their weight within the Optimal Weight range of their heights and bone structure. Halen is 5'5" tall and weigh about 200 pounds.
Last week, two of the women's found employee association commuting that draft the image policy met with Halen. They asked her if she could agree to bring her weight down to 150 pound within the next six months, saying that seem reasonable don't you think Halen said no I don't think it's reasonable I gain is wait three years ago when I was pregnant and then nursing my daughter. I tried to lose it, and it is just not that easy. I like to lose it on my own terms and Emma own timeframe to make this kind of agreement just put too much pressure on me.
Marge, The commitee chair said,it was the employee so she Asian idea to do this, and you are a member of our group, so you shouldn't view this as something the company is forcing you to do. Halen reply do you think I don't look good enough to sell European vacation plans?
Don't I have the right to look the way I want to look, so long as it isn't a rages or harmful to the business, Maybe replied, we all know you're a highly professional worker and attractive representative of the company. But everything the rules should apply to everyone. The other seem to agree with Marge. The next day Frank approach Halen and suggest changing her job duties, sane, Halen let's try you out at the confirmation desk. You can keep your current salary and hours and it will probably be a better fit for you. Halen addicted, Frank, I love meeting with people and And I'm good at it. I don't want a strictly telephone job behind the scenes. I be doing is confirming hotels and flight reservation. Itwould be boring and I would go nuts.
1. What are the key issue, root problems in this case?
2. If you were Halen, what would you do?
3.if you was frank, what would you do?